Chapter 19 Part 2 Pages 641-649
Terms to Know Conglomerate Franchise Baby Boom Dr. Jonas Salk Consumerism Planned Obsolence
White collar v Blue Collar For the first time in American history White collar workers outnumbered Blue Collar Big Business = more jobs in the service industry
Big Business and Government Ike: What’s good for General Motors is good for the country Laissez-Faire…just like in the 1920’s Big business and big unions = more opportunity for abuse and corruption
Remember the Taft-Hartley Act Restricted the power of labor Unions Injunctions could be used in labor disputes in times of crisis
Conglomerates A major corporation that includs a number of smaller companies that include many in unrelated fields Example: ITT International telephone and telegraph owned hotels, insurance companies, etc. ATT: , Xerox and General Electric
New Business Organizations A Franchise A company that offers small products in numerous locations Often rights to a franchise are sold to individuals who can use the parent company name and system for ppurposes of profit…like fast food companies
Conformity Businesses prized team work, conformity, loyalty, etc. Is conformity counterproductive to creativity? Thinking outside of the box? Companies gave “personality tests” to potential employees to “insure a good fit.”
Conformity Most folks worked in cities but lived in suburbs Cars were reasonably priced Gas was cheap New Highway system built in 50’s By 1960 every large American city was surrounded by suburbs
The American Dream To have an affordable single-family house With good schools In a safe, healthy environment With friendly neighbors 1950’s 13 million new homes built 85% in the suburbs
The Baby boom Caused by: Soldiers reuniting with their wives A desire for a large family A lower marriage age Belief that prosperity would last
The Family Men were heads of the household and sole breadwinner,…some pressure Companies gave psychological tests to potential workers…would they fit in? Be loyal? Women were encouraged to be housewives and mothers…magazines, advertising, 50’s sit-coms Many bored, frustrated, unhappy
The Feminist Movement Began after the publication of The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan 1963 By that time ½ married women were in the workforce but few real opportunities Teaching, nursing, office work
Children Most women turned to “experts” for child-rearing advice 1947 Dr. Benjamin Spock wrote Baby and Child Care Discouraged spanking, scolding, encouraged women to stay home…even suggested that the government pay women to stay home
Medical Advances During WWII Antibiotics = raised life expectancy Drugs created for deadly childhood illnesses Dr. Jonas Salk…the Polio vaccine The government paid for inoculations 1954 58,000 cases of polio in the U.S. 1974 7 cases in the U.S.
More Leisure time Most worked 40 hour weeks New labor-saving appliances (electric) Washers, Dryers, Blenders, Dishwashers, Lawnmowers
Sports Spectator: football, basketball, baseball Other: golf, fishing, hiking, biking, boating
Reading Magazines cook books, romance and adventure and mystery stories…and serious novels…Hemingway, Steinbeck, etc.
The Automobile and the 50’s During WWII gas was rationed and cars were not available to the public After the war, cars were reasonably-priced and gas was cheap 1940…40 million drivers 1960..60 million drivers
New Car Culture Drive ins Drive throughs Gas stations on every corner A new interstate highway system
1956 The Interstate Highway Act 41,000 miles of new highways For national defense purposes as well More family trips Often cross-country
Cars were a necessity As most lived in suburbs and worked in the city…also leisure activities required transportation
BUT More pollution Traffic jams Deaths due to car accidents And poor roads
Consumerism By the mid-50’s 60% of Americans were middle class. Twice the number before WWII Consumerism…people were buying more Success was linked to material goods
New Products Record Players Tape Recorders Hi-fis The television and advertising Ad men used psychology to convince Americans that they NEEDED these new products
New Stuff We Had to Have Pools BBQ’s Lawn Decorations
New Payment Plans Prosperity brings easy credit Credit cards…first the Diners Club card By 1950…American Express Layaway Plans All increased personal debt
Please Read Chapter 19 Part 3 Pages 652-657