The Game of Life Prepared Families to Play the Achievement of the Great American Dream Through Capitalism

Michael Streich February 23, 2009

The Milton Bradley Company launched The Game of Life in 1960. More than any other board game, Life taught the benefits of capitalism and challenged players to pursue the “American Dream.” On the heels of the 1950s, which featured what Elaine May refers to as “domestic containment” in the conformist society, Life contrasted, indirectly, American society with Communism. Successful players were encouraged to take risks in order to increase prosperity and ultimately winning the game.

 

Starting the Game

 

Each player started the game with a car and $2,000. As the instructions declared, “You may become a Millionaire and retire in luxury, or wind up broke at the Poor Farm.” The Poor Farm is no longer part of contemporary versions of the game. The first spins on the numbered wheel forced players to make the first real “life” choices: whether to follow the shorter path, equated with “business,” or whether to “take the ‘College’ route” and become a doctor, teacher, or another profession. Taking the longer route paid bigger salaries collected throughout the game.

 

The implications were clear: a fast track through business might give a person a head start in life, but the longer path usually pays off better financially. Such choices were common in the original game, educating players to the long term benefits of stock investing, life insurance, auto and fire. At some point in the game, each of these items could help stave off financial disaster. At the end of the game, those with stock certificates or life insurance policies added to their “life” winnings.

 

Marriage and the Family

 

Everyone playing the game had to stop at the church and get married. This also required other players to give “presents” in the form of money. As the game continued, players also added children. Each car had enough room for four children. This was a time in American history when marriage and tight family relationships were encouraged. Life reinforced social norms and expectations. 1960 was also the year of the Kennedy-Nixon presidential election. John F. Kennedy won, bringing to the White House a beautiful young wife and small children.

 

Perhaps in true Adam Smith fashion, Life included “share the wealth” cards that either took money from an opponent or paid out money to an opponent. While there is no hint of charity on the board (excepting the one space telling the player to give $5,000 to a favorite charity), every player could end at Millionaire Acres. Finishing at the Poor Farm meant that the player made bad choices, took too many risks, and overextended their credit with the bank. The game highlighted individualism while adding the risks of speculation.

 

The Game of Life and the American Dream

 

“You too can be a Millionaire in this game of Life. That’s the object of the game.” So begins the list of instructions for what Milton Bradley called “A True to Life Game.” Success in life depended upon sound decisions – good choices, from the first day of adulthood to retirement. Both caution and risk promoted free market ideals.

 

Children playing the game learned why stocks splitting meant more money or why paying off a promissory note quickly decreased interest paid. Board games like Life brought suburban families together on Sunday afternoons, allowing parents to use such games to further educate children about pursuing the American Dream. Although other games like Monopoly also taught the values of property ownership, Life took all specific elements of capitalist success and incorporated them into a potential life time table.

 

Source:

 

Elaine Tyler May, Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era (New York: Basic Books, 1998).

Any attempt to reprint this article in print form or digital form may only be accomplished with written permission by the author.