1946 to 1961:1946 to 1961:1946 to 1961:1946 to 1961:Four Main ThemesFour Main ThemesFour Main ThemesFour Main Themes

COLD WARCOLD WARCONSUMERISMCONSUMERISM

A CONFIDENT NATIONA CONFIDENT NATIONCIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTCIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

COLD WARCOLD WARCONSUMERISMCONSUMERISM

A CONFIDENT NATIONA CONFIDENT NATIONCIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTCIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

Was it a time of “happy days Was it a time of “happy days or anxiety, alienation and or anxiety, alienation and

social unrest”?social unrest”?

Was it a time of “happy days Was it a time of “happy days or anxiety, alienation and or anxiety, alienation and

social unrest”?social unrest”?

Post War America-Post War America-DemobilizationDemobilizationServiceman’s

Readjustment Act of 1944

Baby BoomSuburban GrowthRise of the Sunbelt

Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944

Baby BoomSuburban GrowthRise of the Sunbelt

On June 22, 1944, President

Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the "Servicemen's "Servicemen's Readjustment Act Readjustment Act

of 1944of 1944""

“GI Bill of GI Bill of RightsRights”

•Help veterans adjust to civilian life after

separation from service •Gain higher education if you couldn’t afford one

•Restore lost educational opportunities because of

military service.•Enhance our nation

through a more highly educated and productive

work force

•FDR signing the GI Bill of Rights into law.

•This was a correction of our mistake after WWI.

GI Bill provided 6 benefitsGI Bill provided 6 benefits•education and training •Loans for a home, farm, or business •unemployment pay of $20 a week for 52 weeks •job-finding assistance

Eligible for GI Bill BenefitsEligible for GI Bill BenefitsWWII veteran, served 90 days or more after

September 16, 1940 and a honorable discharge.

Program ended July 25, 1956Program ended July 25, 1956•Of the 15,440,000 veterans, some 7.8 million were trained. •2,230,000 in college •3,480,000 in other schools •1,400,000 in on-job training •690,000 in farm training

Total cost of Total cost of the World the World

War II War II education education

program was program was $14.5 billion.$14.5 billion.

Baby BoomersBaby BoomersBaby BoomersBaby Boomers

•It seems to It seems to me that every me that every other young other young housewife I housewife I

see is see is pregnant.pregnant.

•British visitor to British visitor to America, 1958.America, 1958.

•It seems to It seems to me that every me that every other young other young housewife I housewife I

see is see is pregnant.pregnant.

•British visitor to British visitor to America, 1958.America, 1958.

Baby BoomersBaby BoomersBaby BoomersBaby Boomers•During Great During Great Depression, Depression, birthrate and birthrate and population population decreased.decreased.

•Post WWII, Post WWII, both increaseboth increase

•During Great During Great Depression, Depression, birthrate and birthrate and population population decreased.decreased.

•Post WWII, Post WWII, both increaseboth increase

Suburban LivingSuburban Living

$7,990 or $60/month with no down $7,990 or $60/month with no down payment.payment.

Levittown, New York (Long Levittown, New York (Long Island) Island) “The American Dream“The American Dream””

1949 1949 William William LevittLevitt

produced 150 produced 150 houses per week.houses per week.

Suburban Living:The New “American Dream”

Suburban Living:The New “American Dream”

1 story high1 story high

12’x19’ living 12’x19’ living roomroom

2 bedrooms2 bedrooms

tiled bathroomtiled bathroom

garagegarage

small backyardsmall backyard

front lawnfront lawn

By 1960 By 1960 1/3 of the U. S. population 1/3 of the U. S. population in in the suburbs. the suburbs.

Suburban LivingSuburban LivingSuburban LivingSuburban Living

SHIFTS IN POPULATION SHIFTS IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, DISTRIBUTION,

1940-19701940-1970

19401940 19501950 19601960 19701970

Central CitiesCentral Cities 31.6% 32.3% 31.6% 32.3% 32.6% 32.6% 32.0%32.0%SuburbsSuburbs 19.5% 23.8% 19.5% 23.8% 30.7% 30.7% 41.6%41.6%Rural Areas/Rural Areas/ 48.9% 43.9% 48.9% 43.9% 36.7% 36.7% 26.4%26.4%Small TownsSmall Towns

U. S. Bureau of the U. S. Bureau of the Census.Census.

SHIFTS IN POPULATION SHIFTS IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, DISTRIBUTION,

1940-19701940-1970

19401940 19501950 19601960 19701970

Central CitiesCentral Cities 31.6% 32.3% 31.6% 32.3% 32.6% 32.6% 32.0%32.0%SuburbsSuburbs 19.5% 23.8% 19.5% 23.8% 30.7% 30.7% 41.6%41.6%Rural Areas/Rural Areas/ 48.9% 43.9% 48.9% 43.9% 36.7% 36.7% 26.4%26.4%Small TownsSmall Towns

U. S. Bureau of the U. S. Bureau of the Census.Census.

Suburban LivingSuburban LivingThe Typical TV Suburban FamiliesThe Typical TV Suburban Families

Suburban LivingSuburban LivingThe Typical TV Suburban FamiliesThe Typical TV Suburban Families

