Post WW2,1950s Post WW2,1950s America, and the America, and the

Civil Rights Civil Rights MovementMovement

US History APUS History AP

Chapters 36 and 37Chapters 36 and 37

Economics after WW2Economics after WW2 People worry about return to depressionPeople worry about return to depression Initial years after WW2Initial years after WW2

GNP slumpedGNP slumped Price controls relaxed – prices skyrocket, Price controls relaxed – prices skyrocket,

inflationinflation Epidemic of strikesEpidemic of strikes

Government reinstitutes controlsGovernment reinstitutes controls Unions lose power – Taft-Hartley ActUnions lose power – Taft-Hartley Act

Outlaws closed shopsOutlaws closed shops Union membership begins to declineUnion membership begins to decline

Economics after WW2Economics after WW2 Economy recovers – why?Economy recovers – why?

Cheap energy – low cost of petroleumCheap energy – low cost of petroleum ProductivityProductivity cold war spending, marshall plancold war spending, marshall plan

1950-1970 long economic boom1950-1970 long economic boom National income doubles in 1950s and again National income doubles in 1950s and again

in 1960sin 1960s Middle class doublesMiddle class doubles Agribusiness - mechanizationAgribusiness - mechanization

GI Bill of 1944GI Bill of 1944 15 million returning veterans15 million returning veterans Encourage veterans to get an Encourage veterans to get an

educationeducation Unemployment benefitsUnemployment benefits Loans for homes, farms, businessesLoans for homes, farms, businesses

ElectionsElections

1948 – 1948 – TrumanTruman v. Dewey v. Thurmond v. Dewey v. Thurmond Truman-- Whistlestop campaign – country wide Truman-- Whistlestop campaign – country wide

train campaign against “do nothing congress”train campaign against “do nothing congress” Thurmond – Dixiecrat (anti-civil rights, pro Thurmond – Dixiecrat (anti-civil rights, pro

states’rights)states’rights) Thomas Dewey – Republican (gov. of NY)Thomas Dewey – Republican (gov. of NY)

1952 - Eisenhower1952 - Eisenhower (R) v. Stevenson (D) (R) v. Stevenson (D) Eisenhower – middle of the road approachEisenhower – middle of the road approach

Pledged to personally go to Korea to end warPledged to personally go to Korea to end war Nixon’s checker’s speechNixon’s checker’s speech

EisenhowerEisenhower TV – commercialized campaignTV – commercialized campaign Modern Republicanism – middle roadModern Republicanism – middle road

Conservative with moneyConservative with money Liberal with peopleLiberal with people Raised minimum wage, extended Soc. Raised minimum wage, extended Soc.

Sec., public housing, etc.Sec., public housing, etc.

Video ClipsVideo Clips

I Like Ike!I Like Ike! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va5Btg

4kkUE

Checkers Speech (start at 3 min)Checkers Speech (start at 3 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4UEv

_jjPL0

Prosperity of Prosperity of 1950s/1960s1950s/1960s Result of colossal military budget, govt Result of colossal military budget, govt

funded high tech industry, and R and Dfunded high tech industry, and R and D Cheap energy – US controlled oilCheap energy – US controlled oil

Highways, air conditioners, etc.Highways, air conditioners, etc. Higher productivity – better educated and Higher productivity – better educated and

better equippedbetter equipped Increased standard of livingIncreased standard of living

Agribusiness – mechanized farmingAgribusiness – mechanized farming More workers shift to industry/white collarMore workers shift to industry/white collar

Middle Class doubles to 60% of pop’nMiddle Class doubles to 60% of pop’n Own cars, TVs, washing machinesOwn cars, TVs, washing machines

Suburban LivingSuburban Living FHA/VA low interest loansFHA/VA low interest loans Tax deductions for mortgage payersTax deductions for mortgage payers 1956 Interstate Highway Act1956 Interstate Highway Act By 1960, 25% of Americans live in suburbsBy 1960, 25% of Americans live in suburbs

By 2000, the percentage goes up to 50%By 2000, the percentage goes up to 50% White Flight – White Flight –

Middle Class white Americans left the citiesMiddle Class white Americans left the cities Moved to the suburbsMoved to the suburbs Cities lose incomeCities lose income Poor suffers – education, police, fire Poor suffers – education, police, fire

Suburban LivingSuburban Living The American DreamThe American Dream 1949 1949 William LevittWilliam Levitt produced 150 houses per produced 150 houses per

week.week. Standardized plans, factory assembled framesStandardized plans, factory assembled frames $7,990 or $60/month with no down payment.$7,990 or $60/month with no down payment.

