
Explaining History American Suburbia and the birth of the Consumer’s Republic
Episode Summary:
In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the rise of the "Consumer’s Republic" in post-war America. We examine how the dream of the suburban idyll—white picket fences, gleaming appliances, and mass car ownership—became a central pillar of US identity and stability.
Drawing on Lizabeth Cohen's A Consumer's Republic, we delve into how corporate and political elites consciously steered American citizens away from collectivist politics and towards a highly individualized "politics of consumption." Nick discusses how suburbia was not just a place to live, but a tool for managing the economy, creating a new "mass middle class" out of the industrial working class.
But beneath the surface of this "happy-go-spending world," there were darker currents: racial exclusion, environmental costs, and the fragility of an economic model built on endless growth. Was the golden age of suburbia a unique historical accident? And what happens when the dream of upward mobility begins to fade?
Key Topics:
- The Consumer’s Republic: How consumption became a civic duty.
- Suburbia as Utopia: The role of magazines like Redbook in selling the suburban dream.
- Mass Home Ownership: How government-backed mortgages created a nation of property owners.
- The Politics of Prosperity: How affluence was used to defuse class conflict.
Books Mentioned:
- A Consumer's Republic: The Politics of Mass Consumption in Postwar America by Lizabeth Cohen
- Grand Expectations by James T. Patterson
Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.
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