Postwar America at Home, 1945 1960
Transcript of Postwar America at Home, 1945 1960
1950S: AMERICA AT HOME
United States Studies
The Ideal wife???
Economic BoomEconomic Boom
The Thriving Peacetime The Thriving Peacetime EconomyEconomy
1950s—one of the longest sustained economic expansions in US history (no war depression—many entered Middle Class)
G.I. Bill helped ($500/year for college; low-interest home loans)
Car industry played a key role: many produced; interstate system built
Car CultureCar Culture
1945-60: From 26 to 60 million cars
Led to: Suburbs Drive-In Movies Car Hops Malls
Changing Work Changing Work PatternsPatterns
United States stopped being primarily a goods producer and began a new path as a service provider (examples)
People enjoyed the leisure resulting from work which was characterized by conformity and “belongingness.”
White-collar and blue-collar workers enjoyed a higher standard of living than ever before
FranchisesFranchises
Franchise: Company distributes a business model through local retailers owned by independent operators
Failed McDonald’s Failed McDonald’s Menu ItemsMenu Items The Arch Deluxe: supposed to appeal to
adult tastes with a secret mustard-mayonnaise sauce
Failed McDonald’s Failed McDonald’s Menu ItemsMenu Items The “McLean Deluxe“: Designed for
people watching their weight. It contained Seaweed and water as a replacement for the fat content
Failed McDonald’s Failed McDonald’s Menu ItemsMenu Items McPizza
Failed McDonald’s Failed McDonald’s Menu ItemsMenu Items The “Hula Burger" -- grilled pineapple
with cheese on a bun
Demographic & Demographic & Technology ShiftsTechnology Shifts
Population GrowthPopulation Growth During the Great Depression, the
birthrate had dropped to an all-time low The birth rate exploded as millions of
postwar Americans began families (Baby Boom—peak: baby born every 7 seconds)
From 1940 to 1955: U.S. population went from 130 to 165 million
The death rate was also declining due to peacetime and new medical breakthroughs (Dr. Salk—polio vaccine)
Movement WestMovement West More mobile than ever before; most
headed west and south Cities throughout the Sunbelt South and
West coast saw enormous growth. Air conditioning allowed living in these
areas. Areas are still growing today Population also shifted away from the
traditional city centers to outlying suburbs where housing was cheaper
Suburbs—Why?Suburbs—Why?
Urban housing shortage
Cities became crowded
Cheaper, mass-produced housing (Levittown: $52.00 month
FHA Loans Interstates—could
live farther away from work
LevittownLevittown
American DreamAmerican Dream
TechnologyTechnology
The WWII research efforts of the Atomic Commission turned to creating consumer goods (improve transportation, satellites, radios, TVs)
New field of computers also reflected the technology of the era; tiny transistors would help miniaturize computers for use in many items from ovens to vacuum cleaners
Consensus and Consensus and ConformityConformity
Traditional Roles for Men Traditional Roles for Men &Women&Women The necessities of World War II had
interrupted the natural progression of social roles for men and women
Postwar, men and women had different expectations: education and business for men and homemaking and childrearing for women
Slow change during the decade reestablished the working patterns of the war: women found more entry points into corporate America
Youth Culture
TeenagersTeenagers
A new concept No longer have to work High school became the norm Youth “culture” develops Media targeted to teens Music:
Old New: Elvis New: Ray Charles
Politics
Truman’s PresidencyTruman’s Presidency Lots of strikes (RR strike—
seized them; threatened to draft workers)
Taft-Hartley Act (outlawed closed shop—Truman veto)
Integrated military—helped Civil Rights Movement
Fair Deal (extension of New Deal—not passed because of Republican Congress)
Eisenhower Eisenhower AdministrationAdministration
Courted by both Dems & Reps
Was a moderate (neither Liberal or Conservative)
Interstate Highway System
1957 Civil Rights Act
Little Rock 9