1946 to 1961: Four Main Themes COLD WAR COLD WAR CONSUMERISM CONSUMERISM A CONFIDENT NATION A CONFIDENT NATION CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT COLD WAR COLD WAR CONSUMERISM CONSUMERISM A CONFIDENT NATION A CONFIDENT NATION CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT Was it a time of “happy days or anxiety, alienation and social unrest”?

Post War America-Demobilization Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944 Baby Boom Suburban Growth Rise of the Sunbelt Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944 Baby Boom Suburban Growth Rise of the Sunbelt

"Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944" On June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the "Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944" GI Bill of Rights “ GI Bill of Rights ”

Help veterans adjust to civilian life after separation from service Gain higher education if you couldn’t afford one Restore lost educational opportunities because of military service. Enhance our nation through a more highly educated and productive work force FDR signing the GI Bill of Rights into law. This was a correction of our mistake after WWI.

GI Bill provided 6 benefits education and training Loans for a home, farm, or business unemployment pay of $20 a week for 52 weeks job-finding assistance Eligible for GI Bill Benefits WWII veteran, served 90 days or more after September 16, 1940 and a honorable discharge. Program ended July 25, 1956 Of the 15,440,000 veterans, some 7.8 million were trained. 2,230,000 in college 3,480,000 in other schools 1,400,000 in on-job training 690,000 in farm training Total cost of the World War II education program was $14.5 billion.

Baby Boomers It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant.It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant. British visitor to America, 1958.British visitor to America, It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant.It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant. British visitor to America, 1958.British visitor to America, 1958.

Baby Boomers During Great Depression, birthrate and population decreased.During Great Depression, birthrate and population decreased. Post WWII, both increasePost WWII, both increase During Great Depression, birthrate and population decreased.During Great Depression, birthrate and population decreased. Post WWII, both increasePost WWII, both increase

Suburban Living $7,990 or $60/month with no down payment. Levittown, New York (Long Island) “The American Dream” 1949  William Levitt produced 150 houses per week.

Suburban Living: The New “American Dream” 1 story high 1 story high 12’x19’ living room 12’x19’ living room 2 bedrooms 2 bedrooms tiled bathroom tiled bathroom garage garage small backyard small backyard front lawn front lawn By 1960  1/3 of the U. S. population in the suburbs.

Suburban Living SHIFTS IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, Central Cities 31.6% 32.3%32.6% 32.0% Suburbs 19.5% 23.8%30.7% 41.6% Rural Areas/ 48.9% 43.9%36.7% 26.4% Small Towns U. S. Bureau of the Census. SHIFTS IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, Central Cities 31.6% 32.3%32.6% 32.0% Suburbs 19.5% 23.8%30.7% 41.6% Rural Areas/ 48.9% 43.9%36.7% 26.4% Small Towns U. S. Bureau of the Census.

Television in the 1950s Television sitcoms such as "Ozzie and Harriet" enjoyed enormous popularity in the 1950s All but which of the following were results of the rising influence of television on the American public in the 1950s? (A) professional football began rivaling baseball in terms of fan support (B) church attendance declined as more Americans tuned in to religious broadcasts (C) news broadcasting changed from newsmen simply reading the news to shows which included videotaped footage of events and live coverage (D) advertising and marketing of products shifted from primarily print and radio to include TV promotions (E) movie theaters were closed across the country as entertainment patterns changed Answer: (B) church attendance declined as more Americans tuned in to religious broadcasts Explanation: The 1950s witnessed the emergence of television as the dominant entertainment medium for the American family. Professional sports, new broadcasting, advertising, and the movie industry all were impacted by the TV phenomenon. In the early fifties, the number of hours young people watched TV steadily increase and suburban family life as portrayed on television, in sitcoms such as "Ozzie and Harriet" and "Father Knows Best" became accepted as normal.

Suburban Living The Typical TV Suburban Families The Donna Reed Show Leave It to Beaver Father Knows Best The Ozzie & Harriet Show

1950s Suburban Women Suburban life for women in the 1950s generally encouraged them to (A) seek gender equality with men (B) develop career skills (C) have fewer children (D) be feminists (E) devote time and effort towards homemaking Answer: (E) devote time and effort towards homemaking Explanation: The growth in suburbia in postwar America did not fundamentally change the role of the American woman. Homemaking remained the primary occupation for adult women, though a rise in female college attendance led to more women in traditionally male professions. But the main focus for women, supported by television, advertising, and the movies, was family life. Steven Mintz, author of Domestic Revolutions: A Social History of American Family Life, wrote “family togetherness quickly became the national ideal, seized upon by advertisers, ministers, and newspaper editors.”

