The Postwar EraThe Postwar Era

DemobilizationDemobilizationI.I. Dismantling of U.S. war machineDismantling of U.S. war machine

A.A. Appeal to bring soldiers home from WWIIAppeal to bring soldiers home from WWII

B.B. Economic growthEconomic growth1.1. ““Done without” since 1929Done without” since 1929

2.2. Record amount of consumer goods purchasedRecord amount of consumer goods purchased

3.3. GNP rose rapidlyGNP rose rapidly

C.C. WagesWages1.1. Real income increasedReal income increased

2.2. Working-class accumulated discretionary Working-class accumulated discretionary incomeincome

D.D. AdvertisingAdvertising1.1. Fastest growing postwar industryFastest growing postwar industry

a.a. Popularity of televisionPopularity of television

►General Electric refrigerator commercial General Electric refrigerator commercial (1952)(1952)

GI BillGI Bill

I.I. Designed to ease Designed to ease transition from transition from military to civilian military to civilian lifelife

II.II. Educational BenefitsEducational BenefitsA.A. 8 million vets took 8 million vets took

advantageadvantage

III.III. Low-Interest Low-Interest MortgagesMortgages

A.A. Huge demand for Huge demand for housinghousing

Corporate ConformityCorporate ConformityI.I. Business mergers created Business mergers created conglomeratesconglomerates

A.A. New employment opportunitiesNew employment opportunities

B.B. Stressed conformityStressed conformity1.1. Critics – destroyed individualityCritics – destroyed individuality

2.2. Wages as important as benefitsWages as important as benefits

3.3. Minorities excluded from opportunitiesMinorities excluded from opportunities

II.II. Service SectorService SectorA.A. Public & private service industries expandedPublic & private service industries expanded

1.1. Service jobs outnumbered manufacturing for first time Service jobs outnumbered manufacturing for first time in U.S. historyin U.S. history

III.III. Farming became big businessFarming became big businessA.A. Rural areas enjoyed technology & high Rural areas enjoyed technology & high

standard of livingstandard of living

B.B. Large corporate farms replaced small family Large corporate farms replaced small family farmsfarms

Automobile CultureAutomobile CultureI.I. Curb Service & Drive-insCurb Service & Drive-ins

A.A. CarhopsCarhops1.1. Roller skating waitresses delivered food to carRoller skating waitresses delivered food to car

B.B. Drive-in theatresDrive-in theatres1.1. Large outdoor screensLarge outdoor screens

►Two Car FreedomTwo Car Freedom

I.I. HighwaysHighwaysA.A. Highway Act of 1956Highway Act of 1956

1.1. President EisenhowerPresident Eisenhower2.2. Developed interstate Highway SystemDeveloped interstate Highway System

I.I. SuburbsSuburbsA.A. Migration to Sun Belt statesMigration to Sun Belt statesB.B. White Americans moved to the suburbsWhite Americans moved to the suburbs

Growth of SuburbiaGrowth of SuburbiaI.I. GI Bill made housing affordableGI Bill made housing affordable

A.A. Lower population densitiesLower population densities1.1. Developers refused to sell to minoritiesDevelopers refused to sell to minorities

““White Flight”White Flight” ““de-facto” segregationde-facto” segregation

2.2. 85% of new home construction in suburbia85% of new home construction in suburbia3.3. affordabilityaffordability

II.II. American dreamAmerican dreamA.A. Community spirit in suburbsCommunity spirit in suburbs

1.1. Clubs & groupsClubs & groups

B.B. Church membership increased greatlyChurch membership increased greatly1.1. Aided by communication technologyAided by communication technology2.2. Evident throughout society – Pledge of AllegianceEvident throughout society – Pledge of Allegiance

C.C. Society focused on familySociety focused on family

Baby BoomBaby BoomI.I. Period of unprecedented family growthPeriod of unprecedented family growth

A. Peaked in 1957 – baby born every 7 secondsA. Peaked in 1957 – baby born every 7 seconds

B. Continued to about 1965B. Continued to about 1965

I.I. Idea of togethernessIdea of togethernessA.A. Young married couples – lives centered on Young married couples – lives centered on

childrenchildren

II.II. Fueled economy & sustained Fueled economy & sustained prosperityprosperity

III.III. Antibiotics & vaccines – controlled Antibiotics & vaccines – controlled diseasedisease

A.A. Dr. Jonas Salk – Polio vaccineDr. Jonas Salk – Polio vaccineB.B. Dr. Benjamin Spock – early childhood Dr. Benjamin Spock – early childhood

experiencesexperiences

►Impact of Baby BoomImpact of Baby Boom

I.I. Children enjoyed unprecedented privilegeChildren enjoyed unprecedented privilegeA.A. School & youth activitiesSchool & youth activitiesB.B. Raised on TV & commercialismRaised on TV & commercialism

Women’s PlaceWomen’s PlaceI.I. Traditional rolesTraditional roles

A.A. Mother & homemakerMother & homemaker1.1. Popular culture & education supported thisPopular culture & education supported this

II.II. Began to question their rolesBegan to question their rolesA.A. Dr. Benjamin SpockDr. Benjamin Spock

A.A. Gov’t should pay mothers not to workGov’t should pay mothers not to workB.B. Women’s place in the home-raising kidsWomen’s place in the home-raising kids

B.B. The Feminine MystiqueThe Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan by Betty FriedanA.A. By 1960’s women began to question roleBy 1960’s women began to question roleB.B. National Organization for WomenNational Organization for Women

III.III. Women in workforceWomen in workforceA.A. Women over 35 – greatest increase in female Women over 35 – greatest increase in female

employmentemploymentB.B. Motivation – improve standard of livingMotivation – improve standard of living

Invisible PoorInvisible PoorI.I. Americans thought poverty eliminatedAmericans thought poverty eliminated

A.A. Not visible in suburbs (White Flight)Not visible in suburbs (White Flight)

B.B. Poor lacked political voicePoor lacked political voice

II.II. ““New” poverty different from Great New” poverty different from Great DepressionDepression

A.A. No massive social welfare programsNo massive social welfare programs

III.III. Reasons for povertyReasons for povertyA.A. Racial & ethnic prejudice & discriminationRacial & ethnic prejudice & discrimination

B.B. Lack of opportunityLack of opportunity

C.C. Technology & scientific reasons (elderly)Technology & scientific reasons (elderly)

Minority ExperiencesMinority ExperiencesI.I. African AmericansAfrican Americans

A.A. Deep-seated racial prejudiceDeep-seated racial prejudice1.1. Racial terrorismRacial terrorism2.2. Barriers to social & economic advancementsBarriers to social & economic advancements

II.II. HispanicsHispanicsA.A. Puerto RicansPuerto Ricans

1.1. Poverty – language barrierPoverty – language barrier

III.III. Native AmericansNative AmericansA.A. Termination policy – end reservation system & Termination policy – end reservation system &

terminate all federal servicesterminate all federal servicesB.B. Voluntary Relocation Program – government Voluntary Relocation Program – government

helped N.A. relocate to citieshelped N.A. relocate to cities