There is a group of people that now have power in America. They have the power to influence lawmakers, manufacturers, medicine, big businesses, and even political elections. These people are known as the Baby Boomers. The Baby Boom generation has had a dramatic effect on America.
             The Baby Boom generation began in 1946 and ended in 1964. During this era, 76 million babies were born. World War II ended in 1945, and battle-weary soldiers returning home from war desired nothing more than a wife, a family, and a job to support them. These soldiers quickly set about to achieve this goal. This resulted in the generation known as the Baby Boomers. Never before in the history of America have so many babies been born in such a short time. Big families were very popular during this era, and most couples desired at least three children. Advances in medicine and prenatal care resulted in lower infant mortality rates. All of this resulted in a substantial number of Americans surviving from infancy to adulthood.
             The increasing number of people reaching adulthood resulted in a larger than ever number of people needing jobs. Industries took advantage of the increasing availability of workers by building more factories to produce more consumer goods. During World War II, America had relied upon women to produce the goods once produced by men who had gone to war. Women became accustomed to having more money and a life outside of their family and home. These same women encouraged their daughters to become better educated and to develop interests outside of the home. The daughters became career women, adding their income to their husbands and enabling the family to have more disposable income. Career women had less time for cooking and household chores than their mothers, and business and industry began developing ways to make their home life easier. Fast food restaurants and convenience foods developed as a way of meeting these needs. Industry als...