The Postwar Years at Home Chapter 27

Businesses Reorganize Per capita income up Per capita income up GNP doubles GNP doubles Economic growth Economic growth Conglomerates – Large corporations that owns smaller ones (ATT) Conglomerates – Large corporations that owns smaller ones (ATT) Franchises – right to open business under parent company Franchises – right to open business under parent company Ray Kroc – mass produces hamburgers – rise of fast food industry! Ray Kroc – mass produces hamburgers – rise of fast food industry!

Technology Transforms Life Television ABC, CBS, and NBC I Love Lucy, Mickey Mouse Club Computers – developed during war Transistor – circuit device Reduced size of machines Nuclear Power - electricity Advances in Medicine Polio vaccine – Jonas Salk Antibiotics - bacteria Surgery – new techniques

Workforce, Suburbs, Highways White collar jobs – switch service industries White collar jobs – switch service industries Baby boom Baby boom Moving to the Suburbs Moving to the Suburbs GI Bill – College & low interest loans for houses GI Bill – College & low interest loans for houses Levittowns – suburban “cloned” homes Levittowns – suburban “cloned” homes Cars and Highways Cars and Highways Interstate Highway Act 1956 Interstate Highway Act 1956 Credit Cards – status symbol; consumer goods again Credit Cards – status symbol; consumer goods again

The Mood of the 1950’s Comfort and Security Youth Culture – silent generation; carefree A Resurgence of Religion Response to “godless” communism Billy Graham Women – support role, raise children, in suburbia w/new ovens Men – work and support the family Dr. Benjamin Spock – child rearing; importance of Mother Betty Friedan – The Feminine Mystique – challenged roles

Challenges to Conformity Rock and Roll – Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill Haley Rock and Roll – Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill Haley Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Beatniks – rebelled against conformity; rebellious Beatniks – rebelled against conformity; rebellious Jack Kerouac Jack Kerouac

Domestic Politics and Policy Truman Truman People wanted goods, wage hikes People wanted goods, wage hikes Took steps against labor Took steps against labor Taft-Hartley Act – 80 day cooling off period Taft-Hartley Act – 80 day cooling off period Fair Deal – extension of New Deal – p. 780 Fair Deal – extension of New Deal – p. 780 Reelected in 1948 Reelected in 1948 Ike – 1952 – K1,C2 (Korea, Communism, Corruption) Ike – 1952 – K1,C2 (Korea, Communism, Corruption) Nixon VP – cut spending, reduce gov., reduce taxes, “modern republicanism” Nixon VP – cut spending, reduce gov., reduce taxes, “modern republicanism” Checkers speech Checkers speech

Demands for Civil Rights Truman – active in civil rights, banned discrimination in hiring; met opposition Jackie Robinson Brown v. Board of Ed Montgomery bus boycott; Rosa Parks Little Rock; Gov. Faubus posted national guard troops at school to prevent integration Eisenhower places them under federal control.