Post War Cultural Changes

The Post War Era paved the way for technological inventions and improvements which would go on to affect the American society and culture through decades to follow. The major changes and technology inventions occurred mostly during the 1950’s and 1960’s with millions of Americans adopting the television, furthering the internet development and transportation expansion. Furthermore, the post war years opened doors for new jobs and workers which ultimately expanded American income creating a booming economy. Lastly, the American culture saw an increase in family living throughout the population of the suburbs and specifically the middle class while Hollywood movies, theme park attractions, and major companies advertised and appealed their brand

to the masses. Lastly, as the 1950’s continued to develop technologically, particular groups specifically among the younger American citizens rebelled against certain ideologies of American politics.
The developments of the internet and television allowed connection and interaction for American families not only to the United States, but the rest of the world as well. “Television, first demonstrated before the war, entered homes by the hundreds, then thousands, then millions.” (Brands, P. 71) Ideally, an American family owning a television quickly became the norm following the war with its mass population. Americans were able to sit around their television and watch live historical events as they occurred in real time. One of these moments known as the moon landing on July 20th, 1969 when Neil Armstrong and his team became the first group of Americans to successfully land a space expedition on the surface of the moon. It was a historical moment and “people all around the world huddled close to their television sets to witness what many supposed would be the dawn of a new era in human history.” (Brands, P. 166) This capability to view events with the television not only allowed Americans access into a new form of entertainment, but furthered their knowledge and understanding of the technological and scientific advancements during the post war era.
Following the television, the development and invention of the internet was a more groundbreaking technological creation. This was due in part to the introduction of the Microsoft company, bill gates and IBM. It was initially the partnership of Gates and IBM which required IBM to “write the operating system for IBM’s breath through personal computer, the PC.” (Brands, P. 327) Following this breakthrough, the American government began experimenting and researching to eventually create Arpanet. Arpanet was a production from ARPA who “funded research at various laborites across the country; to allow the researchers to communicate more effectively.” With the development of the internet, this opened various new job careers, specifically in the technological industries, and military further strengthening the American economy, wall street and various departments of the government as the intelligence agency. Additionally, as the development of the television slowly interpreted into a normal part of the American culture and lifestyle, the internet eventually repeated the same. While it may have taken a longer process, it essentially became the norm.
Another key technological change following 1945 pertains to the automotive and technology industry. New high class luxury cars became popular among the rich class citizens who were often times known for driving “Cadillacs, general motors top of the line model rather than Chevrolets.” (Brands, P. 80) With the demand of these luxury cars came the creation of new automobile jobs for men and women to produce more to the citizens. The postwar era required many workers, but it was ideally the technological areas in the American society which required the highest employees.
The cultural change of the American lifestyle began to see a shift as new technological discoveries were made.

This specifically affected suburbanization and the middle class. Suburbanization was notedly derived from “several forces including the baby boom, government support for low-interest mortgages through the GI bill and the new system of interstate highway.” (I&J, p.43) Families could now enjoy each others company following the end of the war. The growth in population and suburban population ideally meant an increase in income per family and the American economy. Not only were jobs better for men, but the post war career fields demanded more employees, opening this up to women in the work force. Specifically, “over a third of American women were in the paid labor force by 1945.” (I&J, P.49) Furthermore, the rise of the middle class and the economy demanded an American culture which was surrounded by entertainment, new corporate restaurant chains, and Hollywood affiliations with the advancements of technology in the media industry. The shift to this mass culture followed the rise of the American middle class. Sports entertainment became very popular, Disney world quickly became a well known family attraction, and food chains quickly expanding across the united

states.
The postwar era was a time in which the country was expanding economically, family wise, culturally and socially.

This was due in part because of the demand for technological changes and innovations created by growing companies and employees. By introducing the television and movies, middle class families were allowed new ways to spend time together, but moreover, gained a connection to the outside world as live 4historical events were made easily accessible to the mass public around the world. The internet followed suit, and was initially a government creation tool, but eventually became a part of the American household, becoming a line of communication and entertainment form for some. With entertainment came the rise of the middle class and their need for various mass cultures. Moreover, These demands contributed to the rise of the American economy, population growth and an increase in suburbanization. In conclusion, one could note that the technological changes post 1945 display a domino affect of factors that have increased American jobs, income and population while paving the way for a future in which the general population will continue to create and build upon those from then until

now.