1. Chapter 31 Economic and Social Change in the Late 20th Century Web

2. A Changing People An Aging population Population growth slowing Median age of population rising Rise of the sunbelt South and West gained population Rise of tourism Proliferation of new retirement communities Growth of high-tech industries

3. ©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning ™ is a trademark used herein under license. Population Shifts Towards the “Sunbelt”

4. A Changing People A Changing People (cont) Immigration Asia and Latin America largest sources Immigration Act of 1965 Major impetus to new immigration Refugee Act of 1980 Admission for political refugees Prohibition against those seeking merely economic improvement Immigration Reform and Control Act, 1986 Stiffened penalties for employers who hired illegal aliens Residency procedures for long-time alien workers

5. ©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning ™ is a trademark used herein under license. New Immigrants, 1970–1990

6. A Changing People A Changing People (cont) Urbanization and Suburbanization Most Americans living in metropolitan areas by 1990 Suburbs melted into “urban corridors” Central cities becoming financial, administrative, and entertainment centers Declining tax revenues and deteriorating schools and infrastructures plagued most urban centers

7. Economic Transformations New technologies Biotechnology, high-performance computing, communications Big Business Computers transformed the way business was done E-commerce, automated teller machines, debit cards, electronic banking Franchising and chain stores Standardized products throughout the nation (and even world) Production facilities moved out of U.S. and into other countries Foreign ownership of U.S. companies became widespread

8. Economic Transformations Economic Transformations (cont) Postindustrial restructuring Corporate downsizing after 1970s Merger boom in 1980s and 1990s Loss of jobs in traditional manufacturing and extractive sectors Proliferation of jobs in service, high technology, and information and entertainment sectors Decline in union membership Sport entertainment World Wrestling Federation Major League Baseball National and American Football Leagues National Hockey League

9. Media and Culture “Narrowcasting” targeted specific demographic audiences Independent stations began to challenge the big three networks VCR allowed viewers to take control Rise of cable television threatened traditional networks’ position Different programs for specific audiences Further fragmented television viewing

10. Media and Culture Media and Culture (cont) Movie studios focused on churning out blockbusters Studios played it safe and recycled story lines and special effects that had made money in the past Intertwining of Hollywood and television, Proliferation of VCRs, DVDs, and cable movie channels People able to transform televisions into home move theaters Changes in pop music industry MTV aesthetic Introduction of CDs transformed nature of the music product and the listening experience Internet and MP3 technology offered new mediums for listening to music

11. Media and Culture Media and Culture (cont) Debate over “family programming” Cultural analysts elevated popular culture as legitimate field of study New field of “cultural studies” How people reworked images from the mass media Television programs as vehicles for discussing social and political issues America experienced an expansion of religion in the 1990s Religious divisions over foreign policy Religious figures sought public office Jesse Jackson and Pat Robertson Reassurance of Religious Right

12. Discussion Questions How has technology—specifically the Internet— changed America socially, culturally, and economically? What is “affirmative action”? Is it a necessary part of American society, or an outdated, debilitating concept? What effect did the changing role of women have on this nation in the late 20 th century? What is the “New Right”? Why has it become a prominent part of U.S. society in this period?