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America's Decline: Materialism, Disunity & Future Consequences

Examining the rise of materialism and lack of unity in the United States, this thesis by Emily Finch explores the historical shifts in American culture from WWII to present times, highlighting the impact of consumerism and individualism. With a deep dive into various decades, the thesis delves into the erosion of societal values, the consequences of excess waste, and the potential deterioration of American culture if disunity is not addressed. By drawing parallels between past events and current trends, it presents a thought-provoking analysis of the country's trajectory and calls for a reevaluation of priorities to prevent further decline.

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America's Decline: Materialism, Disunity & Future Consequences

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  1. The Decline of America Materialism and Lack of Unity in the United States By Emily Finch

  2. Thesis • The increasing sense of discontent with the government, combined with ever-increasing materialism has brought America to its present state of disunity. This disunity, if not dealt with, will lead to the eventual deterioration of American culture.

  3. The 1940s • Common enemy in WWII • Worked together to save fuel and food to send overseas • Few dissenters • America united in beliefs • One of the world’s best militaries

  4. Transition: 1950s and 1960s ~Soldiers home, start families, move to suburbia ~Improvements in technology: isolationism blossoms ~Rigid societal rules = new generation of rebels ~Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) formed

  5. The Vietnam War + Extreme opposition +Moral deterioration of U.S. forces +Four-fold increase in U.S. military desertion rates +Anti-war demonstrations +Loss of faith in American government

  6. The “Me” Decade • Every man (and woman) for himself • Loss of interest in finding meaning in life • Focus on own problems, rather than the government • SAT scores drop • Group rights movements

  7. A Survey of University Students • 1970: those interested in finding a meaning in life: 80% • 1970: those interested in financial prosperity: 39% • 1989: those interested in finding a meaning in life: 41% • 1989: those interested in financial prosperity: 75%

  8. 1980s and 1990s • Financial prosperity • Reaganomics and the “trickle-down effect” • New technology

  9. Today • Private spending higher than all major European countries • Negative savings rate • High national debt • Personal bankruptcies • “The utterly superfluous has become a noble pursuit and the quest for personal and intellectual growth is fading quickly. Greed has lost most of its negative connotations.”

  10. Excessive Waste • U.S. waste each year: fill group ten ton garbage trucks 145,000 miles long • 1993 survey: 78 percent Americans-major effort to help environment should be made, 22 percent actually tried

  11. “If we do not [commit to change], America will most likely continue to become more depressed, more in debt, more unhealthy mentally and physically, and we will continue destroying the world around us”

  12. “The United States is united through materialism.”

  13. Works Cited • “1971-1973: GI Resistance in the Vietnam War.” Libcom.org. 2006. 16 March 2007 • <http://libcom.org/history/vietnam-gi-resistance>. • “Consumerism in America.” University of Southern Maine 29 March 2007 <http:// • www.usm.maine.edu/~kuzma/security/projects/2002/alexander/consumerism. • htm>. • Feinstein, Stephen. The 1970s: from Watergate to Disco. Berkeley Heights: Enslow • Publishers, 2000. • Schumaker, John. “Dead Zone-criticism of American materialism.” New • Internationalist. July 2001. 21 March 2007 <http://www.findarticles.com/ • p/articles/Mi_mOJQP/is_2001_July/ai_77827050>. • Warren, Dr. Lee, B.A., D.D. “American Consumer Debt.” Plim Report. Vol. 10. 5 • (2001): 1-2. 2001. 29 March 2007 <http://www.plim.org/AmericanConsumerDebt.html/>. • Wilkinson, Laura. “American Materialism and Stuff Goes Bonkers.” On-line 49er 2006. • 21 March 2007 <http://www.csulf.edu/~d49er/archives/2006/spring/opinion/v12n79-materialism.shtml>. • “Vietnam War Era Ephemera Collection.” University of Washington Libraries Digital • Collection. 16 March 2007 <http://content.lib.washington.edu/protestsweb/index.html>.

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