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The 1950s
Baby BoomBaby BoomIt seems to me that every other It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant.young housewife I see is pregnant. -- British visitor to America, -- British visitor to America, 19581958
1957 1957 1 baby born every 7 1 baby born every 7 secondsseconds
Baby BoomBaby Boom
Dr. Benjamin Dr. Benjamin SpockSpock
and the Anderson and the Anderson QuintupletsQuintuplets
The GI Bill
Social Climate after WWII
•After the war, unions began to seek the increases in wages that were limited during the war.
•The number of strikes rose sharply.
Racial Minorities
•Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which ended segregation in the U.S. armed forces.
•Hispanic veterans joined together in the American GI Forum.
The Second Red Scare
•In September 1949 Truman announced that the Soviet Union had detonated an atomic bomb.
•This was a shock to the nation.
•Truman began to strengthen the nation’s military against a possible Soviet nuclear threat.
•Communists in China had gained nearly full control of the country.
•The Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan
•China was in the hands of the Communist Party under the leadership of Mao Zedong.
•Americans worried that China increased the Communist threat to the United States.
HUAC•The House Un-American Activities Committee investigated the full range of radical groups in the United States, including Fascists, Communists, and members of Hollywood
The Hollywood Ten• The Hollywood
Ten refused to answer HUAC questions about their beliefs or those of their colleagues.
• Many others in Hollywood did testify, for if they didn’t their names were placed on a blacklist.
Spy Cases•Alger Hiss—convicted of being a spy for the Soviets
•Klaus Fuchs—a Manhattan Project scientist who gave atomic bomb information to the Soviets
•Ethel and Julius Rosenberg—convicted of passing secrets to the Soviets and executed
Joseph McCarthy• Joseph
McCarthy was a senator who claimed that there were 205 known Communists working for the U.S. Department of State.
•McCarthy’s claims were rarely backed up with any evidence.
•McCarthyism spread beyond the Senate into other branches of government, into universities, into labor unions, and into private businesses.
•In 1952 he began to go after fellow Republicans.
•In 1954 he attacked the U.S. Army, claiming that it was protecting Communists.
Suburban Living Suburban Living
$7,990 or $60/month with no down $7,990 or $60/month with no down payment.payment.
Levittown, L. I.: Levittown, L. I.: “The American “The American Dream”Dream”1949 1949 William LevittWilliam Levitt
produced produced 150 houses per week. 150 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 Living
SHIFTS IN POPULATION SHIFTS IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, DISTRIBUTION,
1940-19701940-1970
19401940 19501950 19601960 19701970Central CitiesCentral Cities 31.6% 32.3% 31.6% 32.3% 32.6% 32.0% 32.6% 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% 26.4% 36.7% 26.4%Small TownsSmall Towns
U. S. Bureau of the Census.U. S. Bureau of the Census.
Suburban Living: The Typical TV Suburban Families
Suburban Living: The Typical TV Suburban Families
The The Donna Donna Reed Reed ShowShow1958-1958-19661966
Leave It Leave It to Beaverto Beaver1957-19631957-1963
FatherFather Knows Knows BestBest
1954-19581954-1958The Ozzie & Harriet The Ozzie & Harriet
ShowShow1952-19661952-1966
ConsumerismConsumerism1950 1950 Introduction of the Diner’s Introduction of the Diner’s
CardCard
All babies were potential consumers All babies were potential consumers who spearheaded a brand-new market who spearheaded a brand-new market for food, clothing, and shelter.for food, clothing, and shelter. -- Life -- Life Magazine (May, 1958) Magazine (May, 1958)
ConsumerismConsumerism
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 WorkplaceA Changing WorkplaceNew 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
The Culture of the Car
The Culture of the Car Car registrations: 1945 Car registrations: 1945
25,000,00025,000,000 1960 1960 60,000,000 60,000,000
2-family cars doubles from 1951-2-family cars doubles from 1951-19581958
1956 1956 Interstate Highway ActInterstate Highway Act largestlargest public works project in American public works project in American history! history!
Å Cost $32 billion.Cost $32 billion.
Å 41,000 miles of new highways 41,000 miles of new highways built.built.
1959 Chevy 1959 Chevy CorvetteCorvette
1958 Pink 1958 Pink CadillacCadillac
The Culture of the Car
The Culture of the Car
First McDonald’s First McDonald’s (1955)(1955)
America became a more America became a more homogeneous nation because of homogeneous nation because of the automobile.the automobile.
