Part 2/13:
Post-World War II America was a time of unprecedented optimism. The nation had moved beyond the hardships of the Great Depression, and wartime industry had ignited economic growth. Returning veterans found employment in well-paying jobs, often supporting their families on a single income. This fostered a time of prosperity and stability, encouraging families to have many children—what became known as the "baby boom." Over that period, around 73 million children were born, making the baby boomers the largest generation in U.S. history.