The Donna The Donna Reed ShowReed Show1958-19661958-1966

The Donna The Donna Reed ShowReed Show1958-19661958-1966

Leave It to Leave It to BeaverBeaver

1957-19631957-1963

Father Knows BestFather Knows Best1954-19581954-1958

Father Knows BestFather Knows Best1954-19581954-1958

The Ozzie & Harriet ShowThe Ozzie & Harriet Show1952-19661952-1966

The Ozzie & Harriet ShowThe Ozzie & Harriet Show1952-19661952-1966

The Sun Belt

Industries --aerospace, defense and oil companies took advantage of the low involvement of

labor unions

Post War PoliticsPost War PoliticsEconomic Program and Civil Rights

Employment Act of 1946maintaining a high employment level

of labor and price stabilityInflation and StrikesCivil Rights: Integrates the

militaryRepublican Control of the 80th

Congress22nd Amendment- Term LimitsTaft-Hartley Act (1947)

Election of 1948The Fair Deal

Economic Program and Civil Rights

Employment Act of 1946maintaining a high employment level

of labor and price stabilityInflation and StrikesCivil Rights: Integrates the

militaryRepublican Control of the 80th

Congress22nd Amendment- Term LimitsTaft-Hartley Act (1947)

Election of 1948The Fair Deal

Division in the Democratic Party

States’ Rights Democratic Party

“Dixiecrat”“Strom Thurmond”

Progressive Party“Henry A. Wallace”

Taft-Hartley Act (1947)

Fred A. Hartley, Jr.

Robert A. Taft

• Weaken labor unions• Banned closed shops• Strikes- 8 day “cooling off”

period• “right to work laws”

Truman’s “Fair Deal”“Fair Deal” programcalled for improved housingfull employment a higher minimum wage better farm price supports

Truman’s “Fair Deal”“Fair Deal” programcalled for improved housingfull employment a higher minimum wage better farm price supports

New Tennessee Valley Administrations extension of Social Security.

““Point Four Program”Point Four Program”financial support of poor, underdeveloped lands

keep underprivileged peoples from becoming communists.

New Tennessee Valley Administrations extension of Social Security.

““Point Four Program”Point Four Program”financial support of poor, underdeveloped lands

keep underprivileged peoples from becoming communists.

Fighting Communism on the Home front

Nuclear Testing At Home

•Between 1949 and 1963, the United States and Soviet Union conducted more than 100 above ground nuclear weapons tests. •Limited Test Ban Treaty in 1963 banned all above-ground testing sending nuclear tests underground. •On Oct. 26, 1963 at the Shoal underground nuclear test site 1,204 feet below the surface a nuclear detonation conducted in the Sand Springs Mountain Range about 30 miles southeast of Fallon, Nevada. •Produced a yield of 12.5 kilotons and analyzed seismic detection of underground nuclear tests in active earthquake areas.•The veiled purpose of the experiment may have been to discern the difference between Russian earthquakes and Russian nuclear testing.

Desert Research InstituteDesert Research Institute

•House House Committee for Committee for Un-American Un-American

ActivitiesActivities

•1938–75, Congress

investigated Americans

suspected as communists

red scare3

•HUACHUAC committee warned of civil rights violations.•Witnesses who refused to answer were cited for

contempt of Congress.

•1947 investigation led to prison sentences for contempt known as the Hollywood TenHollywood Ten..

•Blacklisted:Blacklisted: a list of persons who are under suspicion, disfavor, or censure, or who are not to be hired, served, or

otherwise accepted.

•1947 investigation led to prison sentences for contempt known as the Hollywood TenHollywood Ten..

•Blacklisted:Blacklisted: a list of persons who are under suspicion, disfavor, or censure, or who are not to be hired, served, or

otherwise accepted.

red scare3

red scare3

•In 1948, Whittaker Chambers made accusations of Soviet espionage against former State Dept. official

Alger Hiss

•Hiss found guilty of spying & sentenced to 10 yrs in prison

•Richard NixonRichard Nixon, Congressmen from California was part of the HUACHUAC that investigated Alger Hiss.

•In 1948, Whittaker Chambers made accusations of Soviet espionage against former State Dept. official

Alger Hiss

•Hiss found guilty of spying & sentenced to 10 yrs in prison

•Richard NixonRichard Nixon, Congressmen from California was part of the HUACHUAC that investigated Alger Hiss.

Alger Hiss Whitaker Chambers Richard Nixon

NATO

•Soviets detonate their Soviets detonate their first atomic bomb….. first atomic bomb…..

•The question is raised, where did they get the technology the bomb?

•Ethel and Julius Rosenberg would be

accused of giving away atomic bomb secrets.

•Charged with espionage they would be found guilty

and executed in 1953.

•Soviets detonate their Soviets detonate their first atomic bomb….. first atomic bomb…..

•The question is raised, where did they get the technology the bomb?

•Ethel and Julius Rosenberg would be

accused of giving away atomic bomb secrets.

•Charged with espionage they would be found guilty

and executed in 1953.

•Red ScareRed Scare was Americans response to the fear of

Communism

•Senator Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthy accused 205 US Govt.

officials of being Communist.

•McCarthyismMcCarthyism to destroy or assassinate one’s

character without proof and it ruined the careers

of many Americans.

red scare

Became a witch huntwitch hunt that led to Americans pledging a “loyalty oathloyalty oath” to the United

States…….

African American WWII veterans returned to Jim Crow and discrimination.During WWI, Europeans treated Black soldiers as equals.1948, President Truman signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1948

Integrated the militaryIntegrated the federal government.

Jackie Robinson broke the “colored barrier” and played major league baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers……1947 to 19561950’s, begins the Civil Rights movement for equality in society.

African American WWII veterans returned to Jim Crow and discrimination.During WWI, Europeans treated Black soldiers as equals.1948, President Truman signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1948

Integrated the militaryIntegrated the federal government.

Jackie Robinson broke the “colored barrier” and played major league baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers……1947 to 19561950’s, begins the Civil Rights movement for equality in society.