Postwar Prosperity

10th Grade Amer. Hst.

Learning Targets

Explain major domestic developments after 1945 with emphasis on– Postwar prosperity in the U.S.– McCarthyism

Truman’s policies

Committee on Civil Rights Fair Deal

– Full employment– Higher minimum wages– National health insurance program– Affordable housing– Aid to farmers– Expansion of welfare

Heightened fears of Communism

Fear that communism was in the U.S.

Senator Joseph McCarthy helped fuel these sensations

Many people involved in politics, entertainment, or government industries were accused of having communist ties

“Red Scare” of the 1950's

Nuclear Anxiety

H-bomb, would be 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb

Bomb shelters become common

“Duck and Cover”– 1951 Bert the Turtle C

artoon Fears of fallout from

testing

Eisenhower’s policies

Brinkmanship Involvement in Iran, Central/South America,

Suez canal Eisenhower Doctrine U-2 incident Policies with Khrushchev

The Affluent Society

Modern Republicanism Suburbs, Cities, “Great

Migration” Relocation Act Highway Act of 1956 Baby Boom Consumerism Religion

Rock ‘n’ roll

“escape conformity” Elvis Presley, Little

Richard, Buddy Holly, etc.

Immoral? Break down barriers of

segregation How has it changed?

Read the following lyrics from Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven.” How do the lyrics of the song reflect rebellion and a break from the past?

“Well, I’m gonna write a little letter,

Gonna mail it to my local D.J.

Yes, it’s a jumpin’ little record I want my jockey to play

Roll over Beethoven, I gotta hear it again today

You know my temp’rature’s risin’ and

The juke box blowin’ a fuse

My heart’s beatin’ rhythm and my soul keeps a singin’ the blues

Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news.”