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Chapter Menu Chapter Introduction Section 1:Section 1:Truman and Eisenhower Section 2:Section 2:The Affluent Society Section 3:Section 3:The Other Side of American Life Visual Summary

Chapter Intro What Does It Mean to Be Prosperous? After World War II, the United States experienced years of steady economic growth. Although not everyone benefited, the economic boom meant most Americans enjoyed more prosperity than earlier generations. How did Americans spend this new wealth? How does prosperity change the way people live?

Chapter Intro 1 Truman and Eisenhower How did Truman and Eisenhower guide the nation after World War II?

Section 1 Return to a Peacetime Economy Despite inflation and strikes, the nation was able to shift to a peacetime economy without a recession.

Section 1 Despite worries of a recession, the economy continued to grow after the war as consumer spending increased. The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, or GI Bill, boosted the economy further. It provided o grants for education, homes and small business start ups Return to a Peacetime Economy (cont.) The GI Bill of Rights

Section 1 The postwar economy did have some problems. −A greater demand for goods led to higher prices, causing inflation − this triggered labor unrest and strikes −The Republican controlled Congress limited the power of organized labor by passing the Taft-Hartley Act over Truman’s veto. This outlawed “closed shops.” Return to a Peacetime Economy (cont.)

Section 1 Truman’s Program Truman pushed for a “Fair Deal” for Americans, despite the legislative conflicts he had with Congress.

Section 1 Truman’s liberal agenda conflicted with the conservative Congress –Expansion of Social Security benefits –Raising the minimum wage –Public housing and slum clearance –A system of national health insurance –A broad civil rights bill Truman’s Program (cont.)

Section 1 However, most of his legislative efforts met with little success. Only successes: minimum wage increased Desegregating military and preventing discrimination in civil service jobs. As the presidential election of 1948 approached, most observers gave Truman little chance of winning. Truman’s Program (cont.)

Section 1 Truman however win a narrow victory over Republican Dewey, in what is considered the biggest upset victory in Presidential election history. Truman traveled more than 20,000 miles campaigning, attacking the “Do-Nothing Congress.” Truman’s Program (cont.) Presidential Election of 1948

Section 1 After election he coined a name—the Fair Deal—to set his program apart from the New Deal. While Truman wins the election, the Republican controlled Congress prevented any major legislation being passed. Cold War also damage Truman’s ability to pass his domestic agenda. Truman’s Program (cont.)

Section 1 The Eisenhower Years President Eisenhower cut federal spending, supported business, funded the interstate highway system, and extended some New Deal programs.

Section 1 After Eisenhower took office in 1952, he had two favorite phrases: “Middle of the Road and “dynamic conservatism.”dynamic conservatism The new president’s cabinet appointments included several business leaders, showing Eisenhower’s conservatism. He showed his conservatism in many other ways, such as vetoing a school construction bill and agreeing to slash government aid to public housing. The Eisenhower Years (cont.)

Section 1 He took an activist role in pushing for the Federal Highway Act creating the Interstate highway system. Eisenhower did agree to extend the Social Security system to an additional 10 million people. The Eisenhower Years (cont.) Interstate Highway System

Chapter Intro 2 The Affluent Society What were the characteristics of affluent Americans in the 1950s?

Section 2 American Abundance America entered a period of postwar abundance, with expanding suburbs, growing families, and more white- collar jobs.

Section 2 The 1950s was a decade of incredible prosperity. Between 1940 and 1955, the average income of American families roughly tripled. Advertising became the fastest-growing industry in the United States, as manufacturers employed new marketing techniques to sell their products. American Abundance (cont.)

Section 2 Many of the consumers lived in the new suburbs that grew up around cities in the 1950s. –People believed the suburbs would provide a better life by escaping the growing crime and congestion of cities. –Affordability of homes and highway system was key to this changed. Levittown, New York, was one of the earliest of the new suburbs.Levittown American Abundance (cont.)

Section 2 From 1945 to 1961, a period known as the baby boom, more than 65 million children were born in the United States. American Abundance (cont.)

