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[[File:Baby boom.png|300px|right|thumb|US Birthrate in the 1900s]]

[[File:Baby boom.png|300px|right|thumb|US Birthrate in the 1900s]]

The '''Baby Boom''' consists of [[American]]s born between 1946 (the end of [[World War II]]) and the late 1960s (the beginning of the [[Vietnam War]]).  The [[United States]] during this period benefited from strong religious values, peace and prosperity, and there were large numbers of marriages and births.

The '''Baby Boom''' consists of [[American]]s born between 1946 (the end of [[World War II]]) and the late 1960s (the beginning of the [[Vietnam War]]).  The [[United States of America|United States]] during this period benefited from strong religious values, peace and prosperity, and there were large numbers of [[marriage]]s and births. According to a 2001 article published on [[Christianity Today]], <small>{{QuoteBox|If you define a "generation" as a cohesive group sharing a common set of birthdates and experiences, with their own personality and felt needs, there has been only one "generation" in American history: baby boomers.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/may21/32.83.html|title=Andy Crouch: Generation Misinformation|date=May 21, 2001|accessdate=March 11, 2020|author=Andy Crouch|publisher=Christianity Today}}</ref></small>

Technically, the Baby Boom was the upsurge in the birth rate in the United States between 1941 and 1963; the exact beginning date is debated in the range of 1941-45.   

Technically, the Baby Boom was the upsurge in the birth rate in the United States between 1941 and 1963; the exact beginning date is debated in the range of 1941-45.   

Between the end of World War II and 1964, 78 million baby boomers were born and now are part of the "Boomers" generation. They far outnumbered their predecessors, for the birth rate was low during the [[Great Depression]] years of the 1930s.  They have been retiring in large numbers and greatly imcreasing the number of people in retirement and receiving Social Security.

Between the end of World War II and 1964, 78 million baby boomers were born and now are part of the "Boomers" generation. They far outnumbered their predecessors, for the birth rate was low during the [[Great Depression]] years of the 1930s.  They have been retiring in large numbers and greatly increasing the number of people in retirement and receiving [[Social Security]].

[[Image:Babyboom.jpg|thumb|300px|St. Joseph Hospital, Chicago, 1941]]

[[Image:Babyboom.jpg|thumb|300px|St. Joseph Hospital, Chicago, 1941]]

The boomers are much better educated and have higher incomes than previous generations of Americans.

The boomers are much better educated and have higher incomes than previous generations of Americans.

Richard Easterlin is an economist and professor of economics who has researched and published much literature on economic growth in the United States.   

Richard Easterlin is an economist and professor of economics who has researched and published much literature on economic growth in the United States.   

[[Image:BABYBOOM.JPG|thumb|300px|trends in birth rates 1900-1980]]

[[Image:BABYBOOM.JPG|thumb|300px|trends in birth rates 1900-1980]]

In one of Easterlin’s articles, published in 2000, titled, '''Twentieth Century American Population Growth''', he explains the growth pattern of American population in the twentieth century by examining the fertility rate fluctuations and the decreasing mortality rate.  In his article, Easterlin attempts to prove the cause of the Baby Boom and Baby Bust by the “relative income” theory, despite the various other theories that these events have been attributed to.  The “relative income” theory suggests that couples choose to have children based on a couple’s ratio of potential earning power and the desire to obtain material objects.  This ratio depends on the economic stability of country and how people are raised to value material objects.  The “relative income” theory explains the Baby Boom by suggesting that the late 1940s and 1950s brought low desires to have material objects, because of the Great Depression and WWII, as well as huge job opportunities, because of being a post war period.  These two factors gave rise to a high relative income, which encouraged high fertility.  Following this period, the next generation had a greater desire for material objects, however, an economic slowdown in the United States, made jobs harder to acquire.  This resulted in lower fertility rates causing the Baby Bust.

In one of Easterlin’s articles, published in 2000, titled, '''Twentieth Century American Population Growth''', he explains the growth pattern of American population in the twentieth century by examining the fertility rate fluctuations and the decreasing mortality rate.  In his article, Easterlin attempts to prove the cause of the Baby Boom and Baby Bust by the “relative income” theory, despite the various other theories that these events have been attributed to.  The “relative income” theory suggests that couples choose to have children based on a couple’s ratio of potential earning power and the desire to obtain material objects.  This ratio depends on the economic stability of country and how people are raised to value material objects.  The “relative income” theory explains the Baby Boom by suggesting that the late 1940s and 1950s brought low desires to have material objects, because of the Great Depression and WWII, as well as huge job opportunities, because of being a post war period.  These two factors gave rise to a high relative income, which encouraged high fertility.  Following this period, the next generation had a greater desire for [[Materialism|material objects]], however, an economic slowdown in the United States, made jobs harder to acquire.  This resulted in lower fertility rates causing the Baby Bust.

 

==See also==

==See also==

* Wells, Robert V. ''Uncle Sam's Family'' (1985), general demographic history

* Wells, Robert V. ''Uncle Sam's Family'' (1985), general demographic history

* Weiss, Jessica. ''To Have and to Hold: Marriage, the Baby Boom, and Social Change'' (2000) [https://www.amazon.com/Have-Hold-Marriage-Social-Change/dp/0226886719/ref=sr_1_9/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194775298&sr=1-9 excerpt  and text search]

* Weiss, Jessica. ''To Have and to Hold: Marriage, the Baby Boom, and Social Change'' (2000) [https://www.amazon.com/Have-Hold-Marriage-Social-Change/dp/0226886719/ref=sr_1_9/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194775298&sr=1-9 excerpt  and text search]

[[Category:1950s]]

[[Category:1950s]]