Early XX century Leading world economy: new techniques of mass production (Ford, Carnegie) + Giant Corporations (Standard Oil, US Steel) From isolationism to participation in World Wars; The Roaring ‘20s: economic expansion and prosperity Spread of proverty restriction of immigration segregation of minorities in slums low wages, corruption, prohibitionism and gangsterism) Investments in booming Wall Street Stock Exchange The Red Scare ( The Sacco and Vanzetti case – execution of Italian anarchists ) Contradictions within the Am. Society (late XIX c. -early XX c) => “the Gilded Age” (M. Twain) + The Lost Generation.

The 30s: from boom to bust 1929: the Great Crash < over-confidence + mismanagement 1930s The Great Depression Ruined businesses (bankrupt) Bank crashes Goods piled up in warehouses 8ml Americans unemployed “bread” lines for food rations Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1932 President) => New Deal: Relief, Recovery, Reform Public works and conservation of natural resources New impulse to factories because of WWII

The 50s NATO : North Atlantic Treaty Organization (mutual defence) U.N.O.: replaced the League of nations devised by Woodrow Wilson after WWI Representatives of the world’s nations should try to discuss and settle differences instead of resorting to war US never joined the League of Nation because the Senate voted agaist it

The 50s Senator McCarthy => “witch hunt” : fear of Communism (censured by mid-50s) Harry Truman Democrat ( ) Dwaight Eisenhoewr ( ) : a war hero republican

 : Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union.  The USA controlled the military affairs of Europe through NATO, while the Soviet Union did it through Warsaw Pact. UK and USA history and economy Only Connect... New Directions American and Soviet allies and areas of influence during the Cold War.

Refusal of traditional forms. Divided into “beat generation” and “confessional poetry”. Rebellion: happiness ≠wealth + solcial prestige Reflective and denunciatory attitude. American literature after the war Poetry Jack Kerouac’s 1959 album Poetry for the Beat Generation UK and USA society

Main themes: journey, rebellion, drugs, the generation gap, dystopia Experimentation. Afro-American identity. American literature after the war Fiction The Catcher in the Rye (1951) by J.D. Salinger UK and USA society

 1961: the Soviets launched the first manned spaceflight.  John Kennedy ( ): Democratic, the first catholic; the youngest : “ New Frontier”: social cause/ justice against poverty and discrimination  1962: President Kennedy faced a tense nuclear showdown with Soviet forces in Cuba.  1969: the USA succeeded in sending two astronauts on to the Moon. UK and USA history and economy Neil Armstrong on the surface of the Moon The 60s

 Civil rights movement led by African Americans (Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks) fought against segregation and discrimination.  : Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act granted freedom for the blacks.  Protests in universities and among minorities- riots and violence UK and USA history and economy Martin Luther King the 60s : social unrest

 : Vietnam War.  A widespread countercultural movement grew, mixing opposition to war, black nationalism and feminism. UK and USA history and economy An anti-war protest the 60s : social unrest

He became famous in the 1960s. He painted dollar bills, celebrities, brand name products. His most important works are: Marilyn Monroe, Green Coca- Cola bottles and Big Campbell’s Soup cans. Andy Warhol : pop art Andy Warhol, Campbell’s Soup Can, UK and USA society

 “ Me-decade”  : Watergate scandal  the FBI, the Parliament and the press discovered a series of crimes and abuses committed by Nixon’s staff.  The President was forced to resign.  1970s: Carter’s administration marked by stagflation. UK and USA history and economy The Watergate hotel in Washington The 70s

 1980s: Ronald Reagan (Republican)  Aggressiveess  Favoured big corporations.  “stand on your own feet and act tough”  Free enterprise  missiles and space research  Encouraged Yuppies  1991: the Soviet Union collapsed, thus ending the Cold War. UK and USA history and economy The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the 80s : “go-getting America”

 George Bush ( ): Iraq’s president Saddam Hussein invaded and annexed Kuwait  US General Schwarzkopf – operation Desert Storm (1991) dictated cease fire  Yugoslav Wars  Democrat Bill Clinton ( ): “the third way”: liberal policies and reform  Peace agreement between Arafat’s PLO and Rabin (Israel) 1993 UK and USA history and economy A photo shot from the 1991 Gulf War The 90s The USA maintain the position of a superpower

 Republican George W. Bush ( )  September 11th, 2001: al-Qaeda terrorists struck WTC in New York and Pentagon in Washington DC.  2001 attack on Afghanistan (supposed basis of Al Quaeda)  2003: Bush invaded Saddam Hussein’s Iraq (accused of having large quantities of weapons of mass destruction)  Loss of lives, money and international prestige The 9/11/2001 attack on World Trade Center

 He has promised to provide: a. tax cuts; b. aids to cities and states; c. the creation of 4 million jobs by the end of 2010; UK and USA history and economy  November 2008: Barack Hussein Obama, a young, democratic, black man, became the 44 th U.S President. Barack Obama

UK and USA history and economy  He has promised to provide: d. the reduction of Carbon emissions; e. the improvement of health care; f. the reduction of Bush’s administration deficit.  November 2008: Barack Hussein Obama, a young, democratic, black man, became the 44 th U.S President. Barack Obama

Time chose Barack Obama as the 2008 Person of the Year UK and USA society Only Connect... New Directions