Chapter 26 Postwar confidence and Anxiety 1945-1960 Page 880

Section 1 An Economic Boom Returning soldiers and American public nervous of postwar economy will return to depression levels A. Nation Recovers from war Demobilization- sending hope the army 12 million returning home Still kept army larger than ever- new policy?

Changes GI Bill of Rights- help returning veterans adjust to normal life- money till find jobs or money for school Baby boom- more children being born- 4.3 million in 1957 Had to wait to have children during GD and WWII

Economy People saved money during war, now want goods Too much money chasing too little goods- deflation Productivity booms- U.S. 6% of world pop. Now producing 50% of goods Marshall plan and world economy had need for that much production- most of Europe destroyed

Obstacles Wages did not rise with prices- workers go on strike Truman vetoes Taft Hartley Act twice- still passes- outlaws closed shops Truman also takes on Civil Rights- desegregates the army Suggests Civil Service Reforms Splits Democrat Party

Election of 1948 Truman should lose Democrats split 3 ways Thurmond Wallace Republicans run Thomas Dewey- should have been a shoe in Truman won in a narrow upset victory

Truman years continued Focused on reform legislation called the Fair Deal- continued New Deal However, Congress shot down most of his ideas Korea was the final death nail in his career

Eisenhower Elected in 1952 Popular war hero Ran against Adlai Stevenson Most known for the Interstate Highway System And education reform Very prosperous under his presidency

Section 2 A Society on the Move After WWII, with the growth of Suburbs and the auto industry, people were moving to the Sunbelt and out of the cities A- Suburban growth William Levitt devised way to create cheap, affordable homes quickly Levittowns

Americans could afford these homes- low payments and cheap interest Automobiles allowed people to travel more Car ownership skyrocketed- 26 to 60 million in 15 years Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway Act created 41,000 miles of Highway People traveled more- State Parks, Disney Land

Sunbelt People also moving to Sunbelt- South and West Air conditioning made life their more appealing Those areas gained more representatives in Congress

Economy Booming in 50’s and 60’s More people going to white collar jobs- ex. Information Industries ENIAC?? More women are working 1960, les than 10% live on farms Franchise Businesses? Multinational Corporations?

Education National Defense Education Act allows more people to go to college College attendance up from 15% to 40% by 1960 California Master Plan?

Section 3 Mass Culture and Family Life The cultures of the 1950’s centered on consumerism, conformity, and nuclear family standards A. Consumerism Median family income rose during 50’s American buying more goods Labor saving appliances TVs!! Shopping is now a hobby

B. Family Life TV portrayed the ideal nuclear family- father-bread winner, mother-homemaker, at least 2 children Benjamin Spock’s “Common Sense of Baby and Child Care”- can’t spoil a kid Must provide lots of love and care

C. Religious revival Religion on the rise as Americans stress their difference to the communist Dollar Bill Pledge of Allegiance D. Health care Dr. Jonas Salk- Polio vaccine Penicillin and antibiotics more common

E. Television Almost all Americans own a TV Candidates use to advertise for campaigns Theater attendance down I Love Lucy Mickey Mouse Club Leave it to Beaver

F. Rock and Roll Rock and Roll a way of non-conformity Music originated in rhythm and blues tradition of AA’s Chuck Berry Elvis Presley B.B. King

Section 4 Dissent and Discontent Not everyone had the “50’s ideal life” Some would benefit while others missed out A. Critics Many believed conformity of 50’s ruining individuality of U.S. The Lonely Crown The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit Beatniks?

B. Rural and Urban Poverty As many people leave cities, inner cities decline into poverty and crime Michael Harrington- 50 million Americans in poverty Urban renewal tried to fix inner cities, but often led to concentrated poor in one area or evicted poor into other crowded areas Many rural poor suffering as well as farming in more and more industrialized

C. “Other Americans” 1. Puerto Ricans- many migrated during war, no segregated in poorest inner city communities 2. Mexicans- Braceros program brought migrant workers to U.S. Often mistreated and under paid- couldn’t complain or deported 3. Native Americans- termination policy meant to assimilate, but further threw natives into poverty