ConsumerismConsumerism 1950 1950 Introduction of the Diner’s Card Introduction of the Diner’s Card Modern advertisingModern advertising

Baby BoomBaby Boom

It seems to me that every other young It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant.housewife I see is pregnant. -- British visitor to America, 1958 -- British visitor to America, 1958

1957 1957 1 baby born every 7 seconds 1 baby born every 7 seconds Largest generation in US historyLargest generation in US history Increase in school enrollments, canned Increase in school enrollments, canned

food.food. Leads to a youth cultureLeads to a youth culture

Baby BoomBaby Boom

Teen CultureTeen Culture In the 1950s In the 1950s the word the word “teenager”“teenager”

entered entered the American language. the American language.

1951 1951 “race music”“race music” “ROCK ‘N ROLL” “ROCK ‘N ROLL” roots lay mainly in roots lay mainly in rhythm and blues, country, folk, , country, folk,

gospel, and jazzgospel, and jazz

““Juvenile Delinquency”Juvenile Delinquency”

Teen CultureTeen Culture The “Beat” Generation: rejection of mainstream American values celebrated non-conformity and spontaneous

creativity Jack Kerouac On The Road Allen Ginsberg poem, “Howl” Neal Cassady William S. Burroughs

A Changing WorkplaceA Changing Workplace Automation: 1947-1957 factory workers decreased by 4.3%,

eliminating 1.5 million blue-collar jobs. By 1956 more white-collar than blue-collar

jobs in the U. S. Computers Mark I (1944). First IBM

mainframe computer (1951). Corporate Consolidation:

By 1960 600 corporations (1/2% of all U. S. companies) accounted for 53% of total corporate income.

WHY?? Cold War military buildup.

A Changing A Changing WorkplaceWorkplace New Corporate CultureNew Corporate Culture::

“The Company Man” “The Company Man” 1956 1956 Sloan Wilson’sSloan Wilson’s The Man in The Man in

the Gray Flannel Suit the Gray Flannel Suit WomenWomen lose factory jobs in the post war lose factory jobs in the post war

period, but gain service sector jobsperiod, but gain service sector jobs ““pink collar” sector – secretarial workpink collar” sector – secretarial work Pop culture still glorifies the housewife and the Pop culture still glorifies the housewife and the

cult of domesticitycult of domesticity Betty Friedan and NOW reject this imageBetty Friedan and NOW reject this image

Feminine MystiqueFeminine Mystique

Well-Defined Gender RolesWell-Defined Gender RolesThe The ideal modern womanideal modern woman married, cooked and married, cooked and

cared for her family, and kept herself busy by cared for her family, and kept herself busy by joining the local PTA and leading a troop of joining the local PTA and leading a troop of Campfire Girls. She entertained guests in her Campfire Girls. She entertained guests in her family’s suburban house and worked out on the family’s suburban house and worked out on the trampoline to keep her size 12 figure.trampoline to keep her size 12 figure. -- -- LifeLife magazine, 1956 magazine, 1956

The The ideal 1950s manideal 1950s man was the provider, protector, was the provider, protector, and the boss of the house. -and the boss of the house. -- - LifeLife magazine, magazine,

19551955

The Culture of the CarThe Culture of the Car

Car registrations: 1945 Car registrations: 1945 25,000,000 25,000,000 1960 1960 60,000,000 60,000,000

2-family cars doubles from 1951-19582-family cars doubles from 1951-1958 1956 1956 Interstate Highway ActInterstate Highway Act largest largest

public works project in American public works project in American history!history!

Cost $32 billion.Cost $32 billion. 41,000 miles of new highways built.41,000 miles of new highways built.

The Culture of the CarThe Culture of the Car• America became a more homogeneous America became a more homogeneous

nation because of the automobile.nation because of the automobile.

