1. Chapter 19 Section 4 Notes The “Other” America

2. Poverty in the 1950s 1 out of 4 people lived below poverty level
Most from urban areas
single moms
Children
Minorities
Rarely saw any of this reported by media

3. The Govt. Begins to Respond
National Housing Act of 1949
Goal = tear down old, run – down housing
replace with new, affordable housing
(+) Govt. built about a million units of housing in cities
Provide loans to people who qualify
(-) Much of land torn down used for commercial or industrial purposes
(-) Low income people can’t afford it
Landlords raise rent
had nowhere to go, turn to shelters
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Cabinet position created to improve inner cities

4. What made the problem worse?
White Flight
White middle class moves from cities to suburbs
Nicer homes, better technology
Better cars with roads make this possible
Self segregate children from blacks in school
Direct impact on cities
Less tax $ for governments
From housing and businesses
Results in lower quality services
Cities begin falling apart faster

5. Death of an American City
Detroit
Death of an American City
To run down abandoned houses
From a bustling metropolis

7. In 1950, Detroit’s population
was close to 2 million people.
The comparison on the left
was taken from around 2000.
Nowadays, Detroit’s population
is less than 650,000 people
The sq. mile area of Detroit
is still the same.
How can the city government
maintain that much area with
that many less people paying
for the maintenance?
Who knows… maybe
Detroit will experience
a Renaissance?
I don’t see it happening
given its current size.

8. Poverty in Cities Leads to Activism
Minorities begin to speak out about poor conditions
Combines with Civil Rights Movement
More in Chp 21.

9. Mexican – Americans in the 1940s and 1950s
Many come into U.S. as Braceros
Migrant farm workers.
Enter during WWII
We needed help with crops!
Expected to leave after the war
Some didn’t do this
Others enter illegally due to
poor conditions in Mexico.
Suffered discrimination
Higher rates of poverty
The Longoria Incident
WWII hero killed in action (1945)
Body wasn’t returned to family for 4 years
Funeral home in small TX town wouldn’t
provide services due to his race
GI Forum
Formed to bring attention to this injustice
Worked with TX Senator (LBJ)
Unsuccessful
Got Buried in Wash DC instead
Did get Hispanic Veterans = Treatment over time
Unity League
Founded by Ignacio Lopez
Forms in California to get Hispanics equality in society
Encourages Political Participation

10. Native – Americans in the 1940s and 1950s
Many Serve in WWII with honor
Termination Policy
Become full citizens
Pay taxes
Recognize all laws
Tribal govts lose power
Ending federal economic
support for Native Americans
No more reservations
Land went to each family
Result
Mostly a Failure
Want to stay in tribes!
Some find work in cities
with govt. help
Discriminated against
Don’t have training to do
“white man’s work”
Reservations back by mid 1960s
Gov. influenced by National Congress of Am Indians
Became very politically involved (more in Chpt 23)