The Postwar Boom: Social Challenges in 1950s America

1. Standard Addressed: 11.8 Students analyze the economic boom and social transformation of post–World War II America. CH 19-SEC 4 Lesson Objectives: Section 4 - The Other America • 1. Explain how the white migration to the suburbs created an urban crisis. • 2. Describe the efforts of minorities to gain equal rights and fight poverty.

2. A BULLDOG ALWAYS Commitment Attitude CARES Respect Encouragement Safety

3. QUIZ! Fill in your ID NUMBER! First & Last Name CH-19-4

4. THE POSTWAR BOOM THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THE 1950S Amidst the prosperity of the 1950s, millions of Americans live in poverty.

5. THE OTHER AMERICA • In 1962, nearly one out of every four Americans was living below the poverty level

6. Most of these poor were the elderly, single women and their children, and/or minorities

7. WHITE FLIGHT • In the 1950s, millions of middle-class white Americans left the cities for the suburbs

8. The so-called “White Flight” drained cities of valuable resources, money and taxes Continued . . . NEXT

9. At the same time 5 millions African American migrated from the rural inner cities

10. Cities can no longer afford to maintain or improve: • - schools, public transportation, police and fire departments • Detroit

11. Guided Reading:

12. The Inner Cities • Poverty grows rapidly in decaying inner cities • Poor economic conditions lead to illness and terrible conditions NEXT

13. 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

14. Increased inner city crime

15. 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 • work Continued . . . NEXT

16. Mexicans braceros, Seek EmploymentAfter war, many remain illegally; many others enter to look for work

17. Mexican-Americans • Operation Wetback was an immigration law enforcement initiative created by Director of the Immigration and Naturalization ServiceJoseph Swing. • The program was implemented in May of 1954 by the U.S. Attorney General Herbert Brownell, and utilized special tactics to combat the problem of illegal border crossing and residence in the United States by Mexican nationals

20. RACISM

21. 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

22. Lemon Grove Incident • The Lemon Grove Case 1930-31 (Roberto Alvarez vs. the Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District), • was the United State’s first successful school desegregation case. • Lemon Grove, California, where the local school board attempted to build a separate school for children of Mexican origin.

23. Mexican-Americans Hernandez v. Texas, 347 U.S. 475 (1954), was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that decided that Mexican Americans and all other racial groups in the United States had equal protection under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Social implications The ruling was yet another step forward in the American Civil Rights Movement and another hit to racial segregation in the USA. This time, racial minorities other than African Americans benefited from such a ruling. The ultimate impact of this ruling was that now all racial groups of the United States were protected under the 14th Amendment.

24. Unity League of California • Founded by Ignacio Lopez to register Mexican-American voters and promote candidates who would represent their interests

25. American G.I. Forum, • Hector Garcia, Corpus Christi, Texas, early 1950s

26. Guided Reading: The Other America Guided Reading:

27. Native Americans

28. Native Americans & Americanization

29. Native Americans • 1924, Native Americans receive full citizenship • John Collier, commissioner of Indian affairs, changes policies • Indian Reorganization Act favors native autonomy, mandates changes: - lands belong to entire tribe; government can’t sell unclaimed areas - children can attend schools on reservations - tribes elect tribal councils to govern reservations

30. 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 – Klamath Termination Act NEXT

33. The Klamath 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

36. Guided Reading: The Other America Guided Reading:

37. QUIZ! Fill in your ID NUMBER! First & Last Name CH-19-4