The American culture became characteristics of conformity, inexpensive but relatively luxurious living lifestyles, and decent starts for young couples, which led to an extenuating birthrate. People began to make a run for the suburbs, finally leaving the overwhelming city life. This was, however, a detriment for those of the lower class who were prisoners of the cities living in virtually a "closed-society- to where there was nary an exit. .
Americans prospered heavily from 1945 to 1960. Fears of seeing the light of another depression rarely surfaced, with exception for 1949, 1953 and a steep one in both 1957 and 1958, but finally diminishing altogether going into the 60s. With the end of World War II began the Americans need for material goods, which had been a scarcity during the war years. Post-war brought soldiers home and allowed them to buy the automobiles they had talked about all the while overseas. .
Americans continued to prosper on through the 50s and well into the 60s from the help of the Marshall plan and other foreign aid programs that revved up heavy exporting. Both the Korean War and the never-ending Cold War helped keep the American economy intact. However, Eisenhower's excessive spending on military production was quite appalling. Example; The United States in 1952 spent more than two-thirds of the federal budget on national defense for a total equaling 44 billion dollars with a continuance throughout the decade of roughly 40 billion. Nonetheless, on a local scale two car families became more and more prevalent. .
The American society became consumer-based to the extreme. Even in the instance of religion there was profit. These flourishing religions weren't going unnoticed and were often ridiculed for their wealth. The Catholic Church, for example, is notorious for its financial assets in property. Past the monetary aspects of religion is its failure to integrate society as one but splitting America into three groups: The Protestants, The Catholics, and the Jews.
