The Postwar Years at HomeThe Postwar Years at Home

(1945-1960)(1945-1960)

Section 1 The Postwar Section 1 The Postwar

EconomyEconomy

A.A. PW years, US embarks on PW years, US embarks on period of economic period of economic expansion.expansion.

B.B. Per Capita income increasePer Capita income increase

$1,223 per year to $2,219.$1,223 per year to $2,219.

c. Corp exp accompanied c. Corp exp accompanied economic growth.economic growth.

D.D. Conglomerates develop to Conglomerates develop to protect from downturns.protect from downturns.

E.E. Franchising also begins w/ Franchising also begins w/ Ray Kroc and McDonald’s.Ray Kroc and McDonald’s.

F.F. Other types of business Other types of business also adopt the franchise also adopt the franchise method throughout the method throughout the 50’s.50’s.

Technology Transforms LifeTechnology Transforms Life

A.A. Tech aimed at saving Tech aimed at saving consumers time and consumers time and moneymoney

Ex. Dishwashers, vacuums, Ex. Dishwashers, vacuums, lawnmowers, etc.lawnmowers, etc.

B. TV popularity grows.B. TV popularity grows.

Advances in MedicineAdvances in Medicine

A.A. Vaccine for Polio Vaccine for Polio developed by Dr. Jonas developed by Dr. Jonas Salk.Salk.

B.B. Advances in anti-bacterial Advances in anti-bacterial med such as penicillin.med such as penicillin.

C.C. WWII docs lead to adv WWII docs lead to adv surgical techniques.surgical techniques.

Change in the WorkforceChange in the Workforce

A.A. After war machines After war machines performed many of previous performed many of previous jobs.jobs.

B.B. Led to decline in blue-collar Led to decline in blue-collar worker.worker.

C.C. Many soldiers w/ new Many soldiers w/ new degrees gravitate to WC degrees gravitate to WC work.work.

Suburbs and HighwaysSuburbs and Highways

A.A. Baby boom of 1940’s leads Baby boom of 1940’s leads to population growth.to population growth.

B.B. Growing families look to Growing families look to retreat from the cities.retreat from the cities.

C.C. GI Bill of Rights made this GI Bill of Rights made this possible.possible.

D.D. Developer William Levitt Developer William Levitt makes housing possible.makes housing possible.

E.E. Mass-produces houses, Mass-produces houses, built in weeks rather than built in weeks rather than months.months.

Ex. Long Island 17,000 Ex. Long Island 17,000 homeshomes

Bucks County PA-Bucks County PA-16,00016,000

Cars and HighwaysCars and Highways

A.A. Stores from cities follow Stores from cities follow their customers.their customers.

B.B. Out of reach of public Out of reach of public trans they need cars.trans they need cars.

C.C. Led to explosion in auto Led to explosion in auto industry.industry.

D.D. Growth in car industry Growth in car industry leads to need for better leads to need for better roads.roads.

E.E. 1956 Interstate Highway 1956 Interstate Highway Act leads to est of Act leads to est of interstate highway system.interstate highway system.

Growth of Consumer CreditGrowth of Consumer Credit

A. Lending agencies pick up A. Lending agencies pick up on the credit card idea.on the credit card idea.

B. American’s use credit B. American’s use credit cards to purchase items cards to purchase items considered “needs”considered “needs”

Ex. Washing machines, TV, Ex. Washing machines, TV, vacuums.vacuums.

Section 2 Mood of the 1950’sSection 2 Mood of the 1950’s

Comfort and SecurityComfort and Security

A.A. Americans no longer Americans no longer cherish individuality now cherish individuality now value conformity.value conformity.

Men’s and Women’s RolesMen’s and Women’s Roles

A.A. Roles were clearly defined Roles were clearly defined in the 1950’s.in the 1950’s.

B.B. Men were to get educated, Men were to get educated, get a job, and support/take get a job, and support/take care of a family and home.care of a family and home.

C.C. Lived in a public sphere, Lived in a public sphere, away from home.away from home.

D.D. Women were to play a Women were to play a supporting role for their supporting role for their husband.husband.

E.E. Keep house, cook meals, Keep house, cook meals, and raise children.and raise children.

