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Post-WWII Economic Prosperity and Social Change in 1950s America

Explore the impact of demobilization and technological advancements on American society and the economy during the 1950s. Learn about Truman's labor policy, the GI Bill of Rights, the Taft-Hartley Act, and the Interstate Highway Act. Discover the growth of the service sector, the rise of suburbia, and the California Master Plan for education. Understand how these social and economic factors transformed American life during this era.

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Post-WWII Economic Prosperity and Social Change in 1950s America

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  1. Unit 7—Chapters 12 – 13 The Cold War CSS 11.8, 11.9, 11.11

  2. Warm Up • What does “demobilization” mean? • We’ve already covered how Americans reacted to the Cold War at home. Outside of this, what do you think average American life was like in the 1950’s?

  3. Part Three American Prosperity 11.8.3 Examine Truman’s labor policy and congressional reaction to it. 11.8.7 Describe the effects on society and the economy of technological developments since 1945 EQ 5: How did the nation experience recovery and economic prosperity after WWII?

  4. Demobilization and the Economy • Short economic downturn after WWII led to fears of new G.D. • Congress cuts taxes • America wealthiest civilization on Earth • 6% of world’s population control 40% of wealth

  5. Demobilization and the Economy • Fair Deal, 1948 • Truman’s domestic program • raised min. wage $.65 to $.75/hr • expanded S.S. benefits to cover 10m more people • provided government funding for 100,000 low-income public housing units and urban renewal • expanded FDR’s New Deal programs

  6. Demobilization and the Economy • GI Bill of Rights, 1944 • $14.5 billion for veterans • $ for college, homes, farms, small businesses • helped vets get started after the war • training, travel, and college are still used as an incentive for the military today

  7. Demobilization and the Economy • Taft-Hartley Act, 1947 • made unions liable for damages • union leaders had to take noncommunist oath • passed over Truman’s veto • many strikes when the government stopped controlling the economy after the war • AFL and CIO merged in 1955 as a result of weakening unions

  8. Demobilization and the Economy • Interstate Highway Act, 1955 • Largest, most expensive public works act in U.S. history • 41,000 miles of road • Ike built it to move the military quickly across the country • bridges had to be tall enough for military vehicles

  9. Demobilization and the Economy • McDonalds, 1953 • est. San Bernardino in ‘40 • franchised in 1953 • every restaurant made the same food and looked the same • 15¢ hamburgers made under Speedee Service System • Roy Kroc bought the company in 1955 • 31,000 stores in 119 countries • 47 million customers per day • 1.5 million employees • $2 billion a year in advertising

  10. The Original Ronald McDonald

  11. Demobilization and the Economy • Disneyland, 1955 • cost $17 million to build • newfound prosperity meant more time for leisure and entertainment • even Khrushchev wanted to go to Disneyland • over 500 million have gone to the park • Disney World opened in 1971

  12. EQ 5: • How did the nation experience recovery and economic prosperity after WWII?

  13. Part Three American Prosperity 11.8.1 Trace the growth of service sector, white collar, and professional sector jobs in business and government. 11.8.4 Analyze new federal and state government spending on education, including the California Master Plan. 11.8.7 Describe the effects on society and the economy of technological developments since 1945 EQ 6: What social and economic factors changed American life during the 1950’s?

  14. Society on the Move • Frostbelt to Sunbelt • Americans moved to the S and W • lots more people moving from one community to another instead of staying in one place for several generations • military and space spending increased in the Sunbelt • Cape Canaveral • retirement communities grew in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida

  15. Society on the Move • Suburbia • Levittown, NY was the 1st large-scale planned community (17,000+ homes) • white flight: middle-class moved to suburban areas to escape urban problems

  16. Society on the Move • Blue Collar to White Collar labor • the # of middle-class families doubled • average income increased from $3,000-$10,000 • 60% middle class owned home • 90% owned a television • most families owned a car

  17. Society on the Move • service sector • fewer Americans worked on farms or in factories • more and more Americans got jobs serving rather than producing • McDonalds, accountants, retail

  18. Society on the Move • California Master Plan, 1960 • set up the current system of higher education in California • Top 12.5% guaranteed spot in UC • Top 33% guaranteed spot in CSU • Everyone guaranteed spot in JCs UCSB

  19. EQ 6: • What social and economic factors changed American life during the 1950’s?

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