the united states once again had prosperity. millions of white people moved out of the cities and into suburbs, and into southern and western states known as the "sunbelt". they bought new cars and television sets. the birth rate in the 1940s and 1950s rose, in what was called the "baby boom" the "space age" inspired "googie" style art and architecture. many more people became part of the middle class, but there were still many people who were poor.