The Sun Belt Industries --aerospace, defense and oil companies took advantage of the low involvement of labor unions

Post War Politics Economic Program and Civil Rights Employment Act of 1946 maintaining a high employment level of labor and price stability Inflation and Strikes Civil Rights: Integrates the military Republican Control of the 80 th Congress 22 nd Amendment- Term Limits Taft-Hartley Act (1947) Election of 1948 The Fair Deal Economic Program and Civil Rights Employment Act of 1946 maintaining a high employment level of labor and price stability Inflation and Strikes Civil Rights: Integrates the military Republican Control of the 80 th Congress 22 nd Amendment- Term Limits Taft-Hartley Act (1947) Election of 1948 The Fair Deal

Division in the Democratic Party States’ Rights Democratic Party “Dixiecrat” “Strom Thurmond” Progressive Party “Henry A. Wallace”

Taft-Hartley Act (1947) Fred A. Hartley, Jr. Robert A. Taft Weaken labor unions Banned closed shops Strikes- 8 day “cooling off” period “right to work laws”

Fighting Communism on the Home front

Nuclear Testing At Home m/watch?v=NOUtZOq gSG8

Between 1949 and 1963, the United States and Soviet Union conducted more than 100 above ground nuclear weapons tests. Limited Test Ban Treaty in 1963 banned all above- ground testing sending nuclear tests underground. On Oct. 26, 1963 at the Shoal underground nuclear test site 1,204 feet below the surface a nuclear detonation conducted in the Sand Springs Mountain Range about 30 miles southeast of Fallon, Nevada. Produced a yield of 12.5 kilotons and analyzed seismic detection of underground nuclear tests in active earthquake areas. The veiled purpose of the experiment may have been to discern the difference between Russian earthquakes and Russian nuclear testing. Desert Research Institute

House Committee for Un-American ActivitiesHouse Committee for Un-American Activities 1938–75, Congress investigated Americans suspected as communists red scare3 HUACHUAC committee warned of civil rights violations. Witnesses who refused to answer were cited for contempt of Congress.

Hollywood Ten.1947 investigation led to prison sentences for contempt known as the Hollywood Ten. Blacklisted:Blacklisted: a list of persons who are under suspicion, disfavor, or censure, or who are not to be hired, served, or otherwise accepted. Hollywood Ten.1947 investigation led to prison sentences for contempt known as the Hollywood Ten. Blacklisted:Blacklisted: a list of persons who are under suspicion, disfavor, or censure, or who are not to be hired, served, or otherwise accepted. red scare3

In 1948, Whittaker Chambers made accusations of Soviet espionage against former State Dept. official Alger Hiss Hiss found guilty of spying & sentenced to 10 yrs in prison Richard Nixon HUACRichard Nixon, Congressmen from California was part of the HUAC that investigated Alger Hiss. In 1948, Whittaker Chambers made accusations of Soviet espionage against former State Dept. official Alger Hiss Hiss found guilty of spying & sentenced to 10 yrs in prison Richard Nixon HUACRichard Nixon, Congressmen from California was part of the HUAC that investigated Alger Hiss. Alger HissWhitaker ChambersRichard Nixon

NATO Soviets detonate their first atomic bomb…..Soviets detonate their first atomic bomb….. The question is raised, where did they get the technology the bomb? Ethel and Julius Rosenberg would be accused of giving away atomic bomb secrets. Charged with espionage they would be found guilty and executed in Soviets detonate their first atomic bomb…..Soviets detonate their first atomic bomb….. The question is raised, where did they get the technology the bomb? Ethel and Julius Rosenberg would be accused of giving away atomic bomb secrets. Charged with espionage they would be found guilty and executed in 1953.

Red ScareRed Scare was Americans response to the fear of Communism Joseph McCarthySenator Joseph McCarthy accused 205 US Govt. officials of being Communist. McCarthyismMcCarthyism to destroy or assassinate one’s character without proof and it ruined the careers of many Americans. red scare witch hunt loyalty oath Became a witch hunt that led to Americans pledging a “loyalty oath” to the United States…….

 African American WWII veterans returned to Jim Crow and discrimination.  During WWI, Europeans treated Black soldiers as equals.  1948, President Truman signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1948  Integrated the military  Integrated the federal government.  Jackie Robinson broke the “colored barrier” and played major league baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers……1947 to 1956  1950’s, begins the Civil Rights movement for equality in society.  African American WWII veterans returned to Jim Crow and discrimination.  During WWI, Europeans treated Black soldiers as equals.  1948, President Truman signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1948  Integrated the military  Integrated the federal government.  Jackie Robinson broke the “colored barrier” and played major league baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers……1947 to 1956  1950’s, begins the Civil Rights movement for equality in society.

“Fair Deal” Truman’s “Fair Deal” program called for improved housing full employment a higher minimum wage better farm price supports “Fair Deal” Truman’s “Fair Deal” program called for improved housing full employment a higher minimum wage better farm price supports New Tennessee Valley Administrations extension of Social Security. “Point Four Program” financial support of poor, underdeveloped lands keep underprivileged peoples from becoming communists. New Tennessee Valley Administrations extension of Social Security. “Point Four Program” financial support of poor, underdeveloped lands keep underprivileged peoples from becoming communists.