1950s Economic BoomPersonal Life

GI Bill of Rights

High number of returning soldiers don’t have a job Many of the soldiers have little or no skills for jobs Passage of bill helped stimulate economy Provided 1 year of unemployment pay Gave preferences to vets going to college Vets received financial aid for college tuition Vets received a monthly living allowance while in college Many took advantage of it, went to college, became professional workers, not laborers

Baby Boom

Term that referred to the postwar increase in national birth rate Depression and war made many not want to have children or multiple children National economic stability, rising salaries, and consistent employment changed attitude 1945-1964: Estimated 76 million born US population grew by about 28% in these years

New Great Migrations

1st Great Migration: 1920s – African Americans leave South, head to industrial centers in North 2nd Great Migration: World War II – African Americans leave South, go North and West for

wartime jobs, mostly head to urban areas 3rd Great Migration: 1970s – Many African Americans return to South after jobs and benefits run

out in other areas

Business Life

Taft-Hartley Act

Passed, initially vetoed by Truman, Congress overrode veto with 2/3 vote About 25% of workforce was unionized Few strikes happened during war After war, inflation, rising costs of living contributed to poverty Strikes were now a major possibility because of the unhappiness of workers with wages and

employer practices Not all employees wanted to strike but felt forced by others Act outlawed “closed shop”, or workplaces that only allowed members of a union to work

Helped business owners regulate contracts with collective bargaining, or being able to provide the same contract and benefits to all, regardless of union membership

Decreased strikes by making owners increase pay Made union leaders sign an anti-communist declaration (later ruled unconstitutional in 1965)

Highway System

Started in 1953 41,000 miles of highway laid Connected urban areas to each other as well as suburbs Revolutionized driving and decreased time of travel

Consumerism

Large scale buying, mostly on credit America became better about credit habits Families bought bigger homes and appliances for the home Most popular new appliance was TV, most bought appliance from 1945-60

Franchise Businesses

New wave in business ownership and production Start with a brand and a person owns and runs the individual store but follows rules of brand Subway, McDonalds, 7-Eleven, Hotel chains are examples of franchises

Urban Renewal

Efforts to beautify and revitalize areas of cities that were worn down and out of date and regulation

Cleared areas for new businesses, roads Dodger Stadium is an example of an urban renewal project Continues today

Public Life

Religious Revival and Billy Graham

Depression and war made people wonder more about the afterlife 50 million church attendance in 1940s, goes up to 80 million in 1950s Religious groups become important again and political “Under God” added to pledge of allegiance Many use TV to spread their message, leading to “TV church”/televangelists Billy Graham was most popular and influential

o Held a bachelors in theologyo Involved in various ministries and youth groups

o Got a start nationally at a “crusade” convention in LA, media mogul William Randolph Hurst liked his message and began promoting him

o Billy preached anti-communism and made it a Christian vs communism fighto Wrote books, one of the most listened to radio shows nationally, tv showso Said to have preached to more people in person than anyone in historyo Integrated his ministryo Helped spark a religious revival in America despite criticism

TV

Quickly replaced radio in 1950s Popular shows: Lone Ranger, Howdy Doody, Mickey Mouse Club, I Love Lucy, Leave It to Beaver Many shows reflected ideals of society No African Americans in early shows, Bill Cosby first to co-star in a show (I-Spy in 1965) Changed campaigns, ads, and imagination of kids

Rock and Roll

Mix of blues, jazz, hillbilly rock, and other forms of music Highlighted by guitar and drums The new sound was varied but became popular due to DJ Alan Freed, who had the largest

following of teenage listeners Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry dominated 50s rock Show Elvis and Chuck clips from hard drive

Beatniks

Criticizers of 1950s society Lead by Jack Kerouac “Beat” meant for beaten down by a society that didn’t accept them Began to act out and speak out against the rising decadence of the 1950s

o Developed rebel attitude and fashion trendso Largely expressed through art and turning coffee shops into a salon of ideaso Saw similarities to the 1920so Generally subdued character but biting and critical with words

Eventually faded, replaced by counterculture in 1960s and Vietnam protests

Journal Question: Which affected America more in the 1950s, Communism or Pop Culture (TV, rock, beatniks)?