1. Life in the 1950s

2. World War II had ended and the task of rebuilding Europe was begun –the Marshall Plan Israel gained its independence, finally, from Britain, changing its name from Palestine to Israel, but many people felt displaced. War broke out the next day when its Arab neighbors attacked. Israel survived but the boundaries were changed.

3. Harry S. Truman 1945-1953 DEMOCRAT 33 rd President Born: May 8, 1884 Birthplace: Missouri Died: December 26, 1972 Ran against Dewey in 1948

4. Truman’s Political Career Took over as President of the United States when Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945 During his presidency: – Ordered the Atomic bombs to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Truman’s 21 Points (The Fair Deal) – Truman Doctrine – NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – Korean War 1950-1953

5. The Korean War Korea divided into North and South at the 38 th parallel UN forces were able to push back the North Korean forces to the Yalu River The Chinese government led by Mao Tse-Tung warned them to go no further

6. Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953-1961 34 th President REPUBLICAN Born: October 14, 1890 Birthplace: Texas Died: March 28, 1969 Ran for President promising to end the Korean War

7. War veterans came home and Congress passed the GI Bill. This gave returning Vets low cost home loans and money to go to college

8. The American Dream of a home and a car was made possible by increased use of assembly lines to manufacture buildings and products. People moved from the cities into residential areas outside the cities – the suburbs mostly in the Sunbelt

9. The Highway Act of 1956 established the Interstate Highway System, eventually making it possible to drive from coast to coast in a matter of days instead of weeks.

10. Televisions gained in popularity although most people still got their information from newspapers, radio, and newsreels.

11. Music was Rock and Roll with such greats as “The King” (Elvis Presley), Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Fats Domino.

12. Protesters of all this decadence were called beatniks and people snapped their fingers to clap!

13. And best of all vaccines became popular, ending or limiting the devastating effects of many diseases such as polio and smallpox.