Drive-In Drive-In MoviesMovies
Howard Howard Johnson’sJohnson’s
The Culture of the Car
The 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” states)(“Sunbelt” states)
1955 1955 Disneyland opened in Southern Disneyland opened in Southern California.California. (40% of the guests came from (40% of the guests came from outsideoutside California, most by car.) California, most by car.)
Frontier Frontier LandLand
Main StreetMain Street Tomorrow LandTomorrow Land
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. 50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S.S.
Mass Audience Mass Audience TV TV celebrated traditionalcelebrated traditionalAmerican values. 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
Truth, Justice, and the American way!Truth, Justice, and the American way!
Television – The Western
Television – The WesternDavy CrockettDavy Crockett
King of the Wild King of the Wild FrontierFrontier
The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger(and his faithful(and his faithfulsidekick, Tonto): sidekick, Tonto): Who is that masked Who is that masked man??man??
Sheriff Matt Sheriff Matt Dillon, Dillon,
GunsmokeGunsmoke
Television - Family ShowsTelevision -
Family Shows
I Love I Love LucyLucy
The The HoneymoonersHoneymooners
Glossy view of mostly Glossy view of mostly middle-class suburban life.middle-class suburban life.
But...But...
Social Winners?... AND… Social Winners?... AND… Losers?Losers?
Teen CultureTeen CultureIn the 1950s In the 1950s the word the word “teenager”“teenager” entered entered
the American language. the American language.
By 1956 By 1956 13 mil. teens with $7 bil. to spend 13 mil. teens with $7 bil. to spend a year. a year.
1951 1951 “race music”“race music” “ROCK ‘N ROLL” “ROCK ‘N ROLL”
Elvis PresleyElvis Presley “The “The King”King”
Teen CultureTeen Culture““Juvenile Juvenile
Delinquency” Delinquency” ??????
Marlon BrandoMarlon Brando inin
The Wild OneThe Wild One (1953)(1953)
James DeanJames Dean in inRRebel Without a ebel Without a
CauseCause (1955) (1955)
1951 1951 J. D. Salinger’sJ. D. Salinger’s A Catcher in the RyeA Catcher in the Rye
Teen CultureTeen CultureThe “Beat” GenerationThe “Beat” Generation::
Jack Kerouac Jack Kerouac On The RoadOn The Road
Allen Ginsberg Allen Ginsberg poem, “Howl” poem, “Howl”
Neal CassadyNeal Cassady
William S. Burroughs William S. Burroughs
““BeatniBeatnik”k”
““Clean” Clean” TeenTeen
Teen CultureTeen CultureBehavioral Rules of the Behavioral Rules of the
1950s:1950s:Obey Authority.Obey Authority.
Control Your Emotions.Control Your Emotions.
Don’t Make Waves Don’t Make Waves Fit in Fit in with the Group.with the Group.
Don’t Even Think About Don’t Even Think About Sex!!!Sex!!!
Religious Revival
Religious Revival Today in the U. S., the Christian faith is back in Today in the U. S., the Christian faith is back in
the center of things.the center of things. -- -- TimeTime magazine, 1954 magazine, 1954
Church membershipChurch membership: : 1940 1940 64,000,000 64,000,000 1960 1960 114,000,000 114,000,000Television 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;message; warned against the evils of Communism. warned against the evils of Communism.
Religious RevivalReligious RevivalHollywoodHollywood: apex of the biblical : apex of the biblical
epics.epics.
It’s un-American to be un-religious!It’s un-American to be un-religious!
-- -- The Christian CenturyThe Christian Century, 1954, 1954
The Robe The Ten Commandments Ben HurThe Robe The Ten Commandments Ben Hur 1953 1956 19591953 1956 1959
Well-Defined Gender Roles
Well-Defined Gender RolesThe The ideal modern womanideal modern woman married, cooked married, cooked
and and cared for her family, and kept herself busy cared for her family, and kept herself busy by joining the local PTA and leading a troop by joining the local PTA and leading a troop of Campfire Girls. She entertained guests in of Campfire Girls. She entertained guests in her family’s suburban house and worked out her family’s suburban house and worked out on the trampoline to keep her size 12 figure.on the trampoline to keep her size 12 figure. -- -- LifeLife magazine, 1956 magazine, 1956
MarilynMarilynMonroeMonroe
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, 1955 magazine, 1955
1956 1956 William H. Whyte, Jr. William H. Whyte, Jr. The The Organization Man Organization Man
A a middle-class, white a middle-class, white suburban suburban male is the ideal.male is the ideal.
