Post-War CultureState Standards 9.2, 9.4, 9.12, 9.13

New DomesticityTime of change and

return to normalcyTelevisionTV DinnersLife in the suburbs

Americans move out of the city to the suburbs Cookie Cutter homes

New Domesticity.Baby Boom

When soldiers return home a baby boom results

Increased the population by 20%

Search for the American Dream A family with a house

in the Suburbs

New MediaChanging Lifestyles

Americans stay home to watch television instead of going out

In a ten year span the amount of households with a

TV increases by 41 million

New Media.1960 Presidential

ElectionJohn F. Kennedy vs.

Richard M. NixonTelevision brings the

candidates into American homes 70 million viewers

watch Nixon Looks Old Kennedy looks young

and tan GTL!

New Media..1960 Presidential

ElectionRadio listeners to the

debate claimed Nixon won

Television viewers claimed Kennedy won 50% of voters

influenced by the television debate

Kennedy wins the election

Tennessee and the Music IndustryGrand Ole Opry

Nashville, TNPopularizes country

music on a national scale WSM Radio

Broadcasted the Opry Ralph Emery

DJ who helped make the Opry the longest running radio program in history

Tennessee and the Music IndustryMemphis

Sun Studios Elvis Presley

Records rock n’ roll at Sun Studios

Stax Records Otis Redding

Music featured on Stax Records which helped expose soul music and make it popular

Expanding HorizonsFederal Postwar

InitiativesGI Bill

1. Paid tuition for veterans who want to go to college

2. Gave veterans money to buy houses

Most buy houses in the suburbs

Expanding Horizons.National Interstate and

Highway ActCreated a nationwide

system of highways Allowed for easier and

more extended travel Based off of the Autobahn Also aids in the

suburbanization of America Americans travel the roads,

sightseeing spots, love affair with cars

62 Days Before, 4 After

Segregation ContinuesAfrican Americans

continue moving north

White Americans move to suburbs

African Americans move to the inner city

Segregation Continues.Jim Crow Laws

Racist LawsLaws based off of

“Separate but equal” Separate But Equal

Separate but not equal develops

Changing Gender RolesWomen and the

WorkforcePost WWII women

forced to leave workforce

Average marrying age of women drops to 20 years

40% of women stay in workforce Demoted to a “woman’s

job” Women do not earn as

much as men do for the same job

Changing Gender Roles.Ideal woman portrayed

in television sitcoms Stereotypical Female

Assets1. Clean House2. Neat Appearance3. Well behaved

childrenRise of dissatisfaction

Not all women are happy with this life

The Space RaceSputnik I

Russians launch the first satellite into orbit

US feels like far less of a super power

President Eisenhower Blamed for the US not

being as technologically advanced as Russia

Worries Sputnik can launch atomic bombs

The Space Race.National

Aeronautics and Space Act (NASA)Goal was for the US

to become a leader in space exploration

Explorer IUS launches its first

satellite

The Space Race..TV brings the Space

Race into American’s homesApollo 11

July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong

First man on the moon “One small step for

man, one giant leap for mankind”

FAKE!?!

Educational ChangesSought to improve

education in public schoolsFocus shifts to most

outstanding students Prepare them for

government jobsFocused on math

and science