Chapter 26Chapter 26Postwar America at Postwar America at Home, 1945-1960Home, 1945-1960

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I. Economic BoomI. Economic Boom

The Thriving Peacetime The Thriving Peacetime EconomyEconomy

The years following World War II saw The years following World War II saw one of the longest sustained economic one of the longest sustained economic expansions in the history of the U.S.expansions in the history of the U.S.

The automobile industry played a key The automobile industry played a key role in the expansion with millions of cars role in the expansion with millions of cars quickly produced and the steady quickly produced and the steady construction of the interstate highway construction of the interstate highway systemsystem

Changing Work PatternsChanging Work Patterns At this point in history, the United States At this point in history, the United States

stopped being primarily a goods producer stopped being primarily a goods producer and began a new path as a service and began a new path as a service providerprovider

People enjoyed the leisure resulting from People enjoyed the leisure resulting from work which was characterized by work which was characterized by conformity and “belongingness.”conformity and “belongingness.”

White-collar and blue-collar workers White-collar and blue-collar workers enjoyed a higher standard of living than enjoyed a higher standard of living than ever beforeever before

II.II. Demographic and Demographic and Technological ShiftsTechnological Shifts

Population GrowthPopulation Growth

During the Great Depression, the During the Great Depression, the birthrate had dropped to an all-time lowbirthrate had dropped to an all-time low

The birth rate exploded as millions of The birth rate exploded as millions of postwar Americans began familiespostwar Americans began families

The death rate was also declining due to The death rate was also declining due to peacetime and new medical peacetime and new medical breakthroughsbreakthroughs

Movement WestMovement West Postwar American became more mobile Postwar American became more mobile

than ever before; most headed westthan ever before; most headed west Cities throughout the Sunbelt South and Cities throughout the Sunbelt South and

West coast saw enormous growth as West coast saw enormous growth as Americans who had been stationed in Americans who had been stationed in these areas returned after the war.these areas returned after the war.

Population also shifted away from the Population also shifted away from the traditional city centers to outlying suburbs traditional city centers to outlying suburbs where housing was cheaperwhere housing was cheaper

Technology Technology A technological revolution transformed the war A technological revolution transformed the war

efforts of the Atomic Commission into a efforts of the Atomic Commission into a collection of scientist hard at work to improve collection of scientist hard at work to improve transportation, satellites, and other consumer transportation, satellites, and other consumer goods that were often the byproducts of military goods that were often the byproducts of military researchresearch

The new field of computers also reflected the The new field of computers also reflected the technology of the era; tiny transistors would help technology of the era; tiny transistors would help miniaturize computers for use in many items miniaturize computers for use in many items from ovens to vacuum cleanersfrom ovens to vacuum cleaners

III.III. Consensus and Consensus and ConformityConformity

Traditional Roles for Men Traditional Roles for Men and Womenand Women The necessities of World War II had The necessities of World War II had

interrupted the natural progression of social interrupted the natural progression of social roles for men and womenroles for men and women

Postwar, men and women had different Postwar, men and women had different expectations: education and business for expectations: education and business for men and homemaking and childrearing for men and homemaking and childrearing for womenwomen

Slow change during the decade Slow change during the decade reestablished the working patterns of the reestablished the working patterns of the war: women found more entry points into war: women found more entry points into corporate Americacorporate America

Cultural RebelsCultural Rebels Influences of mysticism and BuddhismInfluences of mysticism and Buddhism Writers of the “Beat Generation” Jack Writers of the “Beat Generation” Jack

Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg: developed Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg: developed new styles of writing; introduction of the new styles of writing; introduction of the paperback novelpaperback novel

Elvis Presley and new rebellion of Rock-Elvis Presley and new rebellion of Rock-n-Rolln-Roll

Art experimentation: Jackson Pollock Art experimentation: Jackson Pollock

IV.IV. Origins of the Origins of the Welfare StateWelfare State

Harry TrumanHarry Truman America’s first postwar presidentAmerica’s first postwar president Believed the federal government held the Believed the federal government held the

responsibility of ensuring social welfare of responsibility of ensuring social welfare of AmericansAmericans

His liberal program of social reform was His liberal program of social reform was rejected by Congress, but he was elected rejected by Congress, but he was elected to his first stand-alone term (Truman to his first stand-alone term (Truman replaced Roosevelt after his death) replaced Roosevelt after his death) despite a split within the Democratic Partydespite a split within the Democratic Party

The Fair DealThe Fair Deal With a new national mandate as a result With a new national mandate as a result

of the election, Truman again tabled his of the election, Truman again tabled his liberal social program which would be liberal social program which would be known as the “Fair Deal”known as the “Fair Deal”

Despite mixed results and some failures, Despite mixed results and some failures, Truman was responsible for keeping the Truman was responsible for keeping the Democratic Party alive after its near Democratic Party alive after its near collapsecollapse

IkeIke Truman’s popularity fell drastically during Truman’s popularity fell drastically during

his termhis term Former General Dwight D. Eisenhower Former General Dwight D. Eisenhower

was elected the next Republican presidentwas elected the next Republican president The opposite to Truman in almost every The opposite to Truman in almost every

way, Eisenhower was a restrained way, Eisenhower was a restrained president and desired a limited role of the president and desired a limited role of the presidency in national affairspresidency in national affairs

V. The Other AmericaV. The Other America

Poverty Amid AffluencePoverty Amid Affluence Economic growth of the era favored the Economic growth of the era favored the

middle and upper classesmiddle and upper classes Fully one third of the population lived Fully one third of the population lived

substandard existences, usually along substandard existences, usually along the lines of racethe lines of race

African Americans continued to be this African Americans continued to be this country’s least prosperous group of country’s least prosperous group of citizenscitizens