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The Affluent Society

The Affluent Society. Making America the Best Place to Live. “The Buck Stops Here”. Presidents of the 1950s. The Nifty ‘50s. Obsession with conformity Reaction towards the upheaval caused by WWII and fears of communist infiltration Conformity = unity. Labor Issues.

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The Affluent Society

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  1. The Affluent Society Making America the Best Place to Live

  2. “The Buck Stops Here” Presidents of the 1950s

  3. The Nifty ‘50s • Obsession with conformity • Reaction towards the upheaval caused by WWII and fears of communist infiltration • Conformity = unity

  4. Labor Issues • Labor unrest post-WWII • Taft-Hartley Act: Restricts the activities and power of labor unions. • Prohibited certain kinds of strikes and boycotts, closed shops, and monetary donations by unions to federal political campaigns. • Required union officers to sign non-communist affidavits with the government. • Vetoed by Truman; overridden by Congress • “Slave labor bill”

  5. Changes for • The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (AKA: the GI Bill), 1944: Provided a range of benefits for returning World War II veterans (commonly referred to as G.I.s). • Low-cost mortgages & loans, college/vocational education tuition, unemployment compensation. • Executive Order 9981: Abolished racial discrimination in the armed forces and eventually led to the desegregation of the armed services.

  6. Election of 1948 • Attacked the Republican “do nothing” Congress • Supported by labor, African Americans, and farmers • Won by a narrow margin

  7. Truman’s Fair Deal • Federal aid to education • Tax cuts for low-income earners • Abolition of poll taxes and an anti-lynching law • Farm-aid programs • Increased public housing • New TVA-style public works projects • New Department of Welfare • Repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act • Increase in the minimum wage from 40¢ to 75¢/hr. • Universal health insurance • Expanded Social Security coverage "Every segment of our population, and every individual, has a right to expect from his government a fair deal." • His plan focused on civil rights, health, welfare, labor, education, housing, veterans, and agriculture.

  8. Election of 1952 • Truman not nominated • WWII General Dwight D. Eisenhower runs via a grassroots campaign • CA Sen. Richard Nixon as VP • “Checkers Speech” • Sweeps the election against Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois.

  9. 442 Electoral votes to 89 Electoral votes

  10. Dynamic Conservatism • Pro-business • Cut social programs • Modest tax reductions • Anti-Communist

  11. Election of 1956 • Re-match of the 1952 election. • TV ads were the dominant medium for both sides for the first time. • Ike focused on winning the “housewife” vote • Wins by a landslide again • Ended the Korean War, nation was prosperous

  12. 457 Electoral votes to 73 Electoral votes

  13. Life Is A Highway The Golden Age of Cars

  14. Federal Highway Act • Federal Highway Act: Authorized the construction of 41,000 miles of the Interstate Highway System • Purpose was to allow military vehicles to move quickly across the country in the event of national emergency. • More efficient distribution of goods • Suburbanization and urban sprawl • Speed/ease of travel • New road culture

  15. Odd Numbered Highways Even Numbered Highways

  16. The Culture of the Car • America became a more homogeneous nation because of the automobile. • 2-car homes doubles from 1951-1958. • The new obsession with automobiles created a new desire for driving-related businesses.

  17. The Culture of the Car

  18. Route 66 • Route 66 (AKA: Main Street USA and the Mother Road): One of the original US highways, and one of the most famous roads in America. • Ran from Chicago to Los Angeles • Dust Bowl pathway • Supported economies along the road • Quirky shops, restaurants, hotels, and attractions dotted the roadway, so Route 66 was not just a road, but part of the trip itself.

  19. Catoosa, OK Flagstaff, AZ Rogers County, OK Carthage, MO Barstow, CA Shamrock, TX Amarillo, TX

  20. Flo: 1951 Le Sabre Mater: 1951 International Harvester boom truck Doc: 1951 Hudson Hornet Ramone: 1959 Chevrolet Impala Lowrider Sheriff: 1949 Mercury police car Luigi: 1959 Fiat 500

  21. THE REAL The 1950s Workplace

  22. The Affluent Society • Average income triples between 1940-60 • Home ownership increases • Americans move to white collar and service jobs

  23. The 1950s Workplace • Franchise: A supplier allows an operator to use the supplier’s trademark in return for a fee. • Uniformity • Consistency

  24. Post-War Consumerism • “Keeping up with the Joneses” • More wealth=more luxury items • Consumer and household items • Ease • Comfort • Effort

  25. Post-War Consumerism • 1950 – The introduction of the Diner’s Club Card (the first “credit card”) • Advertisements were often as well developed and entertaining as the shows they interrupted, with characters that became household names.

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