Cold War US USH-7.6

I. Education US gov’t invested in education programs Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill) Federal funded scholarships Allow more Americans to attend college Narrows the income gap between rich and poor

I. Education More college grads meant more prosperity Their kids could stay in school longer More men and women in college Prosperity led to a baby boom More kids meant more schools needed built

II. Suburbs People began to move Federal Defense Highway Act built interstates Shopping malls, restaurants, motels, etc. Migration puts more pressure on cities AA move for work Baby boomers White Flight

III. Consumerism Great Depression and WWII stopped production of consumer goods When the factories start making goods, people are ready to buy them Baby boomers make parents buy things for families Greater demand → more production → more jobs → economic growth

III. Consumerism Americans had the highest standard of living More white-collar jobs Clerical, professional, managerial, etc. Middle class had more money TV builds a bigger culture of consumer debt “Buy now, pay later” Buying things we don’t need

IV. New Technology Medical treatments Penicillin and other antibiotics Jonas Salk creates polio vaccine WWII doctors create new surgical procedures Infant mortality rate drops

IV. New Technology Agricultural advancements Pesticides Chemical fertilizers Improved nutrition Small family farms turn to large commercial farms Long-term environmental impact

V. Women After WWII most women had to give up their war jobs to men Many become stay-at-homes Media plays up the traditional homemaker role Jobs limited to nursing, teaching, sales, secretarial, etc. Few managerial jobs Glass ceiling