American Dream of the 1940's
The 1940's brought a whole new set of problems to the United States. Rather than picking itself out of the Great Depression, the nation leaped into World War II, forcing its economy to recover during wartime. The completion of innovative inventions also paved the way for a higher standard of living among all Americans, rich and poor, by facilitating the hardships of life. The arrival of World War II also led to the empowerment of women around the nation. While men were being shipped off to Europe to fight the war, job availability rose and women rose to fill those empty positions. Now, women were able to sustain themselves, entailing greater freedom and rights. Although the actual American Dream only slightly fluctuated throughout the 40's, great social change came about, especially regarding women. The American Dream still consisted of the white picket fence suburban home, two children, and employment; however, the standard of living started to rise. For example, the invention of the selective central heating became increasingly common throughout the nation. However small, these inventions improved the lives of millions of Americans ever so slightly.
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