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The Fifties – Domestic Social

The Fifties – Domestic Social. Post WWII. Although the title of this is “The Fifties”, it is not just the 1950s Post WWII: 1945 to 1963 Why 1963 as a stopping point? Baby Boom Why an increase in the number of children born in this time period?. Business Boom.

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The Fifties – Domestic Social

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  1. The Fifties – Domestic Social

  2. Post WWII • Although the title of this is “The Fifties”, it is not just the 1950s • Post WWII: 1945 to 1963 • Why 1963 as a stopping point? • Baby Boom • Why an increase in the number of children born in this time period?

  3. Business Boom • After a short post-war recession (why?), overall great growth. • Employment Act of 1946 – goal of full employment due to recession • What does that show? • Growth of White Collar jobs • How did the GI Bill contribute to this? • What about women in the workplace? • How did the savings/ration system during the war contribute to the unprecedented prosperity of the 1950s?

  4. 2 Business types emerge in the 50s Franchises Conglomerates a corporation consisting of a number of sub-companies or divisions in a variety of unrelated industries, usually as a result of merger or acquisition. • the right or license granted by a company to an individual or group to market its products or services in a specific territory

  5. Labor & Unions • Post-war inflation affected workers which salaries did not keep up • 1946 over 4.5 million workers went on strike • When mine workers threatened to strike, Truman threaten action • Taft-Hartley Act (passed in 1947) • Outlawed Closed Shop • Permitted states to pass laws to become Right-to-work states • Outlawed secondary strikes (strikes by other unions not involved) • President could declare 80 day “cooling off period” • Truman vetoed bill, but was overridden • 1955 AFL and CIO would reunify • Peak of Union involvement would be in early 1950s • Since then the effects of Taft-Hartley have lessened their power • How did the “right-to-work” laws help the south?

  6. Rise of the Sunbelt • Population shift from The “Rustbelt” to the “Sunbelt” • Effects of the New Deal Projects and WWII • Defense-related industries built during Cold War • Effects of Air Conditioning • Would continue to modern-day

  7. The Suburbs • Rapid growth of suburbia in the Post-WWII era • In a single generation, the majority of middle-class Americans became suburbanites • Effects of GI Bill • Effects of Baby Boom • Effects of Depression and WWII savings • Effects of Interstate Highway Act • Levittowns – mass produced housing • White Flight • What happened in the inner cities?

  8. Automania I • Federal Highway Acts • Eisenhower Interstate system • Why was it made? • What is the numbering system? • What is “death by Interstate?”

  9. Automania II • How did the Interstates help to expand suburbs? • How did the Interstates not only help expand the Automobile Industry, but also lessen the power of the Railroads? • How did the Interstates help create a more “homogenous” U.S.? • Other Effects: • Vacations • Motels • Consumerism • “Youth Culture”

  10. Economic Prosperity • Between 1945 and 1960, pre-capita disposable income tripled • Post-War standard of living was the highest in the world • Would help add to a consumer culture • Planned Obsolescence – “throwaway society” • New Products • Advertising Age (TV effects)

  11. Television • By the end of the 1950s, TV became a center of family life for many • I Love Lucy, Father Knows Best, Bandstand, Ozzie and Harriet • Mickey Mouse Club, Lassie, Flintstones, Leave it to Beaver • 3 National networks dominated (ABC, CBS, NBC) • “vast wasteland” by FCC Chairman Newton Minnow • How was the culture portrayed on TV? • How does it affect language and “homogenous culture?”

  12. Music, Radio and Records • Rock n Roll emerges • Blend of black R&B and white country music • Elvis Presley • Payola Scandal – corporate payoffs of DJs • LPs – “Long Playing” records • 45s – smaller records

  13. Leisure Time • Why did Americans have more leisure time? • That combined with more disposable income lead to what? • Sports grow • Passive – watching (baseball, football) • Active – actually involved (bowling, hunting, fishing, golf) • TV • Dime stores/shopping • Vacations

  14. Family Time • Dr. Benjamin Spock’s book on raising children • Dr. Jonas Salk – Polio vaccine • Organized religion expands dramatically (“great awakening?”) • Membership in church part of identity and socialization • Women roles • Seen in traditional view • Paid less than men • Early feminist movement brewing • How does I Love Lucy show this?

  15. The Critics • Beatniks / Beat Movement– criticized conformity in modernsociety • Allen Ginsberg – Howl – rebellion against societal standards • Jack Kerouac – criticized materialism and conformity • J.D. Salinger – Catcher in the Rye– alienation and conformity of youth • David Riesman (sociologist) – individualism replaced with conformity • Michael Harrington – The Other America • Plight of the Urban and Rural poor

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