The American Dream in the 1940s was about establishing stability after a tough couple of decades, which generally included a house in the suburbs, a steady job and a solid family unit. It was the decade in which standard of living rose dramatically and the culture of consumption began to gain traction. Until Roosevelt’s 1934 Housing Act owning a home was out of reach for most Americans – even those in the middle class rented – and the new policy aimed to increase home ownership during the depression.