THE CHANGING FACE OF THE

NATION

The Changing Face of the Nation

A Peacetime Economy

During the war millions of Americans had been employed making goods for the militaryWhere would defense workers and

soldiers find jobs

A Peacetime Economy

GI Bill of Rights: government spent billions to help veterans set up farms and businessesLoans to go to collegeUnemployment insurance for up to a

year

Inflation and strikes

During the war the government had controlled the price of food and other goods, as well as wages

When the war was over the government removed wage and price controlsPrice of food, clothing and other goods

soared

Inflation and strikes

Workers demanded more payWhen employers refused unions went on

strike○ Steel workers, auto workers, railroad workers

Inflation and strikes

Taft Hartley Act: meant to prevent a new wave of strikesPassed over Truman’s vetoAllowed government to apply for a court

order delaying a strike for 80 days if it threatened public health or safety

Banned closed shop: a business or factory that agrees to hire only union members

The economy expands

Strikes ended People who saved money during the

war wanted to spend it New houses, cars, and clothing Government spent billions of dollars on

new military weapons in the Cold WarSpent on Korean WarGI Bill increase government spending on

education and welfare

Postwar Leaders

Election of 1948

Republicans nominated candidate Thomas Dewey from New York

Truman barely won the election

The Fair Deal Americans were not ready to give up

the reforms of the New Deal New Deal; Truman proposed a broad

package of reforms Congress passed only a some of the

president’s measures○ Raised minimum wage○ Expanded Social Security to cover more

people○ Reject a bill that would have provided health

insurance financed by the government

1952 Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower won the presidential election.

“I like Ike”

The road down the middle

• Eisenhower, like most Republicans, believed that the federal government should limit its control over the economy

• Supported a large government program to build a system of superhighways

• 1959 Alaska and Hawaii entered the Union

Life in the 1950s

Baby boom: the birthrate grew by 29 million compared to 19 million in the 1940 and 9 million the 1930s.

Growing families

During the Great Depression it was hard to support a large family

Many couples who married during WWII waited until after the war to have children

Growing families

Improvements in health and medical; care contributed to the baby boom

Better care for pregnant women and newborn infants

Fewer children died from childhood diseases

Dr. Jonas Salk introduced the polio vaccine

The suburbs grow

Growing families sent Americans looking for new housing

During the war families moved in together

Some lived in basements Suburbs grew 40 times faster than cities

The suburbs grow

William Levitt pioneered a new way of building suburban housing

Bought large tracts of land then subdivided them into lots

Built identical houses Called the project Levittown

Cars and highways

Suburban houses were far from stores Needed a car to commute to work BY 1960 9 out of 10 families owned a

car Federal state and local governments

encouraged movement to suburbs by building thousands of miles of new roads

Cars and highways

Interstates Highway Act: network of high speed roads linking the entire nation

auto makers competed with each other over car style and engines size

shopping centers sprang up near suburb housing developments

Television

The economy prospered Americans could buy luxurious goods

Refrigerators, electric toasters, washers and dryers

Made life easier

Television

1950s nearly 7 million televisions were sold each yearBrought news, sports, and entertainmentTeenagers watched American BandstandChildren watched Howdy Doodyhttp://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw8jL7j9_WA&feature=related

Families watched I love Lucyhttp://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFLLw7JcU74&feature=BFa&list=PLBF59092A1473F6D6&index=6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3P8JSvxVmc&feature=BFa&list=PLBF59092A1473F6D6&index=10

Television became a major influence in American life