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The Postwar Years at Home chapter 20 notes

The Postwar Years at Home chapter 20 notes. The Postwar Years at Home. For the first time in 15-20 years, Americans have surplus income and products are available for purchase The U.S. economy experiences one of its greatest periods of growth

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The Postwar Years at Home chapter 20 notes

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  1. The Postwar Years at Homechapter 20 notes

  2. The Postwar Years at Home • For the first time in 15-20 years, Americans have surplus income and products are available for purchase • The U.S. economy experiences one of its greatest periods of growth • The GDP and per capita income double, but so did inflation

  3. Conglomerates and Franchises • The creation of these entities allowed for a tremendous growth, but their smaller, independent competitors suffered.

  4. Technology • TV begins to replace radio and movies as the main form of entertainment. • People would gather to watch TV as a family.

  5. Medicine • Polio Vaccine – Jonas Salk and Thomas Francis • Many surgical advances from WWII • Many advances in fighting bacterial infections

  6. Other advances • We see the beginning of the computer industry in America. • America begins to use nuclear power for the first time to power their homes

  7. G.I. Bill of Rights • Allowed G.I.’s to: • Go to college • Buy homes cheaply

  8. Changes in the Workforce • Many WWII veterans go to white collar jobs rather than blue collar ones. • Advances in the highway system, the purchase of new cars, and the demand for new homes led to an explosion in suburban growth “LEVITTOWN”

  9. The Suburbs • 16 million GI’s became men in the war, and need a new place to live. • During this time period, America sees an explosion in housing growth, especially the suburbs. • Baby Boom

  10. Rise in Conformity • A society that used to admire trailblazers and individuals now began to gravitate towards conformity, or “sameness”. • Americans began to treasure comfort and security. • This attitude was enhanced by images that Americans saw on TV

  11. The Beat Generation • Was a counter culture in response to the rise in American conformity. • Goatees, dark clothes, “playing it cool” • “Led” by Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsburg • Pre-cursor to the counter culture of the 1960’s.

  12. Lousy Beatniks!

  13. Youth Culture • Young people began to stay in school until completion in greater numbers. • People were marrying younger (especially girls).

  14. Conformity was also the norm for young people.

  15. Rock and Roll • Came from R&B • Exuded “sexual energy” • Kids loved it • “The Man”… HATED it, and so did parents. • “Elvis the Pelvis”, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and more…

  16. Rebellion • Teen angst • Showed the rift between the WWII generation and the baby boomers.

  17. Rise in Religion • “One nation, under God…” and “In God we trust” appear for the 1st time. • These phrases were used in response to Communism, which was an atheistic culture. • Illustrated the idea of “God-less Communism” vs. “Christian Democracy”

  18. Roles of Men and Women • America settles into very different roles for men and women. • Men are the breadwinners, while the women stay at home. • Women are still in the workplace in large numbers • Both of these roles are glorified.

  19. Government • Post war strikes • As inflation rose, goods became more expensive • Taft-Hartley – The President could force strikers back to work if the strike affected national security • Attempted Civil Rights Legislation, but was blocked by Congress. • Truman Desegregates the Army.

  20. What was the New Deal?

  21. The Fair Deal • Attempted to extend the New Deal • Raise minimum wage, Unemployment Benefits, National Health Insurance, and other measures • Truman lost support among Democrats • Conservative Democrats • ***Most people thought he would lose the election because of this loss of support, but he did not.***

  22. Truman and Civil Rights • Appoints a biracial committee on Civil Rights. • Desegregates the Army in 1948. • Bans Discrimination in Federal hiring.

  23. 1952 Election • Nixon came under fire for allegedly accepting fund from wealthy Republican donors. • The “Checkers Speech” • Nixon - "...the kids, like all kids, love the dog, and...regardless of what they say about it, we're gonna keep it." • The American Public forgave Nixon, and he and Ike got a huge publicity boost because of this speech.

  24. Eisenhower (Ike) • 1st Republican President since Hoover • More comfortable working behind the scenes. • Some saw him as a do-nothing president.

  25. Ike continued… • ***Republicans wanted to get rid of all New Deal and Fair Deal legislation, but Ike wanted to take a middle road.*** • Created the Interstate Highway System.

  26. Ike continued… • Cuts spending, lowers taxation, and tries to shrink the government. • This dynamic conservatism was called “Modern Republicanism”.

  27. Ike, NASA, and Education • Founded in 1958 in Response to the Soviet Space program. • Increased funding to teach math and science. • Increases financial aid to college students.

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