“Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

1. Outline: • Transition, 1945- 1948 • “We Like Ike” • ’50’s Prosperity • Cold War at Home • Suburbia • Sixties Stirrings • Summary “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

2. Three questions tonight and throughout the course:What is history?What do we know about it, especially modern American history?How do we know?

3. We will pursue our understanding of American history through critical questions.Critical questions- are open-ended, no single definitive answer- tie the past to the present- require analytical thinking (SHEG) and techniques- examine primary and secondary sources- must be supported by American history content

4. “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

5. “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

6. Outline: • Transition, 1945- 1948 • “We Like Ike” • ’50’s Prosperity • Cold War at Home • Suburbia • Sixties Stirrings • Summary “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

7. Outline: Transition, 1945- 1948 “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

8. Transition, 1945- 1948 “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s 1946: there were 4,985 strikes involving 4,600,000 workers for 116 million days. Railroads, steelworkers, coalminers, automakers and teamsters were among those involved.

9. “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

10. Outline: • Transition, 1945- 1948 • “We Like Ike” • ’50’s Prosperity • Cold War at Home • Suburbia • Sixties Stirrings • Summary “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

11. “We Like Ike” “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

12. “We Like Ike” “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

13. Outline: • Transition, 1945- 1948 • “We Like Ike” • ’50’s Prosperity • Cold War at Home • Suburbia • Sixties Stirrings • Summary “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

14. ’50’s Prosperity “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

15. ’50’s Prosperity “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

16. ’50’s Prosperity “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

17. ’50’s Prosperity “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

18. Outline: • Transition, 1945- 1948 • “We Like Ike” • ’50’s Prosperity • Cold War at Home • Suburbia • Sixties Stirrings • Summary “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

19. Cold War at Home “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

20. Cold War at Home: McCarthyism “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

21. Cold War at Home: McCarthyism “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

22. Cold War at Home The actions of the junior Senator from Wisconsin have caused alarm and dismay amongst our allies abroad, and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And whose fault is that? Not really his. He didn’t create this situation of fear; he merely exploited it — and rather successfully. Cassius was right. “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.”Good night, and good luck. - Edward R. Murrow, television journalist “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

23. Cold War at Home “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

24. Outline: • Transition, 1945- 1948 • “We Like Ike” • ’50’s Prosperity • Cold War at Home • Suburbia • Sixties Stirrings • Summary “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

25. Suburbia “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

26. Suburbia “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

27. Suburbia “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

28. “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s The following is from a 1950s Home Economics textbook intended for high school girls teaching how to prepare for married life. 1.Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal - on time. . . .. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed. 2.Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift. . . . 4.Prepare the children: Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces if they are small, comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. 5.Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher or vacuum. . . Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him. 6.Some Don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. . . 9.Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment; instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax. 10.The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax.

29. Outline: • Transition, 1945- 1948 • “We Like Ike” • ’50’s Prosperity • Cold War at Home • Suburbia • Sixties Stirrings • Summary “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

30. 8 Questions: It was unexpected that James Dean received 8,000 letters a month. . “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

31. Sixties Stirrings “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

32. Sixties Stirrings “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

33. Sixties Stirrings “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

34. Sixties Stirrings “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

35. “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s Sixties Stirrings

36. Sixties Stirrings “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s

37. Outline: • Transition, 1945- 1948 • “We Like Ike” • ’50’s Prosperity • Cold War at Home • Suburbia • Sixties Stirrings • Summary “Nifty (?) Fifties”: Post-war America, 1945 – 1950’s