U.S. Political, Economic, and Social Change 1941–1989

Introduction: America at a Crossroads

World War II and the subsequent Cold War created profound economic, political, and social changes inside the United States between 1941 and 1989. The United States changed rapidly after World War II in almost every aspect of life. The country modernized, spread out, and its people became more affluent, which led to sweeping political, economic, and social transformation across nearly five decades.

Economic Transformation in the Postwar Era

Economically, America underwent massive change between 1941 and 1989. In 1941, the country was still suffering the lingering effects of the Great Depression, and employment and the broader economy had not fully recovered. At the Depression's height, one in four workers could not find a job (Carnes 107), but during the war years and beyond, unemployment became little more than an easily forgotten memory. As historian Carnes notes, "From 1949 through 1975, unemployment never climbed above 7%. During the mid-60s it fell to below 4%" (Carnes 107).

As people earned more money and credit became widely available, they spent more — often more than they earned — and the economy grew dramatically. Home ownership rose sharply as well, adding to families' personal wealth. There was an economic downturn in 1973, but generally the economy remained healthy and robust throughout this period. American incomes grew dramatically as jobs were plentiful, and consumer spending continued to drive growth.

Socially, the country changed dramatically as well. In 1941, the family was the central unit of American life, and families generally stayed intact. By the postwar decades, that picture had shifted considerably. As Carnes observes, "Men and women now marry later in life and are more likely to divorce. In 1950, more than three-fourths of American households included married parents" (Carnes 2). By 1989 and the close of the Cold War, nearly half of all households were single-parent homes (Carnes 2).

Social Change and Shifting American Values

Society changed radically for other reasons as well. Parents who had lived through the Great Depression wanted more for their children, and in pursuing that goal they became avid consumers who spent beyond their means, creating a far more consumer-oriented society. As historian Clydesdale notes, "Economically, baby boomers experienced unprecedented national affluence throughout their childhood. During the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. economy expanded greatly, raising the living standards of most American families" (Clydesdale 606). The baby boom generation thus grew up in conditions their parents could scarcely have imagined.

Religion played a diminishing role in society by the late twentieth century, as church attendance and membership began to decline in the 1960s. Clydesdale explains: "When the cultural challenges of the 1960s disestablished this religious ethos, participation rates overall declined, and religious identifications shifted" (Clydesdale 607). Much of society became more liberal and open to new ideas, and societal values shifted accordingly. The legalization of abortion in 1973, for instance, reflected a moral and legal landscape that would have been virtually unimaginable in 1941.

Politically, the country changed as well. In a predominantly conservative nation, Republicans held power for much of this period, but change arrived in the form of young, dynamic leaders such as John F. Kennedy, who energized a new generation of voters. Young people in the 1960s and 1970s clashed openly with conservative leaders over issues such as Vietnam and political scandals such as Watergate, giving rise to a vocal left-wing liberal faction within American society. As Carnes notes, "The conflicts over Vietnam, civil rights, and Watergate generated widespread public support for their outlook" (Carnes 228).

At least part of society was becoming more tolerant, as the success of the civil rights movement demonstrates, and Americans were becoming less complacent. Citizens stood up, fought for what they believed in, and made their views known to their elected officials. The Watergate scandal grew in scope as more details emerged, and people began to lose faith in politicians — a skepticism that had been largely absent when the war began. Politics increasingly revolved around money, power, and lobbying, trends that persist to this day.

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