Materialism After WW2 My friends and I are doing a project about Materialism and Art after the Second World War, and we need to write about how and...

The term
'disposable income' did not exist before the 1950's, and although during the 1920's many
Americans flirted with material excess, during the 1950's Americans had a full blown love affair
with consuming 'stuff' thus materialism. For example, between 1950 and 1960 almost 50 million
cars were sold in the United States. There is no doubt the the federal interstate highway system
which began in 1956 offered many Americans the 'incentive' to buy a car. In addition, I think
the Servicemen's Readjustment Act otherwise known as the G.I. Bill was responsilbe for creating
an enormous shift in the American economic mindset. After the war a farmer's son who fought for
his country did not have to go back to the farm, he could  become a New York City doctor. The
personal economics of many Americans had changed...more income....more material goods...it could
be argued this was for better or worse depending upon ones' point of view.