"I went to college under the GI Bill... Without it, I would have gone straight to work in the factory like my father. Instead, I got a degree in engineering and bought a new house in the suburbs with a government-backed loan."
— Post-World War II veteran, memoir excerpt
The personal account above best illustrates which of the following social and economic developments in the United States after World War II?
- AThe implementation of a laissez-faire approach that reduced federal involvement in the domestic economy
- An expansion of the middle class through government-sponsored educational and housing opportunitiesAnswer
- CThe immediate creation of Great Society programs designed to eliminate poverty in urban centers
- DA direct response to foreign policy containment goals that prioritized international defense spending
Answer
An expansion of the middle class through government-sponsored educational and housing opportunities
The correct answer is correct because the memoir describes a veteran utilizing the benefits of the GI Bill (education benefits and home loans) to get a degree and purchase a home, which were primary drivers of the postwar economic expansion, suburbanization, and the rapid growth of the middle class.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill) and its role in postwar economic expansion and suburbanization.
Estimated Time:45s