Chapter 29, Section 1: Postwar Policies and Prosperity

Main Idea: After WWII, the American economy boomed, bringing dramatic changes

in the way Americans worked and lived.

A. From War to PeaceThe US returned to a peacetime economy after WWII. Some feared the economy would tumble toward another depression.

Economic DifficultiesEconomic DifficultiesGI Bill – the government helped WWII veterans start farms/businesses, go to college, buy homes, & assist unemployed.

Created opportunities for those who served in war.

High inflation (rising prices) led to labor unrest when employers refused to increase workers’ wages to meet the higher costs.

Truman’s Surprise VictoryTruman’s Surprise VictoryIn the Election of 1948, Harry S Truman (D) narrowly defeated Thomas Dewey (R).

This was a surprise to most (see headline).

A New Round of ReformA New Round of ReformTruman’s “Fair Deal” raised minimum wage, expanded Social Security, & provided loans for buying low-cost houses.

He tried to extend FDR’s New Deal policies.

The Eisenhower YearsThe Eisenhower YearsIn the election of 1952, General Dwight D.

“Ike” Eisenhower (R) defeated Adlai Stevenson (D), with the slogan “I Like Ike,” ending 20 years of Democrat Presidents.

He was a very popular WWII war hero (D-Day), which many voters thought was a good fit during the Cold War (strong foreign policy skills).This was the 1st “TV” election, where “spots” (commercials) were used to “sell” a candidate.

• Campaigning goes from speeches to sound bites.

Eisenhower took a “straight road down the middle” approach to his Presidency, which meant he did things to please both sides (conservatives - reduced the federal budget & liberals - expanded Social Security), & he was easily re-elected in 1956.

Alaska & Hawaii became the 49th & 50th states in 1959 (none have been added since)

This is the longest such streak in US history.

B. An Economic & Baby BoomThe Baby Boom was a sharp increase in the number of babies born in the US from 1945-1960, due to the end of the Depression & WWII, as well as improvements in health care

The polio vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk in 1955.Population growth by decade (babies born):

1930s: 9 million, ‘40s: 19 mill., ‘50s: 29 mill.Most married young & had an average of 3 kids

Economic BoomEconomic BoomThe economy prospered. Americans went on a huge spending spree during the 50s, following 15-20 years of economic depression & war.

Consumer demand for goods increased. More buying power made “luxury” items (toasters, refrigerators, washers, dryers) more common.Federal projects (roads & schools) created jobs.Military spending during the Cold War helped the economy as well (IBM in Endicott/Owego).New technology (computers) increased worker productivity & corporate efficiency, which led to a higher standard of living for most.

What caused the baby boom?• the economy was the best it had been since the 1920’s• many couples waited until after WWII to have children

• health care improved for pregnant women & newborns• Dr. Jonas Salk created a vaccine against polio.

ConsumerismConsumerism

All babies were All babies were potential potential

consumers who consumers who spearheaded a spearheaded a

brand-new brand-new market for market for

food, clothing, food, clothing, and shelter.and shelter.

-- -- LifeLife Magazine Magazine

(May, 1958) (May, 1958)

C. Lifestyles of the 1950s

Suburban LivingSuburban LivingMany people looking to own a home after

WWII moved to the suburbs (communities outside cities). During the 1950s, suburbs grew 40x faster than cities (GI Bill helped).

William Levitt developed a new system of building homes where he mass-produced houses (built assembly line style), making them much cheaper than custom-made ones.

Teams of carpenters, plumbers, & electricians could build a single home in 16 minutes.Levittown was a suburban area on Long Island, NY where 17,000 identical homes were built.

Shopping centers soon followed (hurt cities). Sunbelt LivingSunbelt Living

Southern states with nicer weather became more popular: Florida, Texas, & California.

Many businesses also relocated to these states for lower taxes & a growing workforce.

• The Northeast is now often referred to as the “Rustbelt.”

