1. Ideological Consensus
The Mood of the 1950’s

2. I. “The American Century At Home
A. Origins of Consensus
B. Continuing Ascent of Middle-Class Values
C. Suburbs
1. The “Suburban Ideal’
D. The “Baby Boom”
E. Social Mobility
F. The Privatization of American Life
G. Employment

3. The King of Rock and Roll

4. H. Mass Consumption in a Consumer Society
I. Mass Culture in the Television Era
J. The Price of Progress
K. Development of the Third World
L. Great Age of Multinational Corporate Capitalist Society
M. Rise of the “Multi-University”
SUNY Oswego

5. II. The Politics and Policies of Congress and Presidency
A. The Truman Presidency
B. Eisenhower and the 1950’s
1. Triumph of Consensus Politics
2. Moderate Republicanism
3. Legislative Accomplishments
a. Interstate highway system
b. National Defense Education Act
c. Housing

6. a. full development of “massive Retaliation” 5. Supreme Court
4. Foreign Policy
a. full development of “massive Retaliation”
5. Supreme Court
a. Appointed Earl Warren
-would regret it later
b. Brown vs. Board
“Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national heritage”
--Dwight D. Eisenhower—Jan. 28, 1954