2. Chapter 29, Section 1: Postwar Policies and Prosperity Main Idea: After WWII, the American economy boomed, bringing dramatic changes in the way Americans worked and lived.

3. A. From War to Peace US had to go back to peacetime economy after WWII (return to Depression? – NO!...boom) GI Bill – govt. helped WWII veterans start businesses & go to college (created opportunities for those who served) High inflation (rising prices) becomes problem after war Taft-Hartley Act – prevented strikes & banned closed shops (hire only union members) Americans go on a huge spending spree during the fifties (follows 15-20 years of depression & war)

4. Election of ‘48 – Dewey (R) v. Truman (D); Truman squeaks out surprise victory (headline) The Fair Deal – raised min. wage, expanded Social Security (tried to extend New Deal) Elect. of ’52 – Gen. Dwight Eisenhower (R) defeats Adlai Stevenson (D); “I Like Ike”; ends 20 years of Democrat Presidents; 1 st “TV” election (popular WWII war hero) Eisenhower took middle-of- the-road approach (reelected in’56) Alaska & Hawaii become 49 & 50 in ‘59 (none added since)

5. B. An Economic & Baby Boom Baby boom – sharp increase in the # of babies born in US from 1945-1960 due to end of Depression & WWII as well as improvements in health care (polio vaccine- Dr. Jonas Salk) Population growth by decade: ‘30s: 9 m, ‘40s: 19 m, ‘50s: 29 m Economy prospers: Consumer demand for goods increases. Increased buying power made “luxury” items (toasters, refrigerators, washers, dryers, etc) more common & life easier Federal projects for roads, schools, etc. create jobs Military spending during Cold War (IBM in Endicott/Owego) New technology (computers) increases worker productivity

6. What caused the baby boom? the economy was the best it had been since the 1920’s many couples waited until after WWII to have children health care improved for pregnant women & newborns Dr. Jonas Salk created a vaccine against polio.

7. Consumerism All babies were potential consumers who spearheaded a brand-new market for food, clothing, and shelter. -- Life Magazine (May, 1958)

8. C. ‘50s Lifestyles Suburbs – many looked to own a home after WWII; Levittowns were suburban areas where every house was same (built assembly line style), which made them cheaper Cars & highways – suburbs led to need for more cars, which led to the Interstate Highway Act (built a network of highways to link the nation); shopping plazas & malls become popular Sunbelt Living – southern states w/ nicer weather become more popular (Florida, Texas, California) Rock & Roll – Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, Elvis Presley (“the King”) Beatniks – anti-establishment writers & artists (Jack Kerouac – On the Road), will become “hippies” in ‘60s

9. Returning war veterans sparked an unprecedented demand for housing after World War II. Cheaper materials and government- backed mortgages enabled home builders to meet that demand.

10. The Culture of the Car Car registrations: 1945  25,000,000 1960  60,000,000 2-family cars doubles from 1951-1958 1956  Interstate Highway Act  largest public works project in American history! Å Cost $32 billion. Å 41,000 miles of new highways built. 1959 Chevy Corvette 1958 Pink Cadillac First McDonald’s (1955) Howard Johnson’s Drive-In Movies

11. Teen Culture In the 1950s  the word “teenager” entered the American language. “ROCK ‘N ROLL” Elvis Presley “The King” Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1953) James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

12. Television had the greatest effect on American life (over 7million sets sold each yr); by 1960, 90% of homes had a TV TV provided news, sports, & entertainment. It created new celebrities (American Bandstand, Howdy Doody, I Love Lucy, etc) Commercials encouraged spending & buying. “Ideal” families often presented Father Knows Best Leave It To Beaver Donna Reed Show Ozzie & Harriet Andy Griffith Show 1946  7,000 TV sets in the U. S. 1950  50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S.

13. Suburban Living: The Typical TV Suburban Families The Donna Reed Show 1958-1966 Leave It to Beaver 1957-1963 Father Knows Best 1954-1958 The Ozzie & Harriet Show 1952-1966

14. Television – The Western Davy Crockett King of the Wild Frontier The Lone Ranger (and his faithful sidekick, Tonto): Who is that masked man?? Sheriff Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke