1. Chapter 27: The Postwar Boom Finals Terms Common Essays

2. Post War America 27.1 Readjustment and Recovery – The impact of the GI Bill Servicemen’s Readjustment Act – provided housing, education, unemployment pay, – Housing Crisis William Levitt used assembly line methods to mass produce housing for the shortage. – Redefining the Family Divorce rate rises with role changes of men vs. women – Economic Readjustment Defense workers, factory workers, etc. are laid off joining the millions of returning soldiers for the job hunt. Unemployment rose. – Remarkable Recovery People had scrimped and saved and gone with out during the war, now they had $ to spend.

3. Post War America 27.1 Meeting Economic Challenges – President Truman’s Inheritance Dealing with rising communism and restoring the American Economy. – Truman Faces Strikes High prices and low wages cause workers to strike. – Had Enough? A Republican Congress (House & Senate) passed the Taft-Harley Act overturning union rights won under the New Deal.

4. Post War America 27.1 Social Unrest Persists – Truman’s supports Civil Rights Passed an anti-lynching law, banned voters poll tax, and established a Commission on Civil Rights. – The 1948 Election Truman wins re-election – Stunning Upset Democrat’s gain control of Congress as well. – The Fair Deal (Truman’s) An extension of the New Deal it provided subsidies to Farmers so they had a steady income, propose Health Insurance, raised hourly min. wage, extended social security coverage, and built 810,000 housing units for low income families. Republicans Take the Middle Road – I Like Ike! Eisenhower (Ike) and Nixon win 1952 election. – Walking the middle of the road. Eisenhower side stepped most controversial issues. Couldn’t side step Civil Rights in 1954 Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka, Supreme court rules schools must integrate.

5. The American Dream in the 50’s 27.2 The organization and the organization Man – Conglomerates A major corporation that includes other smaller corporations in unrelated industries. – Franchises Company that offers similar products/services in many locations. – Social Conformity Businesses do not want creative thinkers, rebels, or anyone who would rock the corporate boat.

6. The American Dream in the 50’s 27.2 The Suburban Lifestyle – The Baby Boom During late 40’s to 60’s birthrate soared. In 1957 one infant was born every 7 seconds – 4,308,000 babies that year alone! – Advances in Medicine and Childcare Dr. Jonas Salk developed vaccine for Polio – Women’s Roles TV popularized the role of homemaker, wife, mother. Betty Friedan author of “The Feminine Mystique” wrote of women’s discontent with these roles. – Leisure in the 50’s rise Workers had 40 hour work week and several weeks vacation/year plus owning labor saving devices (washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, etc.) gave more free time to people.

7. The American Dream in the 50’s 27.2 The Automobile Culture – Auto-mania No public transportation in suburbs makes cars a necessity – The Interstate Highway System More cars owned and driven meant more roads needed. Eisenhower authorized the building of a nationwide highway network – 41,000 miles of expressways. – Mobility takes its toll Positives = provides jobs for building, selling, being able to work far from home, drive-in movies/restaurants, shopping malls Negatives = wear and tear on roads, pollution, noise level, peoples stress level in traffic jams,

8. The American Dream in the 50’s 27.2 Consumerism Unbound Buying material good, the more you have the more successful you are! – New products – household appliances – Planned obsolescence Manufactures make products to become obsolete or outdated in a short period of time to keep people buying them. – Buy now, Pay later Consumers are buying on credit (again) even at restaurants. – The Advertising Age Newspapers, Magazines, TV, radio, Highway Billboards, manufactures spend tons of $ to get the public to spend. They turn to Psychology to create aids that appeal to peoples desires to belong, be successful, etc.

9. Popular Culture 27.3 New Era of the Mass Media – The Rise of TV Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates and licenses TV, Phone, Telegraph, radio, and other communications industries. – Stereotypes and Gunslingers TV’s effects on children and stereotypes of women and minorities become an issue. – Radio and movies Radio changes to music, weather, news, and community issues Movies live on with size, sound, and color (TV in color not popular/wide spread until the 60’s)

10. Popular Culture 27.3 Subculture Emerges – The Beat Movement Expressed the social and literary nonconformity of artists, poets, and writers. Centers: San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York’s Greenwich Village. African Americans and Rock ‘n’ Roll 50’s add electronic instruments, creating Rhythm and Blues. Audience white music created mostly by African Americans. – Rock ‘n’ Roll By mid 50’s = Richard Penniman, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and His Comets. Elvis Presley unofficial “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” – Racial Gap African American Radio shows broadcast on different stations (250 radio stations nationwide) TV did not have programing for African Americans and often stereotyped there roles.

11. The other America 27.4 The Urban Poor – White Flight Middle class whites move to the suburbs taking with them economic resources and isolating themselves from the other races/classes. Overcrowding in cities prompted this move. – The Inner Cities Poverty takes over in the cities and most whites in the burbs are oblivious (don’t know). – Urban Renewal The National Housing Act of 1949 establishes decent home and suitable living environment for every American family. Later come Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to aid in improving inner cities. – The tearing down of old structures did not always lead to the building of new. Example: Los Angeles tore down a Barrio (apartment full of poor families) to make way for Dodger Stadium, but did not erect a new place for these families.

12. The other America 27.4 Poverty Leads to Activism – Mexicans seek Employment Braceros, hired hands, allowed into U.S. from 1942-1947 were expected to return to Mexico, but stayed. – The Longoria Incident Felix Longoria WWII hero killed in the Philippines could not obtain a proper burial when the only undertaker in his town refused to service the family based on their race. Mexican Americans unite to fight discrimination organizing GI Forum, and Unity League of California to register voters. – Native Americans continue their struggle Assimilation “must be like us.” Dawes Acts of 1887 & 1934. Snyder Act of 1924. Now comes Indian Reorganization Act moves away from Assimilation and toward autonomy (living along side but differently). Also National Congress of American Indians civil rights and retaining customs. – The Termination Policy Eliminated federal economic support, discontinued reservation system, and distributed tribal lands to individual Native Americans. Bureau of Indian Affairs tries to help N.A. relocate and resettle in cities where they face discrimination so it fails.