America at Mid-Century

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America at Mid-Century 1952-1963

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America at Mid-Century. 1952-1963. AMERICAN SOCIETY AT MID-CENTURY. Objective… Identify the elements of mass culture and explain the criticism of mass culture. Mass culture - AKA “Pop culture”. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of America at Mid-Century

Page 1: America at Mid-Century

America at

Mid-Century 1952-1963

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AMERICAN SOCIETY AT MID-CENTURY

• Objective…

Identify the elements of mass culture and explain the criticism of mass

culture.

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Mass culture - AKA “Pop culture” The norms (ideas, perspectives, attitudes & behaviors) promoted by

the mass media and accepted by the majority of a given culture.

1950s = ConformityWhy?

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FACTS about the 1950s…• US Population: 152,000,000 • Life expectancy: W 71.1 - M 65.6• Labor force male/female: 5/2

What Things Cost in 1950…• Car: $1,750• Gas: .27 cents/gal• House: $14,500 – • Bread: .14 cents/loaf - Milk: .82 cents/gal• Postage: .03 cents • Min. Wage: .75 cents per hr• Av. Salary: $3,000-$3,800

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John Kenneth Galbraith

The

Affluent

Society…

1) Galbraith’s criticism of American society…

1) Galbraith’s criticism of American society…

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The Eisenhower Presidency

Objective…

Describe Eisenhower’s leadership style & political philosophy on the role of government.

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Results of the 1952 Election.. Party Elector Pop Vote%

Eisenhower: Rep… 442… 55%Stevenson: Dem… 89… 44%

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DDE’s biography…• Born in1890 into a poor Texas family• Public education• 1915 - Graduates West Point • 1917 - WW I veteran & Advisor to MacArthur• 1943 - N. African campaign & D-Day

• 1945 - Allied Commander• 1945 - President Columbia University• 1950 - Leader of N.A.T.O.• 1952 - Elected U.S. President – 2 terms• 1961- Retires in Gettysburg, PA• 1969 - Dies in Washington DC

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Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dynamic Conservatism or Modern Republicanism

“Conservative when it comes to money and liberal when it comes to human beings” -

DDE

” “A middle of the road Republican”

2) DDE’s leadership style…

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The DDE Presidency 3) DDE’s “corporate commonwealth?”…

A) DDE’s appointments reflect… B) Who should guide the economy…

4) What were the consequences of DDE’s environmental policy?

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"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are...Texas oil millionaires and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

5) What New Deal legacy did DDE

accept?

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The DDE Presidency

6) DDE’s views on “pumping the economy”…

-The consequences of these views…

7) What was the effect of DDE’s financial policies?

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Objective…

• Identify and explain the significance of DDE’s major legislative

accomplishments.

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8) Subsidizing Prosperity…Millions of Americans achieve middle class

A. Nat. Defense. Ed. Act (1958)…

B. Veterans Act…

• Emphasis on the importance of education.• Driven by the fear that we are falling behind the Soviets in science & technology (…Sputnik launched in 1957) • Grants to college students who went into education.• Grants to universities to update science programs.

• The GI Bill was expanded beyond education• Low interest mortgages & business loans to vets.• Promotes the growth of the suburbs. the growth of the suburbs

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C. Federal Highway Act…• AKA: The Eisenhower Highway Act• Builds 41K miles of highways in US• Encourages suburb development• Accelerates the decline of the cities• Causes the under funding of mass transit• The largest public works program in history

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdhJMKegnCI …Route 66

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• Following WW II, the FHA helped finance homes for returning veterans & their families. Facilitates the American dream of owning a house.

• Negatives… Favored new communities on the outskirts of cities… or favored suburban middle class developments; Favored single family homes v. multi-family; discriminated against minorities; Provided nothing to repair existing structures; Results in urban decay

D. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) …

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Objective…

Summarize the trends in the 1950s culture.

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I &E: 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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The Suburbs… 1957 - The Baby Boom peaks 1950s - Wm. Levitt mass produces homes 1950s - 13M homes built… 85% in the suburbs 1960’s - Urban areas are surrounded by suburbs

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Levittown, NY-PA

1950s - Wm. Levitt mass produces homes… assembly line production

1950s – 13M homes built… 85% in the suburbs

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Suburban Life9) How do the following typify suburban life …

A) Nuclear family & the

suburban housewife….

B) Role of religion…

“Stay at home Moms” … the efficient, charming homemaker

Back to church in mass #s

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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

• Women are frustrated• Limited employment opportunities• Unequal pay• Little encouragement to do more than be a Mom

10) Betty Freidan…Her alternative view?...

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1950s Sexist coffee advertisement… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRYfouuHPvs&feature=g-vrec&context=G2da5fe9RVAAAAAAAAAQ

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Lonely Crowds & Organization Men

11) According to critics what motivates Americans in the 1950s…

“inner directed” vs. “other directed”Inner = Morality results from internal drive & self discipline

Other = morality results from the need to conform

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The Expansion

of Higher Education

   12) What were the reasons for the rapid expansion in college enrollment in the 1950s…

• The Boomers arrive at college• The GI Bill (…applies to Korean vets)• Nat Defense Ed Act• Defense spending for research• “White collar” expectations of society

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Health & Medicine13) Improvements in health &

medicine after WW II…

Advances in Medicine …

Antibiotics widely distributed Open Heart Surgery

TuberculosisDiphtheria

Whooping coughMeasles

Poliomyelitis

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Jonas Salk - Developed the vaccine

that eradicated Polio.

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Dr. Benjamin Spock Recommended…-Stay at home mothers-No spanking-Stay at home Moms-Family meetings so that children can express themselves

Baby and Child Care by Dr. Spock

• 10M sold in 1950s


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