1. The Eisenhower Years
Life in the 1950s
26.4 & 26.5

2. The Boom Years Confidence & prosperity for most
Greater consumerism & conformity
Ike was a Modern Republican
Economic trend continued upward

4. Conglomerates: large corporations made up of companies within different fields
Increased Automation led to job losses in older industries
1955: AFL-CIO Merge

5. Suburban Growth
Millions move out of cities for space, cleaner environment, better schools
Baby Boom ( ) 40 million babies were born in the USA
Interstate Highway Act creates 41,000 miles of new highway

9. Highway Act… Led to more automobile sales Growth of Trucking industry
Important to national security

11. Rise of Television 44 million homes with TV by 1959
Advertising made it big business
Shows often portrayed an idealized & unrealistic vision of American life and family roles

14. Revival of Religion Revitalized with use of TV & Radio
Possibly due to faith in the “American Way” as being different than atheistic communism
By 1960, 2/3rds of America is part of some church

15. Billy Graham

16. Those Prosperity Missed
Prosperity was mainly a white-middle class experience
Blacks & Hispanics were discriminated
Automation phased-out many farmers
Many Hispanics emigrated to cities

18. The Silent Generation?
Most teens of the 1950s conformed to the politics of the time
Rock ‘n’ Roll became most important form of expression
Rock music & dance offended adults

24. The Beats or “Beatniks”
Forerunner to 1960s Counterculture
Criticized Conformity

25. 1957: Soviets Launch Sputnik
First space satellite
Ruined American belief in superiority over the Russians
Led to more Education Funding and founding of NASA

27. Eisenhower’s Farewell Address 1961
Warned of the dangers of the Military-Industrial Complex: the relationship between military, government, and corporations.
Called for end of arms-race and attempt at diplomacy.