1. Copy these notes into your notebook.
Chapter 36 – American Zenith
Politics:
A. Eisenhower (Republican) elected in 1952 & 1956.
B. Republicans won control of Congress.
C. Tried to govern “from the middle.”
II. Economics:
A. Short downturn as soldiers returned home.
B. Savings and pent-up demand led to economic boom beginning in late 1940s.
C. Economy shifted from war production to consumer goods.

2. D. Television (“idealized white society.”) E. The Automobile
III. Social Life:
A. Conformity
1. “Company man.”
2. Housewife
3. Suburban Housing
B. Rebellion
1. Rock and Roll.
2. The Beat Movement
C. Consumerism
D. Television (“idealized white society.”)
E. The Automobile
F. Baby Boom (Births rise dramatically from 1947 – 1964).
G. New amounts of “leisure time.”

3. IV. Don’t forget The Cold War!
A. Russians have H-Bomb.
B. Russians have missiles that can reach U.S.
C. Cuban Missile Crisis
D. CIA covert action around the world
V. Also, early Civil Rights Movement

4. Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican
Who were the candidates in the 1952 Presidential election?...
Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican
Adlai Stevenson Democrat

5. “Ike for President” Ike for President jingle
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6. The economy grows…
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7. What were the characteristics of a company man in the 1950s?
Do not think independently… a team player that does not rock the boat
Required to “fit in”… teamwork, cooperation & loyalty to the company
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8. How did many American women feel about their role as a homemaker?
“ the key figure in all suburbia, the thread that weaves between family and community- the keeper of the suburban dream”
UNHAPPY: Discontent, isolated, unchallenged, bored
Betty Friedan –
Wrote a book called The Feminine Mystique… Exposed the frustrations of women in American society.
Women were frustrated with their role
Limited employment opportunities
Unequal pay
Little encouragement to do more than be a Mom
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10. Levittown, NY-PA
1950s - Wm. Levitt mass produces homes… assembly line production
1950s – 13M homes built… 85% in the suburbs
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11. 1954: Father Knows Best - A TV show promoting the ideal (conservative, rosy and paternalistic) American family of the 1950s.
: Ozzie and Harriet -“The ideal American family life” - The longest-running "live”(non-animated) sitcom in TV history.
1957 : Leave it to Beaver
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12. The Automobile Culture

14. 40M cars in 1950… 60M in 1960 The Automobile Culture - “Automania”
Causes of the automobile boom….
Cheap fuel
Easy credit terms to buy cars
The growth of the suburbs
Effects of the automobile boom….
Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway Act… 41K miles of highways
“Homogenized” our culture… “drive from Brooklyn to Los Angeles without a change of diet, scenery or culture” J. Keats
Increased travel… destination vacations… i.e. Disney World
Public transportation declined
Stimulates business: Motels, drive-in restaurants, drive-in movies, shopping malls

15. What new problems did automobiles create?
Noise & exhaust pollution
An increase in traffic accidents
People & businesses leave the cities… poverty becomes more concentrated in the cities
Tax base in the cities erodes
Public transportation declined… funding went to highways
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16. What factors influenced the amount of leisure time Americans enjoyed?
The 40 hour work week
Generous vacation time
Time saving devices: Washers, dryers, dishwashers, Lawn mowers
…What activities were Americans enjoying?
Fishing, hunting, bowling, boating, golf, baseball games, football games, pleasure reading
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17. The Baby Boom The population explosion between 1946- 1964.
1957: 1 birth every 7 seconds
10M enter elementary school
Toy sales: 12.5B
Teacher shortages
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18. The first African American to play MLB… prior to this, blacks played in the Negro Leagues.

19. What was decided in the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) case?
A landmark civil rights case decided by the Supreme Court …Public schools must racially integrate.
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