Describe the changes in the american consumer economy in the 1950s and their relationship to the rise of popular mass culture.

Thanks to the post World War II boom, the American economy during the 1950's shifted towards developing consumer goods/resources that would become part of the popular culture.

A perfect example of this is the development of suburbs. After World War II, the US had a huge increase in marriage rates and babies born, as many soldiers who came back from World War II were looking to settle down and start a family. This resulted in the development of communities like the Levittowns (seen originally in Long Island, NY). These communities provided affordable houses with modern conveniences for thousands of American families.

Along with this, the development of shopping malls helps feed into consumer culture during this time. Families started to spend money on commodities such as washers, dryers, and even television sets. By the end of the 1950's, over 65 million TV's had been sold, establishing the standard of television as a focal point of the American household.