The 1950s were remembered as an age of affluence because of the sudden mass emergence of American consumer culture.
During the 1950s, the average lifespan of a car was around 2 years, Tupperware parties were held in homes, and various material industries boomed. Material goods became a sign of reputation, becoming more valuable than personality traits. The idea was that everyone could afford nice things and hold a stable job without a college education–in essence, the American dream.
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