Summary
Because of the overwhelming magnitude of World War II, life in the United States during the 1940s was full of fear and uncertainty. Many changes were made during these years, as women got the opportunity to become a larger part of the workforce, and higher education became more accessible to all Americans. When the war ended, the wartime boom carried over into peacetime, and advances in technology allowed new cars, the launch of the U.S. space program, and the television to enter the lives of Americans. However, by the end of the decade, the United States also possessed the most destructive weapons—atomic bombs.
The fourth volume in a new set, America in the 1940s discusses how people lived during this uncertain time, and how a new kind of consumer culture and middle class became a distinctive American social identity. Using rich photographs, interesting box features, and pull-out quotations and facts, this book offers a thoughtful introductory look at life in the 1940s.
Specifications
Black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Glossary. Further reading. Box features. Index.
About the Author(s)
Charles A. Wills graduated from Concordia University and is a writer, editor, and consultant specializing in American history. He is the author of more than 20 books, including Boom Times, Hard Times: Daily Life in the United States, 1921–1940, more than 12 volumes of The Historical Albums of the States, and The Tet Offensive, The Battle of the Little Bighorn, and Pearl Harbor. As a writer, editor, reviewer, and consultant, he has worked with Reader’s Digest, IMP, Grolier, Amazon.co.uk, and Biography magazine.