Unit 6 Lesson 1Remediation Activity 2 Economic, Social and Political Aspects of the 1950s

What We Will Review Economic Aspects of the 1950s: The growing US economy Social Aspects of the 1950s: New technology, consumerism, baby boom and fear of communism and nuclear war Political Aspects of the 1950s: McCarthyism and the Korean War

Economic Aspects of the 1950s Causes to Growing US Economy Increase demand for US products. US maintained standing military which increased jobs. The GI Bill gave soldiers money for homes, college and vocational training. Results of the Growing US Economy The middle class grew. People moved to the suburbs. “White Flight”: many white people moved from cities.

Social Aspects of the 1950s wikimedia.org/wi ki/File:Television. svg Millions of Americans bought television sets. Changed the way Americans received their news and spent their leisure time. New inventions: refrigerator, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine. kimedia.org/wiki/F ile:Market.png Consumerism is a type of consumer spending in which individuals spend more money because an economy offers numerous new inventions and products. Americans bought more of what they wanted rather than what they needed. Consumerism increased demand and increased jobs.

Social Aspects of the 1950s wikimedia.org/wi ki/File:Baby_anth ony_liekens_01- human.svg The “Baby Boom” was a period of time between 1946 and 1964 when 79 million babies were born. This was 40% of the population! kimedia.org/wiki/F ile:Bomb.svg After the Soviet Union exploded its first nuclear bomb in 1949, American fear of communism and nuclear war grew. Many Americans built bomb shelters. Schools practiced nuclear war drills.

Political Aspects of the 1950s McCarthyism Senator Joseph McCarthy began to accuse many Americans in the government and Hollywood of being communists. Caused hysteria where many Americans feared a growing communist threat in America. In 1956, the hysteria of McCarthyism ended when Senator McCarthy was found to have no evidence to support his accusations.

Political Aspects of the 1950s The Korean War Communist North Korea invaded democratic South Korea. The US applied the policy of containment and supported South Korea to prevent the spread of communism. Causes to the Korean War South Korea was free and remained independent. North Korea remained communist. 40,000 American were killed. Results of the Korean War

Let’s Review Economic Aspects of the 1950s The US economy grew. More jobs became available. Many Americans moved to the suburbs. Social Aspects of the 1950s New technology ConsumerismBaby Boom Fear of communism and nuclear war Political Aspects of the 1950s McCarthyism The Korean War