Do Now You have returned to the United States in You have not seen your spouse since You have never seen your child who is now two years old. What do you say when you meet them? What do you do?

Postwar America 1946, 10 million men and women released from armed forces. Major Goal = Readjustment and Recovery GI Bill of Rights (1944) -Government pays part of veteran’s tuition -Low interest loans -Unemployment money for a year while they look for a job

Housing Crisis Housing shortages forced veterans into crowded apartments or living with family members.

Levitt Assembly line method to mass produce houses=Levittowns 180 houses per week (Average cost $7,000) Boom in the suburbs (areas outside the city) *Many houses looked the same and were required to stay that way

Redefining the Family Tension created by women in the workforce Who is the breadwinner? Rising divorce rates (Over a million divorces by 1950)

Economic Readjustment After WWII – defense contracts were cancelled putting millions out of work Workers were being paid less Office of Price Administration stopped controlling prices- inflation skyrocketed – Certain items were scarce – Prices rose 25% in two weeks

Remarkable Recovery 135 billion dollars in personal savings – Nothing available to buy during the war – Investment in war bonds – Cold War=> Marshall Plan- created strong foreign markets for US goods 1950’s – “Affluent society”

Labor Unions High prices and low wages = unhappy workers – Steelworkers – Coal miners – Railroad workers US government began seizing mines and threatened to draft the workers into the army before the strike collapsed.

President Truman “The Buck Stops Here” Major Issues: Economy & Communism Initially well liked but with: strikes, rising prices, and shortages of goods Truman and the Democrats begin to lose ground…

Do Now Did you watch the Super Bowl? How many African-Americans participated? Do you think it would be possible for them to participate in the 1950’s?

Social Unrest Persists African-Americans returned home from fighting in the war to a segregated society Truman believed in equality => Commission on Civil Rights Congress fought Truman on Civil Rights reforms Truman used his position as President: – Ended segregation in the military – Ended discrimination in hiring for government jobs

White Attitude "When you grow up that way," says Bobby Bragan, "why, there's a segregation that's automatic. It's a way of life."

Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers Robinson's signing caused a backlash among fans, among other teams, and within the Dodgers. Spit at, threatened, cleated by other players, not allowed to room with the rest of his teammates – Endured all this without retaliating 1949-Voted National League’s Most Valuable Player

Do Now: What are the qualities you look for in a President? – What issues do you care about

Harry Truman Truman was seen as honorable and down-to earth Faced issues with inflation, employment, labor strikes, and shortages of goods. Supported Civil Rights Motto: “The Buck Stops Here” Democratic Candidate in 1948

Truman’s Fair Deal Public housing (for low income families) Federal aid to education Higher minimum wage Compulsory health insurance * People actually thought he would lose the election of 1948…they even printed newspapers before the results were known.

Republicans Take the Middle Road By 1951 Truman’s popularity was at an all time low of 23 percent – Korean War had been a draw – McCarthyism made average citizens question the loyalty of government officials Truman decided not to run for reelection

I LIKE IKE! Republican candidate was Dwight Eisenhower Focused on war against Communism Criticized government for its growing power Promoted “dynamic conservatism” – Conservative with money – Liberal when it comes to human beings

Do Now It is 1950 and you are applying for a job. Before you even have an interview you must sit in your desk with a writing utensil out. When everyone is prepared, the test will be administered. Please answer all the questions honestly. Good luck.

The Organization and the Organization Man By 1956 a majority of people switched from blue collar to white collar jobs – Blue collar=manufacture goods for sale – White collar=clerks, managers, professionals *Advertising industry will grow Conglomerate=A major corporation that that includes a number of small companies in unrelated industries. Franchise=a company that offers similar products or services in many locations.

Exit Post-It Do we promote individuality, creativity, and independent thinking today? Explain.

The Suburban Lifestyle Work provided families with the “good things” in life – Job security – Confidence in the economy – Affordable housing – Good schools *Safe environment to have kids = baby boom Baby boom ( )-74 million babies

Advances in Medicine and Childcare Dr. Jonas Salk-developed a vaccine to fight polio Dr. Benjamin Spock-Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care (1946) – Encouraged families to let kids express themselves *Considered to be the driving force behind the revolution in the 60’s – Proposed having government pay to have mothers stay at home

Automobile Culture Gas was cheap Suburban living made owning a car a necessity Easy credit and advertising = huge car sales Cars became a way of expressing yourself

Do Now How long does the average phone last someone? Why?

The Federal Highway Act was signed, marking the beginning of work on the interstate highway system. The Federal Highway Act – It was a way of moving materials and landing aircraft if needed. One- and two-digit even numbered highways running east and west (lowest numbers in the south and highest numbers in the north) One- and two-digit odd numbered highways running north and south, (lowest numbers in the west and highest numbers in the east).

Mobility Takes its Toll Auto industry boomed = more jobs Major Problems: Noise, pollution, accidents Allowed for “White Flight” – Whites leave cities and take jobs and businesses with them to the suburbs

Consumerism Unbound 60 % of the country in the middle class Consumerism = the more you own the more successful you are

Planned Obsolescence Products purposely designed to become obsolete to encourage consumers to keep spending – Wear out – Become outdated *Americans came to expect new and better products America became a “throw away society”

Buy Now, Pay Later Purchases being made on credit First credit cards were being issued in the 1950’s Installment plans for large purchases