Chapter 13: Postwar Confidence and Anxiety

1. Chapter 13: Postwar Confidence and Anxiety • Demobilization – decreasing the man power in the military by allowing service men and women to return home • GI Bill of Rights – Federal law that granted benefits to veteran’s • A year of unemployment benefits if they could not find a job • Financial aid for college • Government loans for building and starting businesses • .

2. 1A. Baby Boom It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant. -- British visitor to America, 1958 1957  1 baby born every 7 seconds

3. 1B. Baby Boom Dr. Benjamin Spockand the Anderson Quintuplets

4. Converting War Time Economy • Inflation most painful economic problem after war • U.S. untouched by war’s devastation • U.S. produce 50% of world’s output • Technology improves productivity • Use of computers began in business • Increased military spending leads to new technologies • Development of plastics and light metal alloys • Marshall Plan increased demand for American goods

5. The Taft-Hartley Act • Republicans take control of both houses of Congress in 1946 and seek to return to a conservative government: • Lower taxes • Reduced government regulation • Support for business • Anti-Union – reduce the power of unions to aid business • End price controls passed during the war • Taft, a conservative Republican Senator sponsored act • Authorized President- 80 day cooling off period for strikes in essential industries • Banned shops closed to non-union members Truman Vetoes but is overridden

6. Truman and Civil Rights • Supports the trend in post war America against intolerance- Lesson of discrimination of the Nazis- rings loud and clear- Nuremberg Trials began, the truth of Nazi racism comes out • War was fought for freedom- freedom should be available at home • Some former soldiers don’t like racism in USA • American society is developing conditions for change emerge

7. Incremental Civil Rights for African Americans • 1946 Morgan v. Virginia- segregation in public interstate travel was unconstitutional • 1950- Shelley v. Kraemer- restrictive covenants in housing- not selling property to members of certain groups violated the Constitution

8. Civil Rights • Truman desegregated the Military and Federal Civil Service • Big step in the early struggle for an end to discrimination

9. Election 1948 • Southern Democrats leave national party in response to Truman's support for Civil Rights • Dixicrats • Strom Thurmond- South Carolina Senator, runs for president • Dewey runs for the Republicans • Truman appeared to lose- but appeals directly to the people citing the “Do nothing Republican Congress” and Wins the Election

11. Fair Deal • Liberal programs of Truman similar to New Deal • National health insurance • Limited and refused by Republican Congress 1946

12. Eisenhower Charts Middle Path • Eisenhower popular choice for president in 1952 – both parties wanted him!! • First elected post he ever held was president • Charted middle course • Agreed government was too big, but did not repeal New Deal programs • Federal spending increased during his presidency

13. The Car Culture • Automania • Cheap, plentiful gas, easy credit, advertising increase car sales • No public transit in suburbs; cars necessary • Car Culture Takes Over • Depended on cars to get to work • Cars necessary to grocery shop or go to new suburban shopping malls • Fast food restaurants and drive-in movies capitalize on car • Towns near highways prosper; those near older, smaller roads decline NEXT

14. continuedThe Car Culture • Mobility Takes Its Toll • Cars create social, environmental problems—e.g. accidents, pollution • Upper-, middle-class whites leave cities; jobs, businesses follow • Economic gulf widens between suburban and urban • - also widens gap between middle class and the poor NEXT

15. Chapter 13: Postwar Confidence and Anxiety • Interstate Highway Act • $$$ to build 41,000 miles of highway consisting of multilane expressways that would connect the nation’s major cities • Biggest public works expenditure in history • Modeled after the German Autobahn that Hitler built • Ike’s plan for rapid mobilization in times of international crisis. • In 1990, became known as the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways

18. Chapter 13: Postwar Confidence and Anxiety • Sunbelt– Name given to southern and western states during the migration of the U.S population from eastern and northern cities • Houston, TX - Benefited from boom in petrochemical and aerospace business • Migration had a heavy impact on the shift of representative power in Congress • California and Texas are now players in the Electoral College game • Factors in move • Climate • Large number of jobs (especially defense industries) • Air conditioning • Influx of Latino populations

