1. Review
Which U.S. initiative was designed to provide financial aid for war-torn European countries after the Second World War?
A the Marshall Plan
B the Geneva Accords
C the NATO Alliance
D the United Nations

2. THE RED SCARE The Rise of the Suburb Life in the Suburbs
1950s Culture
THE RED SCARE
The Rise of the Suburb
Life in the Suburbs

3. The Red Scare
As after WWI, there was a Red Scare, or fear of communism, in the US after WWII.
However, the Red Scare after WWII was even more widespread and long term & was encouraged by the Truman administration, under pressure from Republican critics.
The Loyalty Review Board and Smith Act of 1940 were used to root out “communists” in the federal government , and to cripple the Communist Party.
The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated communist activities in the government, armed forces, unions, education, science, newspapers, and TV and film.

4. The Red Scare, Cont.
The HUAC held their best-known hearings investigating the movie industry in the Hollywood Ten, the Fifth Amendment, blacklists, and Freedom of Speech.
Espionage Trials of Alger Hiss and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg helped fuel the Red Scare.
Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin made a name for himself as a communist hunter and became one of the most powerful men in the US : McCarthyism
The end of the Korean War in 1953 and McCarthy’s downfall in 1954 signaled the decline of the Red Scare, but not of the concern over the Cold War in general

5. Duck and Cover
Everyone thought the world was going to end in Nuclear war, at Any moment.

6. Economic Boom & Consumerism
Prices sky rocket as WW2 ends
Taft Hartley Act: outlawed a ‘closed shop’ a workplace in which only union members can be employed.

7. WWII Veterans Come Home
GI Bill of Rights: gave veterans a number of services.
Included: -A year of unemployment payments
-loans for houses or businesses
-financial assistance for higher education

8. The Baby Boom
Soldiers coming home from the war got married and had lots of kids.
1957 at the height of the baby boom 4.3 million Americans are born
What does this mean for the nation?

9. The National Highway Act
1956
Largest public works project in history.
Built 41,000 miles of federal highway
Made the car a necessity

10. The Suburbs Large areas of mass housing outside of the cities.
Levittowns: The first example of the suburbs
Cookie-cutter housing

12. Life in the ‘Burbs Family Focused TV Popular Music Christian
The place of Women

13. Family Focused Nuclear Family-parents and kids
Less focus on Extended family, like grandparents
Dr Spock and child-
rearing advice.

14. Christianity
Church membership went from 50 million to 80 million during the 50s.
The 1950s especially saw a boom in the Evangelical Church in America. The post–World War II prosperity experienced in the U.S. also had its effects on the church. Church buildings were erected in large numbers, and the Evangelical church's activities grew along with this expansive physical growth.
Billy Graham

15. Television Sold faster than radios
Accelerated the trend towards mass culture
Portrayed ‘the ideal suburban life’

16. Rock and Roll
Adapted from a combination of African American Rhythm and Blues and Country Music of the 1930’s and 40’s
Originally called “race music”
The kids loved it
Their parents hated it
Bill Haley and the Comets performing
"Rock Around the Clock" on TV in 1955
Little Richard

17. ELVIS is in the Building

18. Dissent and Discontent
Beatniks
Rural and Urban poverty
“Other” americans faceD Injustice
(Pleasant Valley Sunday…the Monkees)