POSTWAR AMERICA

RECOVERY By summer of 1946 roughly million Americans released from the armed forces By summer of 1946 roughly million Americans released from the armed forces Congress passes the GI Bill of Rights Congress passes the GI Bill of Rights Paid for some of veterans tuition Paid for some of veterans tuition Guaranteed a year of unemployment benefits while job hunting Guaranteed a year of unemployment benefits while job hunting Offered low interest loans to buy homes, farms, and businesses Offered low interest loans to buy homes, farms, and businesses Returning soldiers faced a housing shortage Returning soldiers faced a housing shortage Began to use assembly line methods to mass-produce homes Began to use assembly line methods to mass-produce homes Creation/boom of the suburbs Creation/boom of the suburbs Divorce rates increase due to high post war tensions between men and women Divorce rates increase due to high post war tensions between men and women

ECONOMIC READJUSTMENT Converting economy from wartime to peacetime Converting economy from wartime to peacetime Unemployment begins to rise Unemployment begins to rise Prices skyrocketed because no more fixed prices Prices skyrocketed because no more fixed prices Workers begin to make less money Workers begin to make less money Economists believe there will be another depression Economists believe there will be another depression People go without so many goods during war time that they have enough money saved to spend (economy boomed) People go without so many goods during war time that they have enough money saved to spend (economy boomed) Demand for goods increased causing the need for more supply = more jobs Demand for goods increased causing the need for more supply = more jobs

MEETING ECONOMIC CHALLENGES Truman inherits the nation’s problems Truman inherits the nation’s problems Down to earth and self-confident individual Down to earth and self-confident individual Ability to make difficult decisions and to accept full responsibility for their consequences Ability to make difficult decisions and to accept full responsibility for their consequences Two major problems: Two major problems: Dealing with the rising threat of Communism Dealing with the rising threat of Communism Restoring the American economy after the war’s end Restoring the American economy after the war’s end People begin to strike because of higher prices and lower wages People begin to strike because of higher prices and lower wages Said he would draft the strikers into the army and then order then to stay in their jobs Said he would draft the strikers into the army and then order then to stay in their jobs

SOCIAL UNREST Wave of violence begins in the South Wave of violence begins in the South Truman puts his presidency on the line for civil rights Truman puts his presidency on the line for civil rights Federal antilynching law, ban on poll taxes, and permanent civil rights commission Federal antilynching law, ban on poll taxes, and permanent civil rights commission Congress refuses to enact these changes so Truman uses an executive order for integration of the armed forces and discrimination in hiring of government employees Congress refuses to enact these changes so Truman uses an executive order for integration of the armed forces and discrimination in hiring of government employees 1948 election 1948 election Democrats nominate Truman Democrats nominate Truman Dixiecrats (anti civil rights) nominate Governor J. Strom Thurmond Dixiecrats (anti civil rights) nominate Governor J. Strom Thurmond Republicans nominate Thomas E Dewey Republicans nominate Thomas E Dewey Truman ends up winning re-election Truman ends up winning re-election

TRUMAN’S FAIR DEAL An extension of FDR’s New Deal An extension of FDR’s New Deal Included proposals for nationwide system of compulsory health insurance and a system to help give a steady income to farmers Included proposals for nationwide system of compulsory health insurance and a system to help give a steady income to farmers Congress raises the hourly minimum wage from 40 cents to 75 cents Congress raises the hourly minimum wage from 40 cents to 75 cents Extended Social Security coverage to about 10 mil. more people Extended Social Security coverage to about 10 mil. more people Flood control and irrigation projects Flood control and irrigation projects Financial support for cities to clear out slums and build low-income housing Financial support for cities to clear out slums and build low-income housing

REPUBLICANS REACTION Truman’s approval rating dropped to 23% Truman’s approval rating dropped to 23% Truman decides not to run for re-election Truman decides not to run for re-election Next election places Rep. Eisenhower vs. Dem. Adlai Stevenson Next election places Rep. Eisenhower vs. Dem. Adlai Stevenson Hits snag with corruption under Nixon as V.P. Hits snag with corruption under Nixon as V.P. Eisenhower win election Eisenhower win election Followed middle of the road Followed middle of the road Brown v Board of Ed (desegregated schools) Brown v Board of Ed (desegregated schools) Rosa Parks incident Rosa Parks incident Montgomery Buy Boycott Montgomery Buy Boycott