19. Chapter 13: Postwar Confidence and Anxiety

20. The Organization and the Organization Man • Employment in the U.S. • By 1956, majority of Americans not in blue-collar (industrial) jobs • More in higher-paying, white-collar (office, professional) positions • Many in services, like sales, advertising, insurance, communications (service sector) Conglomerates • Conglomerates—corporation that owns smaller, unrelated companies • Diversify to protect from downturns in individual industries NEXT

21. The Organization and the Organization Man Franchises • Franchise—company offers similar products, services in many places - also the right to use company name and system • Fast-food restaurants among first, most successful franchises • Social Conformity • Many employees with well-paid, secure jobs lose individuality • Personality tests see if job candidates fit in company culture • Companies reward teamwork, loyalty, encourage conformity NEXT

22. Chapter 13: Postwar Confidence and Anxiety • Multinational Corporation- Companies that produced and sold their goods and services all over the world and established branches abroad. • General Motors, General Electric, International Business Machines, Coca-Cola • Consumerism – large-scale buying, most of it on credit • Union Gains • 1955 AFL and CIO combine to form AFL-CIO • Educational Opportunities • Number of young people attending college increase • Government funds education (science and math) • California Master Plan

23. Consumerism Unbound New Products • 60% of Americans in middle class; twice as many as before WW II • Consumerism (buying material goods) equated with success • Numerous new products appear on market in response to demand Planned Obsolescence • Planned obsolescence—making products that get outdated, wear out - makes consumers buy or want to buy new ones NEXT

24. continuedConsumerism Unbound • Buy Now, Pay Later • Credit purchases, credit cards, installments extend payment period • Private debt grows; consumers confident of future prosperity • The Advertising Age • Most people have satisfied basic needs; ads encourage extra spending • Psychological appeals in ads lure consumers to particular products • Ads appear in all media; television emerges as powerful new tool

25. Consumerism

26. Well-Defined Gender Roles The ideal modern woman married, cooked and cared for her family, and kept herself busy by joining the local PTA and leading a troop of Campfire Girls. She entertained guests in her family’s suburban house and worked out on the trampoline to keep her size 12 figure.-- Life magazine, 1956 MarilynMonroe The ideal 1950s man was the provider, protector, and the boss of the house. -- Life magazine, 1955 • 1956  William H. Whyte, Jr. The Organization Man • a middle-class, white suburban male is the ideal.

27. Religious Revival Today in the U. S., the Christian faith is back in the center of things. -- Time magazine, 1954 Church membership: 1940  64,000,000 1960  114,000,000 Television Preachers: 1. Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen “Life is Worth Living” 2. Methodist Minister Norman Vincent PealeThe Power of Positive Thinking 3. Reverend Billy Graham ecumenical message; warned against the evils of Communism.

28. Religious Revival Hollywood: apex of the biblical epics. The Robe The Ten Commandments Ben Hur1953 1956 1959 It’s un-American to be un-religious! -- The Christian Century, 1954

29. The Suburban Lifestyle Advances in Medicine and Childcare • New drugs fight, prevent childhood diseases • Dr. Jonas Salk develops vaccine for poliomyelitis • Pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock writes popular guide for parents • Baby boom impacts economy, educational system NEXT

30. Popular Culture New Era of the Mass Media The Rise of Television • Mass media—means of communication that reach large audiences • TV first widely available 1948; in almost 90% of homes in 1960 • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates communications • By 1956, FCC allows 500 stations to broadcast • Programs: comedies, news, dramas, variety shows, children’s shows • Lifestyle changes: TV Guide is popular magazine; TV dinners NEXT

31. New Era of the Mass Media • Stereotypes and Gunslingers • Women, minorities on TV are stereotypes; few blacks, Latinos • Westerns glorify historical frontier conflicts • Raise concerns about effect of violence on children • Radio and Movies • Television cuts into radio, movie markets • Radio turns to local news, weather, music, community affairs • Movies capitalize on size, color, sound advantages; try gimmicks NEXT

32. Television 1946  7,000 TV sets in the U. S.1950  50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S. Television is a vast wasteland. Newton Minnow, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, 1961 Mass Audience  TV celebrated traditionalAmerican values. Truth, Justice, and the American way!

