27. The Politics and Culture of Abundance, 1952

Quiz for Making Historical Arguments: What Role Did the Government Play in the Prosperity of the Post–World War II Years?

Choose the best answer to each question. Click the “submit” button for each question to turn in your work.

1. How did the situation in the Middle East contribute to America’s prosperous postwar economy?

The decolonization of Middle Eastern nations provided new markets for American goods.

It weakened the economies of other countries, allowing the United States to be more competitive in the global market.

The ongoing violence in the region made America’s military and the defense industry even more important.

The relative stability of the region allowed the United States access to cheap oil.

2. Which of the following was a way that wartime industry shifted in the years following the war to promote economic prosperity and growth?

The government sold wartime factories to private enterprises.

Women who had entered the workforce during the war provided plentiful and cheap labor.

The decline of the defense industry led workers to seek employment in other industries.

The government shifted its resources from defense spending to helping big industries like the auto industry.

3. How did government housing programs impact the American economy?

They helped only poor Americans who could not otherwise afford housing.

They drove up the cost of houses, so fewer people could purchase homes.

They increased American reliance on foreign goods.

They created many new jobs in the construction industry.

4. In what way did the progressive tax code of the postwar period promote the American economy?

It gave big tax breaks to the wealthy so they could invest more in business.

It helped shift money to those most likely to spend it.

It allowed corporations to avoid paying taxes.

It encouraged foreign companies to invest in American business and labor.

5. In which of the following ways did government programs produce “human capital” in the years following World War II?

The government sent veterans to college through programs like the GI Bill.

The government made public education free for all children.

The government eased immigration restrictions to provide more labor for growing American businesses.

An increasing number of women were employed in the federal government and in the military.