the changing face of the nation. a peacetime economy during the war millions of americans had been...
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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