33. Television – The Western Davy CrockettKing of the Wild Frontier Sheriff Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke The Lone Ranger(and his faithfulsidekick, Tonto): Who is that masked man??

34. Television - Family Shows Glossy view of mostly middle-class suburban life. But... I Love Lucy The Honeymooners Social Winners?... AND… Loosers?

35. African Americans and Rock ‘n’ Roll Rock ‘n’ Roll • Black musicians add electric instruments to blues—rhythm and blues • Rock ‘n’ roll—mix of rhythm and blues, country, pop • Has heavy rhythm, simple melodies, lyrics about teenage concerns • Music appeals to newly affluent teens who can buy records • Many adults concerned music will lead to delinquency, immorality NEXT

36. Teen Culture In the 1950s  the word “teenager” entered the American language. By 1956  13 mil. teens with $7 bil. to spend a year. 1951 “race music” “ROCK ‘N ROLL” Elvis Presley “The King”

37. Teen Culture Behavioral Rules of the 1950s: • Obey Authority. • Control Your Emotions. • Don’t Make Waves  Fit in with the Group.

38. A Subculture Emerges The Beat Movement • Beat movement—writers, artists express social, literary nonconformity • Poets, writers use free, open form; read works aloud in coffeehouses • Beatnik attitudes, way of life attract media attention, students NEXT

39. The “Beat” Generation: • Jack Kerouac On The Road • Allen Ginsberg  poem, “Howl” • Neal Cassady • William S. Burroughs “Beatnik” “Clean” Teen

40. The Other America The Urban Poor • White Flight • 1962, 25% of Americans below poverty level • Post WW II–1960, 5 million blacks go from rural South to urban North • White flight results in loss of businesses, tax payers to cities • Cities can no longer afford to maintain or improve: • - schools, public transportation, police and fire departments • The Other America by Michael Harrington – documents changes in cities Continued . . . NEXT

41. continuedThe Urban Poor • The Inner Cities • Poverty grows rapidly in decaying inner cities • Poor economic conditions lead to illness and terrible conditions Urban Renewal • Urban renewal—replace rundown buildings with new low-income housing • Housing and Urban Development Dept. created to improve conditions • Not enough housing built for displaced people NEXT

42. Rural Poor • Plight of rural poor just as bad • Included Mississippi delta sharecroppers, miners in Appalachia and farmers in remote areas • Corporations and large farmers dominated farm production, forcing small farmers out of business • Many left to the urban areas, some remained behind hoping for better economic times

43. Poverty Leads to Activism • Mexicans Seek Employment • Many Southwest Mexicans become U.S. citizens after Mexican War • 1942–47, Mexican braceros, hired hands, allowed into U.S. to work • After war, many remain illegally; many others enter to look for work • The Longoria Incident • Undertaker refuses funeral services to Felix Longoria, WW II veteran • Outraged Mexican-American veterans organize G.I. Forum • Unity League of CA registers voters, promotes responsive candidates Continued . . . NEXT

44. continuedPoverty Leads to Activism • Native Americans Continue their Struggle • During Depression, U.S. policy of Native American autonomy • National Congress of American Indians: civil rights, maintain customs • U.S. stops family allotments, wages; outsiders take tribal lands The Termination Policy • Termination policy cuts economic support, gives land to individuals • Bureau of Indian Affairs helps resettlement in cities • Termination policy is a failure; abandoned in 1963 NEXT