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Age Of Affluence: Life In Western Europe During The Twentieth Century

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The years that followed the end of World War II were met with prosperity and hope for citizens in western Europe. The Age of Affluence, was a time where Europe began to stabilized economically. Jobs began to increase and people in lower-class households began to be able to provide for their families in ways that were once unavailable to them. These citizens were now able to make more money and buy household staples, and many citizens no longer had to want for things that they needed. Additionally, weather it was dropping out of college or having the ability to choose which job they went into, many citizens began to have more freedom in choices they made in their lives. The Age of Affluence brought prosperity by allowing citizens to, have more job opportunities, and live more comfortably. However, this privileged lifestyle came with complications, as citizens began allowing …show more content…

It came with economic growth and a lifestyle that allowed for comfortable living. Citizens in this new age, no longer felt the struggles of previous generations. They no longer had to deal with high unemployment and food and household staple shortages. The lived in an age where employment came to most and struggling came in the form of struggling to buy the next new thing for the household. However, the rise of consumerism created a society that was destructive for some. Many citizens like Jerome and Sylvie made rash decisions that affected them their entire lives, because they were caught up in the pursuit to obtain material objects. The widespread nature of this idea of material worth wasn’t necessarily bad for Europeans. However, many citizens used material worth to classify others and even themselves. On the other hand, in comparison with ages leading up, if the only problem with the rise of consumerism in the Age of Affluence is the pursuit of having wealth, then Europe is showing signs of a positive

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