Returning war veterans sparked an unprecedented demand for housing after World War II. Cheaper materials and government-backed mortgages enabled home builders to meet that demand.

Suburbia, White Flight, Levittowns

The Culture of the CarThe Culture of the Car

Car registrations: Car registrations:

1945 1945 25,000,000 25,000,0001960 1960 60,000,000 60,000,000

2-family cars doubles 2-family cars doubles from 1951-1958from 1951-1958

1956 1956 Interstate Highway Interstate Highway ActAct

* Largest public works * Largest public works project in US history! project in US history!

* 40,000 miles of new * 40,000 miles of new highways built @ $41 billion.highways built @ $41 billion.1959 Chevy 1959 Chevy

CorvetteCorvette1958 Pink 1958 Pink CadillacCadillac

1st McDonald’s 1st McDonald’s (1955)(1955)

Howard Howard Johnson’sJohnson’s

Drive-In Drive-In MoviesMovies Car CrazyCar Crazy

•Suburbs led to a need for more cars. • By 1960, 90% of suburban families owned a car.• American car makers prosper (Ford, GM, Chrysler) •This led to the Interstate Highway Act in 1956, which built a network of highways to link the nation (40,000 miles @ $41 billion)•Motels, fast-food restaurants, & shopping plazas become very popular.

TelevisionTelevisionTelevision had the greatest effect on

American life in the 1950sOver 7 million sets sold each year. By 1960, 90% of homes had a TV.

TV brought news, entertainment, & sports into people’s homes, & created new celebrities (Dick Clark - American Bandstand, Howdy Doody, Lucille Ball - I Love Lucy)

Commercials encouraged more spending & buying.

“Ideal” middle-class families often presented to viewers (wise fathers, nurturing mothers, & obedient kids)

Father Knows BestLeave It To BeaverThe Donna Reed ShowOzzie & Harriet

1946 1946 7,000 TV sets in the US 7,000 TV sets in the US1950 1950 50,000,000 TV sets in US 50,000,000 TV sets in US

Suburban Living:The Typical TV Suburban Families

Suburban Living:The Typical TV Suburban Families

The The Donna Donna Reed Reed ShowShow1958-1958-19661966

Leave It Leave It to Beaverto Beaver1957-19631957-1963

FatherFather Knows Knows BestBest

1954-19581954-1958

The Ozzie & Harriet The Ozzie & Harriet ShowShow

1952-19661952-1966

Television – The WesternTelevision – The Western

Davy CrockettDavy CrockettKing of the Wild King of the Wild

FrontierFrontier

The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger(and his faithful(and his faithful

sidekick, Tonto): sidekick, Tonto): Who is that masked Who is that masked

man??man??

Sheriff Matt Sheriff Matt Dillon, Dillon,

GunsmokeGunsmoke

Rock MusiRock Musicc•Rock & Roll combined blues, country & gospel with a hard-driving beat. Like Jazz in the 20s & rap in the 80s, parents worried that it would have negative effects on kids.

• Teenager enters the American language.•Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, Elvis Presley (“the King”).

Signs of DiscontentSigns of Discontent•Some people were unhappy with the emphasis on materialism in the US. •Beatnik was the name given to anti-establishment writers & artists who criticized American conformity & lack of individuality (this is the very beginning of what will become the “hippy” movement of the 1960s).• Jack Kerouac’s On the Road was a very

influential book for young people looking for an alternative to the “American Dream” of suburban life.

Teen CultureTeen Culture

In the 1950s In the 1950s the word the word “teenager”“teenager” entered the entered the American language.American language.

““ROCK ‘N ROCK ‘N ROLL”ROLL”

Elvis PresleyElvis Presley

““The King”The King”

Marlon BrandoMarlon Brando inin

The Wild OneThe Wild One (1953)(1953)

James DeanJames Dean in inRRebel Without ebel Without a Causea Cause (1955) (1955)

Nonconformity

The Generation Gap