Youth cultureYouth culture

A.A. Often referred to as the Often referred to as the ‘Silent Generation’‘Silent Generation’

B.B. Economy allowed more Economy allowed more young to stay in school.young to stay in school.

C.C. Leisure time leads to Leisure time leads to young enjoying more young enjoying more entertainment.entertainment.

D.D. Advertisements begin to Advertisements begin to target teens in the 1950’s.target teens in the 1950’s.

E.E. Create a sense of Create a sense of conformity in style.conformity in style.

F.F. Rate of teenage brides Rate of teenage brides increase to half of all increase to half of all brides by 1954.brides by 1954.

Resurgence in ReligionResurgence in Religion

A.A. By 1950’s found renewed By 1950’s found renewed interest in religion.interest in religion.

B.B. 1954 “under God” added 1954 “under God” added to pledge and “In God We to pledge and “In God We Trust” on currency.Trust” on currency.

Challenges to ConformityChallenges to Conformity

A.A. Such conformity made Such conformity made differences noticeable.differences noticeable.

B.B. Not all Americans fit into Not all Americans fit into the exact mold.the exact mold.

Women At WorkWomen At Work

A.A. Many women did not want Many women did not want to give up jobs filled during to give up jobs filled during WWII.WWII.

B.B. In 1950 only 24% of In 1950 only 24% of married women had jobs.married women had jobs.

C.C. Most women’s jobs were Most women’s jobs were as secretaries, teachers, as secretaries, teachers, and nurses.and nurses.

D.D. 1963—Betty Friedan 1963—Betty Friedan published The Feminine published The Feminine Mystique.Mystique.

Youthful RebellionsYouthful Rebellions

A.A. Many young rejected Many young rejected values of parents. Led to values of parents. Led to isolation.isolation.

B.B. Reflected in movies and Reflected in movies and booksbooks

Ex. Rebel Without A CauseEx. Rebel Without A Cause

Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye

C.C. Moondog Rock and Roll Moondog Rock and Roll party draws large teen party draws large teen audience.audience.

D.D. Played black rhythm and Played black rhythm and blues music.blues music.

E.E. Became known as Rock Became known as Rock and Roll.and Roll.

F.F. Teens rushed to buy their Teens rushed to buy their favorite records.favorite records.

Black artists—Chuck Berry, Black artists—Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Domino FatsLittle Richard, Domino Fats

White artists—Jerry Lewis White artists—Jerry Lewis and Buddy Holly.and Buddy Holly.

G.G. One of best known was One of best known was Elvis Presley.Elvis Presley.

H.H. Flamboyant style attracted Flamboyant style attracted large following and int’l large following and int’l spread.spread.

I.I. Influence later artist like Influence later artist like The Beatles.The Beatles.

J.J. Many adults feared a rise Many adults feared a rise in immorality.in immorality.

K.K. This had a lot of to do with This had a lot of to do with race.race.

Beat Generation (Beatniks)Beat Generation (Beatniks)

A.A. Stressed need for release Stressed need for release from money and property.from money and property.

B.B. Shocked people with Shocked people with openness towards sex and openness towards sex and illegal drugs.illegal drugs.

C.C. Jack Kerouac often Jack Kerouac often referred to as the voice of referred to as the voice of the movement through his the movement through his novelsnovels

Ex. “On The Road”Ex. “On The Road”

Section 3Section 3

Domestic Politics and PolicyDomestic Politics and Policy

Truman’s Domestic PoliciesTruman’s Domestic Policies

A.A. 11stst priority was priority was reconversion of the reconversion of the economy.economy.

B.B. Men wanted rewards for Men wanted rewards for their sacrifices—now.their sacrifices—now.

C.C. Workers demanded wage Workers demanded wage increases—1946 4.6 million increases—1946 4.6 million workers go on strike.workers go on strike.

D.D. Congress took action to Congress took action to limit striking workers.limit striking workers.

E.E. Taft-Hartley Act—president Taft-Hartley Act—president could call 80 day cool off to could call 80 day cool off to industries of national industries of national interest.interest.

Truman’s Fair DealTruman’s Fair Deal

A.A. Truman extended upon Truman extended upon FDR’s New Deal.FDR’s New Deal.

B.B. Worked to secure Worked to secure economic justice for all economic justice for all citizens.citizens.

