How Did The Cold War Affect The Economy

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The postwar American economy enjoyed a huge economic boost at the end of World War II. America’s industry was not devastated by the war but instead flourished. Wartime production had helped pull America's economy out of depression, from the late 1940s and on. And with the Soviet Union and the United States facing off in the Cold War, this increased military budget spending, which kicked the United States military innovation into high gear, also known as, “the military industrial complex”. (1) This created plentiful of jobs within the defense community. Major American corporations such as Boeing, McDonnel Douglas, General Electric, and General Dynamics, benefited enormously from military contracts from the Department of Defense; as they still do today. …show more content…
Young American adults saw a remarkable rise in their spending power. Jobs were plentiful, wages were higher, and because of the lack of consumer goods during the war, Americans were eager to spend. And during the same years, young couples were marrying and having children at unbelievable rates. Plus, new and expanded federal programs, including the G.I. Bill of Rights, allowed many young families to purchase their own homes, often located in rapidly expanding