The United States

1. The United States A Case Study

2. Definitions to Remember • Sustainable prosperity- • Corporate globalization-

3. Economic Systems • Free market system- • Communist system-

4. Post WWII • The government and companies were concerned that a similar situation to the end of WWI would happen again • Remember that the Bretton-Woods Conference was designed to combat this • Instead, consumer demand was fueled by the desire to spend and the strong economy • America also experienced the “baby boom”

5. Post WWII • The beginning of the Cold War also helped to stimulate the economy after the war ended • The threat of another world war kept military industry necessary and profitable • A focus on international trade was established

6. Marshall Plan • The United States emerged as a super power at the end of World War Two • With the invention of the hydrogen bomb (nuclear weapons), they became the clear military power as well • The threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union led to The Cold War • The United States became responsible for rebuilding war-destroyed countries

7. Marshall Plan • The United States supplied economic aid to countries that were war-ravaged • This led to the availability of an international market for U.S products • The United States was also involved in the international restructuring of money

8. The Changing Work Place • The number of workers employed in the service industry grew, in the 1950s, until it matched or passed those who worked in production • Many workers moved from blue-collar jobs to white-collar jobs • Blue-collar: usually considered the working class; skilled laborers, generally working a wage job • White-collar: usually works in an office environment, at a desk; generally makes a yearly salary • Pink-collar: those jobs that would normally be held by women

9. The Changing Work Place • The formation of unions that lobbied on behalf of their workers was beneficial in guaranteeing wages and benefits • Farmers experienced a tough time, however • Farming became increasingly commercialized and small, family-owned farms found it difficult to keep up

10. Changes in Personal Life • With the invention of modern conveniences, such as air conditioning and affordable cars, families were moving from rural areas to urban areas • This led to a need for increased infrastructure • The basic underlying framework or features of a system or organization • Highways, hospitals, hotels, housing and many other necessities were needed to accommodate the move to city centers • Shopping centers expanded rapidly • In 1945, there were 8 shopping centers in the U.S • In 1960, there were 3840 shopping centers in the U.S

11. The New Deal • Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted (created) the New Deal • Relief- for the unemployed and the poor • Recovery- of the economy to normal levels • Reform- the financial system to avoid another depression • How did FDR do this?

12. Consider This: • What if the allies (Britain, France, United States, Canada, etc.) did not win the war? How would the structure of world look?