How Has American Society Become Consumer-Oriented - Essay Example

 America is the largest consumer economy in the world with strong roots in consumerism as the whole economy is dependent upon how consumers spend. However, this transition to consumer society is a long journey which American society as a whole has made over a period of time. The real growth in consumerism started to appear after World War 2 and it is now argued that it was basically consumerism that won most of the ideological wars of the 20th century rather than capitalism itself.

As such the study of consumerism has become one of the most important and fascinating areas of historical study and more and more attention is given to this new phenomenon. How American society became consumer-oriented, who played an essential role in this transition as well as the impacts of various political and social actions is an important area of study which needs to be explored. The New Deal era basically witnessed an increase in the income of households and thus there was a systematic increase in consumption.

However, tracing back the roots of the consumer economy, the role of the industrial revolution and the rise of the industry cannot also be ignored. Though the earlier evolution of capitalism put more focus on the mass production of goods rather than their consumption. 

American Consumer Society One of the most important aspects of the rise of American consumerism is the exploration of what actually led to this rise? There are various factors that need to consider to discuss this question in its broader context. First, the rise of industrialism was probably the most important catalyst for the change in the way the relationship between work and society changed. The rise of consumerism was, therefore, the direct result of the increase in standard’s life of ordinary American workers who witnessed a systematic increase in their incomes during the industrial era. However, the real rise of consumerism began after World War 2 when The New Deal by FDR resulted in a complete revamping of American society. The rise of Fordism also contributed to this rise as the essential relationship between the workers and owners in American society radically changed.