The American Economy 1865 to the Present

Overview

The United States experienced economic expansion after WWII. Capitalism thrived and the middle class grew, as did the GDP and the productivity of the work force. The Council of Economic Advisors was created by Congress to promote high employment, high profits and low inflation. The "baby boomer" generation prospered and liberal programs were ushered in by President Lyndon B. Johnson and his "Great Society" initiatives.

Life in the 1950s