What is a baby boom and how did it effect the postwar boom?
The Baby Boom is a temporary increase
in the birth rate and the biggest one was after World War II! Due to the economic increase more babies were born beginning in 1946 and ending in 1964. This was one of the small factors that started the construction of suburbs and Levittown. When the boom started there were a lot more structures and buildings built in preparation for this increase in birth. 79 Million babies were born in the elapsed time!
After the Great Depression in the 30's and 40's, America was ready to rebuild and reconstruct the life around them. Birthrates dropped dramatically during the Great Depression because the people saw no reason to have anymore children. They had to keep up with the children they already had. They weren't able to continue feeding them and keeping their needs met. The 50's were the exact opposite because the birthrates had dramatically increased. The soldiers that came home from war in Europe were eager to start a new life.
After the Great Depression in the 30's and 40's, America was ready to rebuild and reconstruct the life around them. Birthrates dropped dramatically during the Great Depression because the people saw no reason to have anymore children. They had to keep up with the children they already had. They weren't able to continue feeding them and keeping their needs met. The 50's were the exact opposite because the birthrates had dramatically increased. The soldiers that came home from war in Europe were eager to start a new life.
Because of the large number of births, the economy also increased as a result. The many babies needed things like baby clothes, formula, and diapers. They also had more schools and teachers because of the large number of children entering elementary school. So what caused the Baby Boom? Many claim that it was the desire for normalcy after 16 years of depression and war. Others have argued that it was a part of a Cold War campaign to fight the communists by out numbering them. Most likely though, it was a more quotidian reason. Older Americans, who had postponed marriage and childbirth during the Great Depression and World War II, were joined in the nation's maternity wards by young adults who were eager to start families.
Here you can see how the marriage rates in in the time of the baby boom went way up. Many people in postwar era looked forward to having children because they confident that the future would be one of comfort and prosperity. In many ways, they were right: Corporations grew larger and more profitable, labor unions promised generous wages and benefits to their members, and consumer goods were more plentiful and affordable than ever before. As a result, many Americans felt certain that they could give their families all the material things that they themselves had done without.
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