USA 9: Suburbanisation and the baby boom

What was a significant factor that allowed middle-class families to move to the suburbs in the 1940s and 1950s?

• Increased availability of cars

• Higher wages in city centers

• Lower crime rates in cities

• Better public transportation

What did owning a house in the suburbs symbolize for many Americans?

• The American Dream

• Economic downturn

• Political stability

• Cultural diversity

What was the purpose of the 1944 Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (G.I. Bill)?

• To reduce military spending

• To promote urban development

• To increase taxes on suburban homes

• To provide cheap loans for war veterans to buy houses

By how much did the number of people who owned their own home in the USA increase from 1950 to 1960?

• 7.8 million

• 9.2 million

• 5.6 million

• 12.4 million

What was the first planned suburb built just outside New York City?

• Harlem

• Greenwich Village

• Levittown

• Brooklyn Heights

What construction technique did Levitt and Sons, Inc. use to build houses quickly and cheaply?

• Building from a kit

• Modular homes

• Prefabricated steel

• Concrete blocks

What was a major reason for the baby boom after World War Two?

• Men returning from the war

• Government incentives for large families

• Increased immigration

• Higher birth rates in Europe

How many babies were born each year between 1954 and 1964?

• Around 4 million

• Around 2 million

• Around 3 million

• Around 6 million

What percentage of the American population had been born after 1946 by 1964?

• 50%

• 30%

• 20%

• 40%

What was a common feature of the new suburban houses built in the 1940s and 1950s?

• Small living spaces

• No modern appliances

• Shared communal gardens

• Big driveways for cars