The Culture of the CarThe Culture of the Car

The U. S. population was on the move in The U. S. population was on the move in the 1950s.the 1950s.

NE & Mid-W NE & Mid-W S & SW S & SW (“Sunbelt” (“Sunbelt” states)states)

1955 1955 Disneyland opened in Southern Disneyland opened in Southern California.California. (40% of the guests came from outside (40% of the guests came from outside

California, most by car.)California, most by car.)

TelevisionTelevision

1946 1946 7,000 TV sets in the U. S. 7,000 TV sets in the U. S.1950 1950 50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S. 50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S.

Mass Audience Mass Audience TV celebrated TV celebrated traditional American values. traditional American values.

““Television is a vast wasteland.”Television is a vast wasteland.” Newton Minnow, Chairman of the Newton Minnow, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Communications Commission, 19611961

Television in the 1950s and Television in the 1950s and 1960s1960s Leave It to BeaverLeave It to Beaver

1957-19631957-1963

FatherFather Knows Best Knows Best 1954-19581954-1958

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

Religious RevivalReligious Revival Church membershipChurch membership: 1940 : 1940 64,000,000 64,000,000

1960 1960 114,000,000 114,000,000 Television PreachersTelevision Preachers: : 1. Catholic 1. Catholic Bishop Fulton J. SheenBishop Fulton J. Sheen “Life is “Life is

Worth Living” Worth Living” 2. Methodist Minister 2. Methodist Minister Norman Vincent PealeNorman Vincent Peale

The Power of Positive ThinkingThe Power of Positive Thinking 3. 3. Reverend Billy GrahamReverend Billy Graham ecumenical ecumenical

message; warned against the evils of message; warned against the evils of Communism.Communism.

Progress Through ScienceProgress Through Science 1951 -- 1951 -- First IBM Mainframe ComputerFirst IBM Mainframe Computer 1952 -- 1952 -- Hydrogen BombHydrogen Bomb Test Test 1953 -- 1953 -- DNADNA Structure Discovered Structure Discovered 1954 -- 1954 -- Salk VaccineSalk Vaccine Tested for Polio Tested for Polio 1957 -- First Commercial 1957 -- First Commercial U. S. NuclearU. S. Nuclear

Power Plant Power Plant 1958 -- 1958 -- NASANASA Created Created 1959 -- Press Conference of the 1959 -- Press Conference of the First 7First 7

American Astronauts American Astronauts

The 50s Come to a CloseThe 50s Come to a Close 1959 1959 Nixon-Khrushchev Nixon-Khrushchev “Kitchen Debate”“Kitchen Debate” An entire house was built that the American An entire house was built that the American

exhibitors claimed anyone in America could exhibitors claimed anyone in America could afford. It was filled with labor saving and afford. It was filled with labor saving and recreational devices meant to represent the fruits recreational devices meant to represent the fruits of the of the capitalist American consumer marketcapitalist American consumer market..

Civil Rights Movement – post WW2 Civil Rights Movement – post WW2 through 1960sthrough 1960s

Civil Rights Act of 1875 -- Outlawed segregationCivil Rights Act of 1875 -- Outlawed segregation Supreme Court overturned it in 1883Supreme Court overturned it in 1883

Plessy v. FergusonPlessy v. Ferguson ““separate but equal” did not violate the 14separate but equal” did not violate the 14thth amendment amendment

(equal treatment)(equal treatment) Allowed Southern states to pass Jim Crow laws (separating Allowed Southern states to pass Jim Crow laws (separating

the races)the races) Allowed restrictions on inter-race contactAllowed restrictions on inter-race contact

WW2 set the stage for the civil rights movementWW2 set the stage for the civil rights movement Opened new job opportunitiesOpened new job opportunities One million African Americans servedOne million African Americans served

Came home and fought to end discriminationCame home and fought to end discrimination During the war, civil rights organizations fought for voting During the war, civil rights organizations fought for voting

rights and challenged Jim Crow lawsrights and challenged Jim Crow laws Truman ends segregation in civil service, armed forcesTruman ends segregation in civil service, armed forces

Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement Campaign led by the NAACPCampaign led by the NAACP

Focused on inequality between separate schools that Focused on inequality between separate schools that states providedstates provided

