Postwar Prosperity: Economic Boom & Social Shifts

1. POSTWAR CONFIDENCE AND ANXIETY 1945-1960Chapter 26 “How did social and economic changes after World War II affect Americans?”

2. An Economic BoomSection 1 • “How did the nation experience recovery and economic prosperity after World War II?” • Vocabulary: -demobilization productivity -GI Bill of Rights Taft-Hartley Act -baby boom Fair Deal

3. Standards • SSUSH21 • The student will explain economic growth and its impact on the United States 1945-1970. • SSUSH21.a • Describe the baby boom and the impact as shown by Levittown and the Interstate Highway Act. • SSUSH21.b • Describe the impact television has had on American culture, including the Presidential Debates (Kennedy/Nixon, 1960), news coverage of the Civil Rights movement. • SSUSH21.c • Analyze the impact of technology on American life including the development of the personal computer and the cellular telephone. • SSUSH21.d • Describe the impact of competition with the USSR as evidenced by the launch of Sputnik I and President Eisenhower's actions.

4. An Economic Boom The Nation Recovers From War Main Idea: When World War II ended, Americans worried that the economy would fall back into depression, but ultimately there was economic growth. Truman Overcomes Huge Obstacles Main Idea: When Truman entered office he struggled with labor problems and southerners who wanted to avoid passing civil rights reforms, but he still managed to achieve reforms while in office. Eisenhower Charts a Middle Path Main Idea: Politically, Eisenhower took the middle road as President and the United States had one of the most prosperous times in the twentieth century during his term.

5. The Nation Recovers From War • GI Bill aids returning soldiers • Baby Boom fills classrooms • Converting from a wartime economy – inflation and strikes • U.S. dominates the world economy • Technological progress boosts productivity • Government spending supports growth

6. Reading Skill: Understand Effects NOTE TAKING

7. Birthrate, 1940-1960 CHART

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9. Truman Overcomes Obstacles • Grappling with Congress and Labor -Taft-Hartley Act (outlawed the closed shop) • Angering segregationists – Congress rejected recommendations to reform civil rights • Truman upsets Dewey in Election of 1948 • Truman proposed the Fair Deal

10. Truman’s Domestic Policies • Moving to a Peacetime economy • Taft-Hartley Act – 80-day cooling-off period • Fair Deal – 21-point program • Republican Congress • Election of 1948 – Truman defeats Thomas E. Dewey

11. The Presidential Election of 1948 GRAPH

12. Desegregation of the Armed Forces • Truman desegregated the Armed Forces and Civil Service Employees

13. Eisenhower Charts a Middle Path • “Ike” defeated Adlai Stevenson in the Election of 1952 • World War II general • Did not repeal existing New Deal programs, such as Social Security and the minimum wage • Created the Interstate Highway system • Spent federal money to improve education • Prosperous, peaceful and tranquil time

14. Dwight Eisenhower • Talented diplomat • Nixon’s Checkers Speech • Wins election in 1952 and 1956 • Modern Republicanism – “conservative when it comes to money, liberal when it comes to human beings.”

15. Suburbs and Highways • Baby boomers • Suburbs – GI Bill • Interstate Highway Act, $26 billion to build 40,000 miles of limited access highway

16. The Postwar Economy • Economic Prosperity in the years after World War II brought many changes to American life.

17. The Mood of the 1950sMany Americans enjoyed the stability and prosperity of the 1950s, while some young people began to rebel against their parents’ society People have more free time to pursue entertainment and fun New books and rock and roll challenge values of the time After depression and war, Americans value prosperity and security THE 1950s Many young people stay in school, rather than leaving early and finding jobs Women are expected to work at home, raise family and help husband Many experience new found commitment to religious beliefs and practices

18. Demand for Civil RightsAfter WWII, African Americans began winning important victories in the battle for civil rights

19. A Society on the MoveSection 2 • “What social and economic factors changed American life during the 1050s?” • Vocabulary: -Interstate Highway Act AFL-CIO -service sector Sunbelt -California Master Plan franchise business -franchise business multinational -informational industry corporation

20. A Society on the Move Americans Move to the Suburbs Main Idea: Millions of Americans moved to the suburbs, where new housing developments established ideal communities to raise families. Eisenhower Interstate Highway System Main Idea: Eisenhower authorized the funding of an interstate highway system, which helped to connect major cities, making the move to suburbs possible and increasing the travel industry. Migrating to the Sunbelt Main Idea: Western and Southern states saw a rise in population as Americans moved there for jobs and Latinos migrated there from Mexico and Cuba. The American Economy Changes Focus Main Idea: After World War II, Americans shifted from mostly industry jobs to service jobs. This trend also led to a rise in franchises and multinational corporations and a decline in trade unions.

