1. Cold War US
USH-7.6

2. I. Education US gov’t invested in education programs
Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill)
Federal funded scholarships
Allow more Americans to attend college
Narrows the income gap between rich and poor

3. I. Education More college grads meant more prosperity
Their kids could stay in school longer
More men and women in college
Prosperity led to a baby boom
More kids meant more schools needed built

4. II. Suburbs People began to move
Federal Defense Highway Act built interstates
Shopping malls, restaurants, motels, etc.
Migration puts more pressure on cities
AA move for work
Baby boomers
White Flight

5. III. Consumerism
Great Depression and WWII stopped production of consumer goods
When the factories start making goods, people are ready to buy them
Baby boomers make parents buy things for families
Greater demand → more production → more jobs → economic growth

6. III. Consumerism Americans had the highest standard of living
More white-collar jobs
Clerical, professional, managerial, etc.
Middle class had more money
TV builds a bigger culture of consumer debt
“Buy now, pay later”
Buying things we don’t need

7. IV. New Technology Medical treatments Penicillin and other antibiotics
Jonas Salk creates polio vaccine
WWII doctors create new surgical procedures
Infant mortality rate drops

8. IV. New Technology Agricultural advancements Pesticides
Chemical fertilizers
Improved nutrition
Small family farms turn to large commercial farms
Long-term environmental impact

9. V. Women After WWII most women had to give up their war jobs to men
Many become stay-at-homes
Media plays up the traditional homemaker role
Jobs limited to nursing, teaching, sales, secretarial, etc.
Few managerial jobs
Glass ceiling