26.2 – A SOCIETYON THE MOVE

What social and economic factors changed American life during the 1950s?

Between 1940 and 1960, 40 million Americans moved to the suburbs, one of the

largest mass migrations in history.

• Rural regions suffered the most dramatic decline in population.

• Because few houses were built during the war, the U.S. had a severe shortage of urban housing.

• Newly married veterans who needed housing looked to the suburbs.

Rural regions and older industrial cities suffered

dramatic declines in population.

• William Levitt became a leader in mass producing

suburban homes.

• Entire rows of houses in Levittown were built using the same plan.

• Workers could build houses in weeks rather

than months

• built three Levittowns—in New York, New Jersey,

and Pennsylvania—which became blueprints for other suburbs soon

springing up across the country.

AT THIS TIME OF PEAK DEMAND, DEVELOPERS BEGAN TO QUICKLY BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Home buyers could use an installment plan, paying $58 a month towards the cost of the home.

• Levitt built three Levittowns—in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania—which became blueprints for other suburbs soon springing up across the country.

• Other developers adopted Levitt's techniques, and suburbs were soon springing up across the country.

New home buyers received low-interest home loans courtesy of the GI Bill of Rights and the Federal

Housing Administration (FHA).

FHA-backed loans allowed home buyers to pay as little as 5% to 10% of the purchase price and to pay

off their mortgages over 30 years.

As populations increased, suburbs became self-contained communities with shops, schools, and police departments.

Some suburbanites used public transportation, but many needed cars to commute to work and to shop at suburban shopping malls.

THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED AUTOMOBILES JUMPED FROM 26 MILLION IN 1945 TO 60 MILLION IN 1960.

Cars now included the latest technology, such as power-steering and brakes and automatic transmission.

Entrepreneurs opened fast-food restaurants and drive-in movie theaters, both centering around the “car culture”.

Older city businesses, in older city neighborhoods suffered.

To support the growing “car culture,” in 1953 President Eisenhower authorized funding to build

the interstate highway system.

•In 1956, Congress passed the Interstate Highway Act, (this authorized money to build 41,000 miles of highways consisting of multilane expressways that would connect the nation’s major cities.)

•This would be the biggest expenditure on public works in history.

•Fast-food restaurants, drive-in movie theaters, and the travel and vacation industries all benefitted from the new roads.

The new highway system boosted travel and vacation industries.

Families traveled to…national parksbeachesnew destinations, such as Las Vegas

Families sought entertainment and leisure activities…Walt Disney built an extraordinary amusement park in California (Disneyland)

ANOTHER CRUCIAL TREND OF THE POSTWAR ERA

WAS THE GROWTH OF THE

SUNBELT.THIS WAS THE NAME GIVEN TO THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN

STATES.

Factors that drew people to the Sunbelt included its warm, appealing climate and new jobs in the defense, aerospace,

electronics, and petrochemical industries.

The development of air conditioning made it easier to live in these warmer climates!

By the mid-1960’s, California passed New York as the state with the largest population.

Highly populated Sunbelt cities include:

Houston, TexasLos Angeles, California

Latinos also contributed to the growth of the Sunbelt.

In the late 1950’s and early 60’s,Cubans (who were escaping the new regime of Fidel Castro made Miami, Florida, their new home.

Mexican Americans migrated to the urban areas, such as Los Angeles, El Paso, and Phoenix.

•gained political power with increased congressional representation.

(Urbanites in the Northeast and Midwest lost political power)

As Americans moved to the suburbs and the Sunbelt, these areas:

•faced more environmental concerns such as air pollution and water shortages.

For the first time in American history, more people found employment in the service sector -(businesses that provide services, such as healthcare, law, retail, banking, or insurance)an in the manufacturing sector.

POPULATION SHIFTS WERE ACCOMPANIED

BY EQUALLY GROUND-BREAKING

STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE

AMERICAN ECONOMY

The new white-collar workforce included many who worked in information

industries (those who built or operated the first computers)

•The information industries often used computers.

•By the 1960s, the government and private industry had found many uses for the computer.

The first computers were huge, taking up over 18,000 square feet! (The size of 3 basketball courts!)

One of the first, named ENIAC, short for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer.

It was less powerful than today’s desktop computers!

By the 60’s, government and the private industry had found many uses for the computers.• Hotels used computers to help make reservations• Banks used them to keep track of accounts• Industries started using computers to automate work or

perform jobs once done by people

OTHER CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY

The postwar period saw changes in types of businesses and in the labor movement.

•*Franchise businesses (this allows a company to distribute its products or services through retail outlets owned by independent operators) were attractive to consumers craving quality and consistency.The Holiday Inn franchise was created during this era. Today, there are tens of thousands of Holiday Inn hotels all over the world!

*Multinational corporations (companies that produced and sold their goods and services all over the world and established branches abroad) also expanded.

General Motors (GM)

General Electric (GE)

IBM

Coca Cola

After the war, more people were able to complete high school and attend college.

**A more educated workforce boosted productivity.**

1940 – 15% of college-age Americans attended college1960 – It rose to over 40%!

•Local and state governments provided most of the funding for education.

•But after the Soviets launched Sputnik 1 in 1957, Congress approved the $1 billion National Defense Education Act, aimed at producing more scientists and science teachers.

Education is “Democratized”