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Social Issues and Postwar US Society

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1 Social Issues and Postwar US Society
Spring 2014 US History Harvey Social Issues and Postwar US Society

2 Postwar Prosperity and New Technology
Economics and Lifestyles Post WWII the US experienced higher prosperity Production will shift from wartime production to consumer production America will turn to TV, TV dinners, box cakes, and life in the suburbs After war  Economic Boom= Consumerism Spending money and buying products because you can; infatuation with buying Suburbs Inexpensive housing developments set up for GIs and their families Levittown Set up on a grid, mass-produced, cookie-cutter Trend from living in urban centers to the suburbs Can live outside the city and still get to work thanks to the interstate

3 Postwar Prosperity and New Technology
Interstate Highway System Government is dedicated to expanding horizons Will pass the National Interstate and Defense Highway Act 1956 (Federal Aid Highway Act) Nation wide system of highways that allow for easier and extended travel Helped suburbanize the US Rise of family vacations, roadside motels. And sight-seeing spots Americans will fall in love with their cares (America on wheels) Global Trade Increases post-war Selling goods in the foreign market The new competition will allow for business expansion and new openings

4 Post War Prosperity and New Technology
Military-Industrial Complex Defense industry will prosper in the US due to the Cold War arm race with Soviet Union Government increases spending on private companies to develop new weapons Farewell address warning from Eisenhower Names the agreement between the government and the defense industry as military industry complex Warns of the concern for the private sector of the economy influencing military policy Johnson’s Great Society Goal to end poverty in the United States Dump large sums of federal money into government programs Education programs for children Inner city development Low income housing Medical care for the elderly and poor Criticized for increased government spending but not making a dent in the war on poverty

5 Post War Prosperity and New Technology
Radio, Television, and Microwave Society Radios ‘20s-30s most homes have radios Source for entertainment and news First focus of the family 1950s radio will have greater impact New technology will produce smaller and mobile radios Brings Rock’n’Roll to teenagers Will play a key role in youth counterculture movement

6 Post War Prosperity and New Technology
Television 1930 television is first developed, people will stay in from night clubs to watch TV Replaces the radio as focal point of American families First black and white, Will go through transition to color “Tube “ TV 1953 two-thirds (4 million) of US homes will have TV;1960, 45 million homes have TV Consumerism increases popularity of TV Uses TV to deliver advertisements to consumers Changes the face of politics Changes the way reporters give news Influence the public opinion greatly in 1960s

7 Post War Prosperity and New Technology
1960s Presidential Election comes to TV JFK vs. Nixon 70 million viewers tuned in Nixon was seen as tired, worn after recovering from surgery while sitting next to Kennedy who was young, charming and charismatic For the first debate, radio listeners declared Nixon the winner, but TV viewers deemed Kennedy the winner 50% of people said TV influenced their vote on election day Issues enter America’s living room Brings images of Vietnam Civil Rights Movement: Protests against Jim Crow laws in Birmingham-police dogs attacking people, children being hosed Opened the eyes of Americans to the truth behind US consumerism

8 Post War Prosperity and New Technology
Microwave 1945 Percy Spencer discovers microwave technology on accident Working on radar technology for the war effort, melts chocolate bar in pocket Discovered the technology he was using cooked food faster than conventional ovens 1950 first microwave for sale By 1960s affordable counter top microwaves for sale Changes the roles of women-more freedom, less time in the kitchen Space Race New technology also launched Space Race between US and Soviets Who could advance the fastest? 1957 Soviets launch the first satellite in space, Sputnik I Many blamed Eisenhower for US being intellectually behind and less of a superpower compared to Soviets January 1958 Explorer I- US success, Congress passes the National Aeronautics and Space Act (NASA) Goal to put US as a leader in space exploration Causes public schools to focus more on math and science education July 20, 1969 Apollo 11 lands on the moon and US watches as Neil Armstrong takes first steps on the moon

9 Music and 1950s Counterculture
Rock’n’Roll Generation gap Memphis Elvis Presley Nashville Music City, USA Grand Ole Opry

10 1960’s Social Unrest Students for a Democratic Society
1960s Counterculture Feminism

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