Section 2 Several factors contributed to the baby boom: baby boom –Young couples who delayed marriage during World War II and the Korean War could now start families. –The government encouraged growth of families by offering generous GI benefits for home purchases. American Abundance (cont.) The Baby Boom, 1940–1970

Section 2 Dramatic changes in the workplace accompanied the country’s economic growth. −In 1956, for the first time, white-collar workers outnumbered blue-collar workers.white-collar workersblue-collar workers −Many white-collar employees worked for multinational corporations. multinational corporations −The 1950s also witnessed the rise of franchises. franchises American Abundance (cont.)

Section 2 Scientific Advances Computers began a business revolution, and doctors discovered new ways to fight disease.

Section 2 The electronics industry made rapid advances after World War II. The transistor and the nation’s earliest computers were developed. ENIAC: developed by military to do basic calculations. UNIVAC: first data processor; launched computer revolution Scientific Advances (cont.)

Section 2 –Jonas Salk developed an injectable vaccine to prevent polio. –Albert Sabin developed an oral vaccine for polio. Scientific Advances (cont.)

Section 2 The New Mass Media The rise of television led to changes in the movie and radio industries.

Section 2 By 1957, more than 80% of families had at least one television. Some famous shows were The New Mass Media (cont.) –I Love LucyI Love Lucy –Ozzie and HarrietOzzie and Harriet –The $64,000 Question –The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger –Dragnet

Section 2 As the popularity of television grew, movies lost viewers. Cinemascope finally gave Hollywood something television could not match. The New Mass Media (cont.)

Section 2 Radio stations survived and flourished during this time, broadcasting recorded music, news, weather, sports, and talk shows. The New Mass Media (cont.)

Section 2 New Music and Poetry Young people developed their own popular culture based largely on rock ‘n’ roll music and literature of the beat movement.

Section 2 For the first time, teens had large amounts of disposable income that could be spent on entertainment designed specifically for them. In addition, new mass media meant that teens across the country could hear the same music broadcast or watch the same television shows. New Music and Poetry (cont.)

Section 2 White artists began making music that stemmed from African American rhythms and sounds, and a new form of music, rock ‘n’ roll, was born. Elvis Presley was the first rock ‘n’ roll hero. New Music and Poetry (cont.)

Section 2 While African American it difficult to find acceptance, African Americans found rock ‘n’ roll singers faced fewer obstacles. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Ray Charles were popular singers.Chuck BerryLittle RichardFats DominoRay Charles New Music and Poetry (cont.)

Section 2 Rock ‘n’ roll created what became known as the generation gap.generation gap Beat poets, writers, and artists harshly criticized what they considered the sterility and conformity of American life, the meaninglessness of American politics, and the emptiness of popular culture. Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac are two beat writers. New Music and Poetry (cont.)

Chapter Intro 3 The Other Side of American Life What groups of Americans did not enjoy the affluence of the 1950s?

Section 3 Poverty Amidst Prosperity Despite the growing affluence of much of the nation, many groups still lived in poverty.

Section 3 At least one in five Americans, or about 30 million people, lived below the poverty line in the 1950s.poverty line The poverty of the 1950s was most apparent in the nation’s urban centers. Government often made matters worse when it tried to help. Urban renewal programs destroyed more housing space than they created.Urban renewal Poverty Amidst Prosperity (cont.)

Section 3 Long-standing patterns of racial discrimination in schools, housing, hiring, and salaries in the North kept many inner- city African Americans poor. Lorraine Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun in 1959 and won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award.A Raisin in the Sun Poverty Amidst Prosperity (cont.) Major Cities With High Poverty Rates, 1960

Section 3 During the 1950s and early 1960s, the Bracero Program brought nearly 5 million Mexicans to the United States. The workers that remained in America lived with extreme poverty and hardship. Poverty Amidst Prosperity (cont.)

Section 3 Native Americans—who made up less than 1% of the population—were the poorest ethnic group in the nation. The U.S. government launched a program to bring Native Americans into mainstream society—whether they wanted to assimilate or not. This plan became known as the termination policy, and only deepened their poverty.termination policy Poverty Amidst Prosperity (cont.)

Section 3 Residents of rural Appalachia also failed to share in the prosperity of the 1950s. Poverty Amidst Prosperity (cont.) Poverty in Appalachia