Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Golden Age of Capitalism lasted from the aftermath of World War II until the recession of 1973. This period of unprecedented global prosperity stretched from 1945 to 1973, creating a world where high growth and full employment were the norm rather than the exception.
Japan, West Germany, France, and Italy experienced the fastest economic growth during the post-World War II boom. Japan transformed from a war-torn nation into a global manufacturing powerhouse, while West Germany achieved the Wirtschaftswunder, or economic miracle, with industrial production doubling from 1950 to 1957.
The Interstate Highway System was authorized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 through the Federal Aid Highway Act. This project was justified as essential to American security during the Cold War and designed to facilitate the evacuation of large cities and ease military maneuvers.
The sharp rise in oil prices due to the 1973 oil crisis hastened the transition to the post-industrial economy and ended the golden age. The long-term business cycle concluded with events in the early 1970s, including the collapse of the Bretton Woods monetary system in 1971 and the 1973, 75 recession.
Progressive taxation and capital levies introduced during the wars caused a dramatic shift in wealth distribution during the post-war period. Top tax rates increased dramatically, in some cases tenfold, having a significant effect on both income and wealth distributions and helping to create a broad middle class.
The United States saw its Gross Domestic Product increase from $228 billion in 1945 to just under $1.7 trillion in 1975. This growth represented some 35% of the entire world industrial output during the period of unprecedented economic expansion.