1. Chapter 19
Part 2
Pages

2. Terms to Know Conglomerate Franchise Baby Boom Dr. Jonas Salk
Consumerism
Planned Obsolence

3. White collar v Blue Collar
For the first time in American history
White collar workers outnumbered Blue Collar
Big Business = more jobs in the service industry

4. Big Business and Government
Ike: What’s good for General Motors is good for the country
Laissez-Faire…just like in the 1920’s
Big business and big unions = more opportunity for abuse and corruption

5. Remember the Taft-Hartley Act
Restricted the power of labor Unions Injunctions could be used in labor disputes in times of crisis

6. Conglomerates
A major corporation that includs a number of smaller companies that include many in unrelated fields
Example: ITT International telephone and telegraph owned hotels, insurance companies, etc.
ATT: , Xerox and General Electric

7. New Business Organizations
A Franchise
A company that offers small products in numerous locations
Often rights to a franchise are sold to individuals who can use the parent company name and system for ppurposes of profit…like fast food companies

8. Conformity Businesses prized team work, conformity, loyalty, etc.
Is conformity counterproductive to creativity? Thinking outside of the box?
Companies gave “personality tests” to potential employees to “insure a good fit.”

9. Conformity Most folks worked in cities but lived in suburbs
Cars were reasonably priced
Gas was cheap
New Highway system built in 50’s
By 1960 every large American city was surrounded by suburbs

10. The American Dream To have an affordable single-family house
With good schools
In a safe, healthy environment
With friendly neighbors
1950’s 13 million new homes built
85% in the suburbs

11. The Baby boom Caused by: Soldiers reuniting with their wives
A desire for a large family
A lower marriage age
Belief that prosperity would last

12. The Family
Men were heads of the household and sole breadwinner,…some pressure
Companies gave psychological tests to potential workers…would they fit in? Be loyal?
Women were encouraged to be housewives and mothers…magazines, advertising, 50’s sit-coms
Many bored, frustrated, unhappy

13. The Feminist Movement
Began after the publication of The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan 1963
By that time ½ married women were in the workforce but few real opportunities
Teaching, nursing, office work

14. Children Most women turned to “experts” for child-rearing advice
1947 Dr. Benjamin Spock wrote Baby and Child Care
Discouraged spanking, scolding, encouraged women to stay home…even suggested that the government pay women to stay home

15. Medical Advances During WWII Antibiotics = raised life expectancy
Drugs created for deadly childhood illnesses
Dr. Jonas Salk…the Polio vaccine
The government paid for inoculations
,000 cases of polio in the U.S.
cases in the U.S.

16. More Leisure time Most worked 40 hour weeks
New labor-saving appliances (electric)
Washers, Dryers, Blenders, Dishwashers, Lawnmowers

17. Sports Spectator: football, basketball, baseball
Other: golf, fishing, hiking, biking, boating

18. Reading
Magazines cook books, romance and adventure and mystery stories…and serious novels…Hemingway, Steinbeck, etc.

19. The Automobile and the 50’s
During WWII gas was rationed and cars were not available to the public After the war, cars were reasonably-priced and gas was cheap 1940…40 million drivers million drivers

20. New Car Culture Drive ins Drive throughs Gas stations on every corner
A new interstate highway system

21. 1956 The Interstate Highway Act
41,000 miles of new highways
For national defense purposes as well
More family trips
Often cross-country

22. Cars were a necessity
As most lived in suburbs and worked in the city…also leisure activities required transportation

23. BUT More pollution Traffic jams Deaths due to car accidents
And poor roads

24. Consumerism By the mid-50’s 60% of Americans were middle class.
Twice the number before WWII
Consumerism…people were buying more
Success was linked to material goods

25. New Products Record Players Tape Recorders Hi-fis
The television and advertising
Ad men used psychology to convince Americans that they NEEDED these new products

26. New Stuff We Had to Have
Pools
BBQ’s
Lawn Decorations

27. New Payment Plans Prosperity brings easy credit
Credit cards…first the Diners Club card
By 1950…American Express
Layaway Plans
All increased personal debt

28. Please
Read Chapter 19 Part 3
Pages