21. The American Dream • Characterized by a home in the suburbs and a car in the garage, came true for many people in the postwar years

22. Car Ownership GRAPH

23. Americans Move to the Suburbs • Suburbs attract young Americans – developers such as William Levitt built homes; FHA provided low-interest loans; GI Bill provided low-interest loans for returning service men and women • “Car Culture” • Interstate Highway Act – built for defense and travel

24. The Interstate Highway System TRANSPARENCY

25. Levittown TRANSPARENCY

26. Migrating to the Sunbelt • Sunbelt- Name given to the southern and western states • Appealing climate and jobs in defense industries • Latinos, including many Cubans escaping Castro’s regime, moved to the Sunbelt • Impact of migration – California became large and Northeast and Midwest lost political power

27. Reading Skill: Identify Causes and Effects NOTE TAKING

28. American Economy Changes Focus • Service sector grows – information industries; ENIAC, first computer • Entrepreneurs start businesses – franchise businesses • American corporations go multinational • Unions consolidate their gains – AFL-CIO -Most white-collar workers did not join unions -Corruption in the Teamsters Union

30. Changes in the Workforce • By 1956 a majority of American workers held white-collar jobs • Growth of the service industry • Blue-collar workers saw improved working conditions • American Federation of Labor and Congress of industrial Organizations merged into the AFL-CIO

31. Businesses Reorganize • Per capita income, the average income per person, increased from $1,526 to $2,788 • Conglomerates, a large corporation that owns many smaller companies that produce entirely different goods and services • Franchises, the right to open a restaurant using a parent company’s brand name and system

33. Consumer Credit Grows • Credit cards, used to charge goods and services • Diner’s Club, 1950 • American express • BankAmericard (VISA)

34. Educational Opportunities Expand • Government provides funding for education • Education is “Democratized” – California Master Plan called for three tiers of higher education: research universities, state colleges, and community colleges • Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka -1954; segregated schools declared unconstitutional

35. Reading Skill: Identify Main Ideas NOTE TAKING

36. Brown v. Board of Education • May 1954 Supreme Court declared that “separate but equal” was no longer permissible in public education • “separate facilities are inherently unequal” • Struck down Plessy v. Ferguson , 1896

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38. Mass Culture and Family LifeSection 3 • “How did popular culture and family life change during the 1950s?” • Vocabulary: -consumerism Benjamin Spock -median family income rock-and roll -nuclear family Elvis Presley

39. Mass Culture and Family Life The Culture of Consumerism Main Idea: New products in the marketplace and an increase in income led to a rise in consumer spending in the 1950s. Family Life in the Fifties Main Idea: In the 1950s, traditional families, which were described at the time as a mother who stayed home, a father as the breadwinner, and children at the focus, became the center of society. Television Takes Center Stage Main Idea: Televisions were purchased quickly by Americans, expanded the mass national culture, and had a huge impact on Americans and society. Rock-and-Roll Shakes the Nation Main Idea: Building on traditional African American rhythm and blues music, Elvis Presley helped to spread the popularity of rock-and-roll to youth in the 1950s.

40. Culture of Consumerism • Median family income rose to $5,417 during the 1950s • Buying new conveniences • Home appliances • By 1953, 90% of all households owned a television

41. Technology Transforms Life • Television • Computers-transistors • Nuclear Power • Advances in Medicine

42. Technology Challenge • Soviet Union launched Sputnikin 1957 • Americans afraid of nuclear attack • National Defense Education Act of 1958

43. Family Life in the Fifties • Nuclear family – many women stayed home • By 1960, 1/3 of women worked • Children are the focus of the family • Dr. Benjamin Spock, Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care • Religious revival • Improved healthcare for baby boomers

44. Comfort and Security • Youth culture • Resurgence in religion – Billy Graham • Men’s roles • Women’s roles –Betty Friedan

45. Television and the American Family TRANSPARENCY

46. Rock-and Roll Shakes the Nation • Drawing on African American Roots • Attracting a wider audience • Elvis Presley

47. Poodle Skirt, Bobby Sox, Saddle Oxfords

48. Reading Skill: Identify Main Ideas NOTE TAKING

49. Baby-Boom Kids INFOGRAPHIC

50. PM TRANSPARENCY Progress Monitoring Transparency