Final answer:
The nationwide population changes from 1950 to 1990 led to increased urbanization and a demographic transition characterized by reduced family sizes, economic shifts toward the Sunbelt, and significant social and technological advancements.
Step-by-step explanation:
One effect of the demographic changes that occurred nationwide from 1950 to 1990 was the urbanization in the United States, which led to a shift from rural to urban living. This urbanization was accompanied by the demographic transition, characterized by a reduction in family size due to falling birth rates in industrialized nations. Factors contributing to this trend included better health care, increased life expectancy, the use of birth control, and higher costs of living and raising children in urban areas. Additionally, economic factors such as the closure of factories and the shift in population towards the Sunbelt regions for employment opportunities were significant.
During this period, the suburbs saw a substantial increase in population, leading to the expansion of suburban life with economic and societal impacts, such as the shrinking tax bases of major cities and a shift in political representation. Technological and social advances, including the entrance of women into the workforce and more information about birth control facilitated by the founding of the American Birth Control League in 1921, also contributed to these demographic shifts. These changes led to a new dynamic within families and marriages and altered the traditional roles within households.