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Explore the economic boom of the 1950s, the rise of consumer culture, the advent of Eisenhower as president, and the seeds of the Civil Rights Revolution. Discover the affluence and anxieties that defined this transformative era in American history.
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Chapter 37 The Eisenhower Era
Affluence and its anxieties • Post WWII1950’s were part of an economic boom. • U.S. turned from renters to homeowners. • Baby boom generations. • Science and technology growth • New electronics like computers • Women went back to being housewives and not working.
Consumer Culture in the 1950’s • There was a huge expansion of the middle class, which caused economic growth. • “Fast food” began • First McDonalds opened in San Bernardo, California.
Consumer Culture in the 1950’s cont. • In 1949 the 1st credit card was introduced. • Disneyland opened in Anaheim, Ca in 1955. • Television became more popular and by 1956 there were 442 stations. • Huge transformation in music • King Elvis Presley created rock n roll by fusing rhythm and blues with white bluegrass and country. • Playboy first emerged in the 1950’s.
The Advent of Eisenhower • Democrat Eisenhower won vs. Republican Stevenson in the election of 1952. • Democrats won by 33,936,234 votes to 27,314,992 votes. • Korean war • 44 thousand dead Americans • I million Chinese and Korean (north and south) • Billions of dollars were used.
Desegregating American Society • In 1950 there were 15 million black U.S. citizens and 1/3 lived in the segregated South. • Black people used segregated schools, public toilets, water fountains, waiting rooms, restaurants and train seats.
Desegregating American society cont. • Only 20% of blacks could vote. • North had less problems with segregation. • In 1955 Rosa Parks made history by seating in a “whites only” seat.
Seeds of Civil Rights Revolution • Truman tried to end segregation in 1943 in armed forces but congress resisted. • Brown vs. Board of Education May 1954. • In 1957 congress passed the 1st Civil Rights Act since the reconstruction.