Thurgood Marshall argued many of these casesThurgood Marshall argued many of these cases 1950 – Sweatt v. Painter1950 – Sweatt v. Painter

Separate professional schools are not equalSeparate professional schools are not equal

1954 - Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka1954 - Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Marshall’s most stunning victoryMarshall’s most stunning victory Supreme Court struck down segregation in public schools Supreme Court struck down segregation in public schools

as a violation of 14as a violation of 14thth amendment amendment 22ndnd case - To be implemented “with all deliberate speed” case - To be implemented “with all deliberate speed”

Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement 1955 – Montgomery Bus Boycott1955 – Montgomery Bus Boycott

African Americans were impatient with the slow speed of changeAfrican Americans were impatient with the slow speed of change Took direct actionTook direct action

1955 – Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and was 1955 – Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and was arrestedarrested

JoAnn Robinson suggested a boycott of the busesJoAnn Robinson suggested a boycott of the buses Leaders of the African American community formed the Leaders of the African American community formed the

Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA)Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) Elected 26 yr old Martin Luther King to leadElected 26 yr old Martin Luther King to lead

Dr. King made a passionate speech and filled the audience with Dr. King made a passionate speech and filled the audience with a sense of missiona sense of mission

African Americans boycotted the buses for 381 days and filed a African Americans boycotted the buses for 381 days and filed a lawsuitlawsuit Organized car poolsOrganized car pools Walked long distancesWalked long distances

1956 – Supreme Court outlawed bus segregation1956 – Supreme Court outlawed bus segregation

Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement 1957 – Little Rock 9 - 1957 – Little Rock 9 - State had been State had been

planning for desegregationplanning for desegregation Governor Faubus ordered the National Guard to Governor Faubus ordered the National Guard to

turn away the “Little Rock Nine”turn away the “Little Rock Nine” the 9 African American students who would the 9 African American students who would

integrate Little Rock Central Highintegrate Little Rock Central High A Federal judge ordered Faubus to let the A Federal judge ordered Faubus to let the

students attend the schoolstudents attend the school Eisenhower placed the National Guard under Eisenhower placed the National Guard under

federal control to watch the 9 attend schoolfederal control to watch the 9 attend school A year later, Faubus shut down the high schoolA year later, Faubus shut down the high school

Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement Civil Rights Act – 1957Civil Rights Act – 1957

Establishes Civil Rights Commission to investigate Establishes Civil Rights Commission to investigate violationsviolations

1957 – Southern Christian Leadership 1957 – Southern Christian Leadership Conference established (SCLS)Conference established (SCLS) Mobilize black churches for civil rightsMobilize black churches for civil rights

1960 – Student Non-violent Coordinating 1960 – Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) formedCommittee (SNCC) formed

1960 – Sit-in movement – focus on segregated 1960 – Sit-in movement – focus on segregated lunch counterslunch counters 11stst – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro, NC

Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement Freedom RidersFreedom Riders

Civil Rights activists would ride busses to test Civil Rights activists would ride busses to test the Supreme Court decision that banned the Supreme Court decision that banned segregation on buses and in bus terminalssegregation on buses and in bus terminals

Provoking a violent reaction to force the JFK Provoking a violent reaction to force the JFK administration to enforce the lawadministration to enforce the law

Riders were tormented and beatenRiders were tormented and beaten Newspaper coverage and the violence provoked Newspaper coverage and the violence provoked

JFK to send federal marshals to protect the JFK to send federal marshals to protect the ridersriders

Segregation in all interstate travel facilities was Segregation in all interstate travel facilities was bannedbanned

Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement 1962 – Integrating Ole Miss1962 – Integrating Ole Miss

Air Force Veteran James Meredith won a federal Air Force Veteran James Meredith won a federal court case that allowed him to enroll in the all-white court case that allowed him to enroll in the all-white University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)

Governor Ross Barnett refused to let him registerGovernor Ross Barnett refused to let him register Kennedy ordered federal marshals to escort Kennedy ordered federal marshals to escort

