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America at Mid-Century

America at Mid-Century. 1952-1963. AMERICAN SOCIETY AT MID-CENTURY. Objective… Identify the elements of mass culture and explain the criticism of mass culture. Mass culture - AKA “Pop culture”.

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America at Mid-Century

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  1. America at Mid-Century 1952-1963

  2. AMERICAN SOCIETY AT MID-CENTURY • Objective… Identify the elements of mass culture and explain the criticism of mass culture.

  3. Mass culture - AKA “Pop culture” The norms (ideas, perspectives, attitudes & behaviors) promoted by the mass media and accepted by the majority of a given culture. 1950s = Conformity Why?

  4. FACTS about the 1950s… • US Population: 152,000,000 • Life expectancy: W 71.1 - M 65.6 • Labor force male/female: 5/2 • What Things Cost in 1950… • Car: $1,750 • Gas: .27 cents/gal • House: $14,500 – • Bread: .14 cents/loaf - Milk: .82 cents/gal • Postage: .03 cents • Min. Wage: .75 cents per hr • Av. Salary: $3,000-$3,800

  5. John Kenneth Galbraith The Affluent Society… 1) Galbraith’s criticism of American society… 1) Galbraith’s criticism of American society…

  6. The Eisenhower Presidency Objective… Describe Eisenhower’s leadership style & political philosophy on the role of government.

  7. Results of the 1952 Election.. PartyElectorPop Vote% Eisenhower: Rep… 442… 55% Stevenson: Dem… 89… 44%

  8. DDE’s biography… • Born in1890 into a poor Texas family • Public education • 1915 - Graduates West Point • 1917 - WW I veteran & Advisor to MacArthur • 1943 - N. African campaign & D-Day • 1945 - Allied Commander • 1945 - President Columbia University • 1950 - Leader of N.A.T.O. • 1952 - Elected U.S. President – 2 terms • 1961- Retires in Gettysburg, PA • 1969 - Dies in Washington DC

  9. Dwight D. Eisenhower Dynamic Conservatism or Modern Republicanism “Conservative when it comes to money and liberal when it comes to human beings” - DDE ” “A middle of the road Republican” 2) DDE’s leadership style…

  10. The DDE Presidency 3) DDE’s “corporate commonwealth?”… A) DDE’s appointments reflect… B) Who should guide the economy… 4) What were the consequences of DDE’s environmental policy?

  11. "Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are...Texas oil millionaires and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid." 5) What New Deal legacy did DDE accept?

  12. The DDE Presidency 6)DDE’s views on “pumping the economy”… -The consequences of these views… 7) What was the effect of DDE’s financial policies?

  13. Objective… • Identify and explain the significance of DDE’s major legislative accomplishments.

  14. 8) Subsidizing Prosperity…Millions of Americans achieve middle class A. Nat. Defense. Ed. Act (1958)… • Emphasis on the importance of education. • Driven by the fear that we are falling behind the Soviets in science & technology (…Sputnik launched in 1957) • Grants to college students who went into education. • Grants to universities to update science programs. • B. Veterans Act… • The GI Bill was expanded beyond education • Low interest mortgages & business loans to vets. • Promotes the growth of the suburbs. the growth of the suburbs

  15. C. Federal Highway Act… • AKA: The Eisenhower Highway Act • Builds 41K miles of highways in US • Encourages suburb development • Accelerates the decline of the cities • Causes the under funding of mass transit • The largest public works program in history http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdhJMKegnCI…Route 66

  16. D. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) … • Following WW II, the FHA helped finance homes for returning veterans & their families. Facilitates the American dream of owning a house. • Negatives… Favored new communities on the outskirts of cities… or favored suburban middle class developments; Favored single family homes v. multi-family; discriminated against minorities; Provided nothing to repair existing structures; Results in urban decay

  17. Objective… Summarize the trends in the 1950s culture.

  18. I &E: Baby boom – The population explosion between 1946- 1964. • 1957: 1 birth every 7 seconds • 10M enter elementary school • Toy sales: 12.5B • Teacher shortages

  19. The Suburbs… • 1957 - The Baby Boom peaks • 1950s - Wm. Levitt mass produces homes • 1950s - 13M homes built… 85% in the suburbs • 1960’s - Urban areas are surrounded by suburbs

  20. Levittown, NY-PA • 1950s - Wm. Levitt mass produces homes… assembly line production • 1950s – 13M homes built… • 85% in the suburbs

  21. Suburban Life “Stay at home Moms” … the efficient, charming homemaker 9) How do the following typify suburban life … A) Nuclear family & the suburban housewife…. B) Role of religion… Back to church in mass #s

  22. UNHAPPY: Discontent, isolated, unchallenged, bored How did many American women feel about their role as a homemaker? “ the key figure in all suburbia, the thread that weaves between family and community- the keeper of the suburban dream” 10) Betty Freidan…Her alternative view?... • Women are frustrated • Limited employment opportunities • Unequal pay • Little encouragement to do more than be a Mom

  23. 1950s Sexist coffee advertisement… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRYfouuHPvs&feature=g-vrec&context=G2da5fe9RVAAAAAAAAAQ

  24. Lonely Crowds & Organization Men 11) According to critics what motivates Americans in the 1950s… “inner directed” vs. “other directed” Inner = Morality results from internal drive & self discipline Other = morality results from the need to conform

  25. The Expansion of Higher Education    12) What were the reasons for the rapid expansion in college enrollment in the 1950s… • The Boomers arrive at college • The GI Bill (…applies to Korean vets) • Nat Defense Ed Act • Defense spending for research • “White collar” expectations of society

  26. Health & Medicine 13) Improvements in health & medicine after WW II… Advances in Medicine … Antibiotics widely distributed Open Heart Surgery Tuberculosis Diphtheria Whooping cough Measles Poliomyelitis

  27. Jonas Salk - Developed the vaccine that eradicated Polio.

  28. Recommended… -Stay at home mothers -No spanking -Stay at home Moms -Family meetings so that children can express themselves Dr. Benjamin Spock • Baby and Child Care • by Dr. Spock • 10M sold in 1950s

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