C.C. Much opposition to this by Much opposition to this by Conservatives in Congress.Conservatives in Congress.

D.D. By 1946 mid-terms By 1946 mid-terms Truman lost most support.Truman lost most support.

Ex. Support polls fell from Ex. Support polls fell from 87% to 32%.87% to 32%.

E. Republican Party worked E. Republican Party worked hard to block Truman’s hard to block Truman’s liberal goals.liberal goals.

Truman on Civil RightsTruman on Civil Rights

A.A. Recognized as president Recognized as president he had to take action on he had to take action on CR.CR.

B.B. 1946 met w/ AA leader to 1946 met w/ AA leader to discuss goals.discuss goals.

C.C. Congress refused to Congress refused to address concerns.address concerns.

The Election of 1948The Election of 1948

A.A. Truman had little reason to Truman had little reason to expect victory in 1948.expect victory in 1948.

B.B. Support was diminishing Support was diminishing even within his own party.even within his own party.

C.C. Both Southern and liberal Both Southern and liberal Democrats give up Democrats give up support.support.

D.D. Opponent was Thomas Opponent was Thomas Dewey, gov. of NY.Dewey, gov. of NY.

E.E. Truman campaigned mainly Truman campaigned mainly against the Republican Party against the Republican Party not Dewey.not Dewey.

F.F. Truman won an astounding Truman won an astounding upset—and Democrat upset—and Democrat control of Congress.control of Congress.

G.G. Longtime Dem control Longtime Dem control over Washington frustrates over Washington frustrates Republicans.Republicans.

H.H. Push for Amend limiting Push for Amend limiting terms of a president.terms of a president.

I.I. Led to adoption of 22Led to adoption of 22ndnd Amend in 1951. Limiting Amend in 1951. Limiting terms to 2.terms to 2.

Eisenhower and the Eisenhower and the Republican ApproachRepublican Approach

A.A. Eisenhower had a lot of Eisenhower had a lot of public support from his public support from his role as Allied Commander role as Allied Commander in WWII.in WWII.

B. Eisenhower promised to B. Eisenhower promised to end Korean War, and end Korean War, and strong approach to strong approach to Communism.Communism.

K1 C2- Korea, Communism, K1 C2- Korea, Communism, Corruption.Corruption.

c. His VP mate hammered on c. His VP mate hammered on corruption in government, corruption in government, CA senator Richard Nixon.CA senator Richard Nixon.

Nixon’s Checkers SpeechNixon’s Checkers Speech

A.A. Although popular Although popular Eisenhower’s campaign hit Eisenhower’s campaign hit a snag.a snag.

B.B. Newspapers accused Newspapers accused Nixon of having a secret Nixon of having a secret fund.fund.

C.C. Cries arose to dump Nixon Cries arose to dump Nixon from the ticket.from the ticket.

D.D. Nixon speaks on nat’l TV, Nixon speaks on nat’l TV, about the charges.about the charges.

E.E. A disaster turns into a A disaster turns into a public relations success.public relations success.

F.F. Ike and Nixon win 55% of Ike and Nixon win 55% of pop vote, and gain a pop vote, and gain a Republican controlled Republican controlled Congress.Congress.

Modern RepublicanismModern Republicanism

A.A. Ike intended to be: Ike intended to be: “Conservative when it “Conservative when it comes to money; liberal comes to money; liberal when it comes to human when it comes to human beings.”beings.”

B.B. Like traditional Like traditional Republicans Ike favored Republicans Ike favored big business.big business.

C. Eisenhower maintained a C. Eisenhower maintained a mood of stability.mood of stability.

Meeting the Technology Meeting the Technology ChallengeChallenge

A.A. SU launched Sputnik in SU launched Sputnik in 1957 led to fear of 1957 led to fear of AmericansAmericans

B.B. 1958 US created NASA 1958 US created NASA (Nat’l Aeronautics and (Nat’l Aeronautics and Space Adm)Space Adm)

C. The same year Congress C. The same year Congress also passed the National also passed the National Defense Education Act.Defense Education Act.

D.D. Designed to improve math Designed to improve math and science among and science among students.students.

E.E. Keep up with Soviet Union.Keep up with Soviet Union.