MeredithMeredith Riots broke out and resulted in 2 deathsRiots broke out and resulted in 2 deaths Federal officials accompanied Meredith to class to Federal officials accompanied Meredith to class to

protect himprotect him

Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement BirminghamBirmingham

Strictly enforced its segregationStrictly enforced its segregation Reputation for racial violenceReputation for racial violence Reverend Shuttlesworth, MLK, and the SCLC tested their Reverend Shuttlesworth, MLK, and the SCLC tested their

non-violencenon-violence MLK and others were arrested during a nonviolent MLK and others were arrested during a nonviolent

demonstrationdemonstration MLK wrote MLK wrote Letters from a Birmingham JailLetters from a Birmingham Jail

With MLK out of jail, the SCLC planned a children’s march in With MLK out of jail, the SCLC planned a children’s march in BirminghamBirmingham Police Commissioner “Bull” Connor arrested themPolice Commissioner “Bull” Connor arrested them Later, the police met the marchers with high pressure fire hoses Later, the police met the marchers with high pressure fire hoses

and attack dogsand attack dogs TV cameras captured the sceneTV cameras captured the scene

Birmingham officials finally ended segregationBirmingham officials finally ended segregation Convinced JFK to write a civil rights actConvinced JFK to write a civil rights act

Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement 1963 - March on Washington1963 - March on Washington

To show support for JFK’s civil rights bill, a march on To show support for JFK’s civil rights bill, a march on Washington was formedWashington was formed

Aug. 28, 1963, 250,000 people assembled in Aug. 28, 1963, 250,000 people assembled in WashingtonWashington

MLK gave his “I have a Dream” speechMLK gave his “I have a Dream” speech Appeals for peace and harmonyAppeals for peace and harmony

Two weeks later, 4 girls were killed in a Birmingham Two weeks later, 4 girls were killed in a Birmingham churchchurch

Two months later, JFK is assassinatedTwo months later, JFK is assassinated LBJ pledges to carry out JFK’s workLBJ pledges to carry out JFK’s work

Passes Civil Rights Act of 1964Passes Civil Rights Act of 1964 Prohibited discriminationProhibited discrimination Gave equal access to public accommodationsGave equal access to public accommodations

Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement 1964 – 241964 – 24thth Amendment – abolished poll tax Amendment – abolished poll tax 1964 – Freedom Summer - CORE and SNCC worked 1964 – Freedom Summer - CORE and SNCC worked

to register as many African-American voters as to register as many African-American voters as possible – push for voting rights billpossible – push for voting rights bill

1964 - SNCC organized the Mississippi Freedom 1964 - SNCC organized the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party to give African Americans a political Democratic Party to give African Americans a political voicevoice

Fannie Lou Hamer spoke at the Democratic National Fannie Lou Hamer spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 1964Convention in 1964 Support poured in for the MFDPSupport poured in for the MFDP Civil Rights leaders compromised with the Democratic Civil Rights leaders compromised with the Democratic

Party (MFDP got two seats in Congress)Party (MFDP got two seats in Congress)

Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement 1965 - SNCC led a voting rights campaign in 1965 - SNCC led a voting rights campaign in

Selma, AlabamaSelma, Alabama After a demonstrator was shot, MLK organized a 50 After a demonstrator was shot, MLK organized a 50

mile march to Montgomerymile march to Montgomery Mayhem broke out and TV crews caught police Mayhem broke out and TV crews caught police

beating and gassing marchersbeating and gassing marchers Johnson presented a voting rights act and gave Johnson presented a voting rights act and gave

marchers federal protectionmarchers federal protection Voting Rights Act of 1965Voting Rights Act of 1965 – eliminates literacy – eliminates literacy

tests, allows federal officials to oversee tests, allows federal officials to oversee registration, votingregistration, voting

* end of nonviolence ** end of nonviolence *

Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement Malcolm X Malcolm X

Began as militant black nationalistBegan as militant black nationalist Black separatismBlack separatism Went on Hajj, moved away from separatismWent on Hajj, moved away from separatism Assassinated in 1965Assassinated in 1965

Black PowerBlack Power Black Panther partyBlack Panther party Stokely Carmichael – leader of SNCC began to preach black Stokely Carmichael – leader of SNCC began to preach black

power – 1966power – 1966 Exercise political and economic rights to speed integrationExercise political and economic rights to speed integration Emphasized their distinctivenessEmphasized their distinctiveness

1968 – MLK assassinated1968 – MLK assassinated