AMERICAN DREAM IN THE 50S

ORGANIZATION Business began to expand rapidly Business began to expand rapidly People begin to work higher paid jobs (white color) People begin to work higher paid jobs (white color) Blue color = make things ; white color = perform services Blue color = make things ; white color = perform services Formation of conglomerates -> major corporation that includes a number of smaller companies in unrelated businesses Formation of conglomerates -> major corporation that includes a number of smaller companies in unrelated businesses (Ex) ITT -> telephone, insurance, car rental, etc. (Ex) ITT -> telephone, insurance, car rental, etc. Franchises develop -> offers similar products or services in many locations Franchises develop -> offers similar products or services in many locations The Organization Man described how companies would give personality tests to people apply to jobs to make sure they would “fit in” The Organization Man described how companies would give personality tests to people apply to jobs to make sure they would “fit in”

SUBURBAN LIFE Most Americans lived in cities but few lived there Most Americans lived in cities but few lived there Highways, affordable cars/gasoline made commuting possible Highways, affordable cars/gasoline made commuting possible Ideal dream of an affordable single-family house, good schools, safe/healthy environment for children, and congenial neighbors Ideal dream of an affordable single-family house, good schools, safe/healthy environment for children, and congenial neighbors WWII soldiers contribute to “Baby Boom” WWII soldiers contribute to “Baby Boom” New born every 7 seconds -> largest generation in nation’s history New born every 7 seconds -> largest generation in nation’s history Reuniting husbands/wives, lower marriage age, want large families, advances in medicine, etc. Reuniting husbands/wives, lower marriage age, want large families, advances in medicine, etc.

MEDICINE, CHILDCARE, AND WOMEN’S ROLES Drugs invented to prevent typhoid fever Drugs invented to prevent typhoid fever Dr. Jonas Salk -> vaccine for polio Dr. Jonas Salk -> vaccine for polio Many parents raise their children to a book “Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care” Many parents raise their children to a book “Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care” No spanking or scolding No spanking or scolding Hold meetings so children could express themselves Hold meetings so children could express themselves Mothers should stay at home Mothers should stay at home Women’s role of homemaker and mother was glorified Women’s role of homemaker and mother was glorified 1/5 of women unsatisfied with this lifestyle 1/5 of women unsatisfied with this lifestyle Women begin to work -> stereotypical jobs -> paid less Women begin to work -> stereotypical jobs -> paid less

LEISURE 40 hr work weeks were not irregular 40 hr work weeks were not irregular Earned multiple weeks of vacation Earned multiple weeks of vacation Labor saving devices Labor saving devices Washing machines, lawn mowers, etc. Washing machines, lawn mowers, etc. Participated in leisure sports (fishing, bowling, hunting, boating, golf, etc.) Participated in leisure sports (fishing, bowling, hunting, boating, golf, etc.) Attended basketball and baseball games Attended basketball and baseball games Began to read for fun Began to read for fun

AUTOMOBILE CULTURE Abundance of petroleum and easily available credit Abundance of petroleum and easily available credit Americans bought cars in record numbers Americans bought cars in record numbers Necessary for living in the suburbs (nothing in walking distance) Necessary for living in the suburbs (nothing in walking distance) More cars = more roads connecting places More cars = more roads connecting places Relied less on the railroads (helped/hurt places) Relied less on the railroads (helped/hurt places) Drive-ins, malls, restaurants vs. pollution, noise, and accidents Drive-ins, malls, restaurants vs. pollution, noise, and accidents

CONSUMERISM Had money to begin buying items such as material goods Had money to begin buying items such as material goods Washing machines, dryers, blenders, t.v.’s, clothing, etc. Washing machines, dryers, blenders, t.v.’s, clothing, etc. Planned obsolescence -> designed goods to wear out/ become outdated Planned obsolescence -> designed goods to wear out/ become outdated Buy now pay later -> installment plans Buy now pay later -> installment plans Advertising takes off Advertising takes off Began to study the psychological side of advertising Began to study the psychological side of advertising Television became a great advertising tool Television became a great advertising tool