AFFLUENCE AND ANXIETY Chapter 29

Domestic Policy Truman and the Fair Deal Fair Deal attempted to expand New Deal – Medical Insurance for all Americans – Revived and strengthened Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC) – Federal aid to education Spirit of reform waned in postwar years (Apathetic Public) – Dixiecrats split democratic party over civil rights reform Fair Deal failed but set the agenda for future attempts to expand New Deal Eisenhower's Modern Republicanism Eisenhower left New Deal intact – Raised minimum wage and expanded Social Security – Created Department of Health, Education, and Welfare 1956: Highway Act created interstate highway system – Stimulated the economy – Shaped metropolitan growth patterns Overall Eisenhower years were politically moderate

Postwar Prosperity 1945–1960: Rapid economic growth – Some older industries will suffer (steel, agriculture, etc…) – Recession hits by end of 50’s – Increase in Defense Spending Stimuli to consumer goods industry – Baby boom – Population shift to suburbia – Increase in capital spending Opportunity – GI Bill 1944 – Employment Act 1946

Cultural Change Consumerism the dominant social theme of the 1950s Suburbia inhabited by middle class – Most significant social change – Dependence on the automobile – Family togetherness – Created anxiety and dissatisfaction – Women in the workplace stimulates new feminism Areas of Greatest Growth – Church membership booms – School attendance (federal aid to focus on math and science/Sputnik) – Television watching Critics of the Consumer Society – The “Beat” movement were artists and authors (ex: David Riesman) criticizing the conformity of suburban corporate culture