Well-Defined Gender Roles
Well-Defined Gender Roles
Changing Sexual BehaviorChanging Sexual Behavior:: Alfred Kinsey:Alfred Kinsey: 1948 1948 Sexual Behavior in the Sexual Behavior in the HumanHuman Male Male 1953 1953 Sexual Behavior in the Sexual Behavior in the Human Human Female Female
v Premarital sex was common.Premarital sex was common.
v Extramarital affairs were Extramarital affairs were frequent frequent among married couples.among married couples.Kinsey’s results are an assault on the Kinsey’s results are an assault on the
family family as a basic unit of society, a negation of as a basic unit of society, a negation of moral law, and a celebration of moral law, and a celebration of licentiousness.licentiousness. -- -- LifeLife magazine, early 1950s magazine, early 1950s
Progress Through ScienceProgress Through Science
1951 -- 1951 -- First IBM Mainframe First IBM Mainframe ComputerComputer
1952 -- 1952 -- Hydrogen BombHydrogen Bomb Test Test
1953 -- 1953 -- DNADNA Structure Discovered Structure Discovered
1954 -- 1954 -- Salk VaccineSalk Vaccine Tested for Tested for PolioPolio
1957 -- First Commercial 1957 -- First Commercial U. S. U. S. NuclearNuclear 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
Progress Through ScienceProgress Through Science
1957 1957 Russians launch Russians launch SPUTNIK SPUTNIK II
1958 1958 National National Defense Defense Education Act Education Act
Progress Through ScienceProgress Through Science
UFO SightingsUFO Sightings skyrocketed in the skyrocketed in the 1950s.1950s.
War of the War of the WorldsWorlds
Hollywood used aliens as a Hollywood used aliens as a metaphor metaphor
for whom for whom ????
Progress Through ScienceProgress Through Science
Atomic AnxietiesAtomic Anxieties::
““Duck-and-Cover Duck-and-Cover Generation”Generation”
Atomic TestingAtomic Testing::
1946-1962 1946-1962 U. S. exploded 217 U. S. exploded 217 nuclear weapons over the nuclear weapons over the Pacific and in Nevada. Pacific and in Nevada.
Politics and War• The Cold War:
• The tension and rivalry between the USA and the USSR was described as the Cold War (1945-1990).
• There was never a real war between the two sides between 1945 and 1990, but they were often very close to war (Hotspots). Both sides got involved in other conflicts in the world to either stop the spread of communism (USA) or help the spread (USSR).
• The USA and the USSR were the two world Superpowers.
• The USA was a capitalist society with a democracy.
• The USSR was a communist country with a dictatorship.
• Both wanted to be the most powerful nation in the world.
Nuclear Tensions
• The USA had shown its atomic power when it exploded the A-bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War 2.
• The USSR was also developing atomic weapons/bombs.
• The USA and the USSR were in competition with each other to have the best, most powerful weapons in the world – this was called the Arms Race.
New Communist Countries• Many countries became
communist after World War 2 including:
- Czechoslovakia (1948)- Poland (1947)- Hungary (1947)- China (1949)- Cuba (1959)- North Korea (1945)
Germany Divided• Germany, which had been
ruled by the Hitler and the Nazis until their defeat in 1945 was split in two.
• The western side became West Germany and the eastern side became East Germany.
• East Germany became another communist country
The Domino Effect• The USA did not want communism to
spread any further – they were worried about the domino effect (one country becomes communist, then another, then another etc)
The Iron Curtain • The Iron
Curtain was a term used to show that communism had created a sharp division in Europe.
America Responds
• The U.S. adopted the policy of containment and decided to do whatever it took to contain or stop communism.
• Truman Doctrine:Provided aid to Turkey and Greece in order to stop communism in those countries.
The Marshall Plan
A massive program of aid to help Europe rebuild and get back on its economic feet.
The Crisis in Berlin
• With the start of the Cold War, it became clear that the Soviets planned to keep their German zone under Communist control.
• The British, Americans, and French began to take steps to set up a free, democratic government within their German zones.
–The western zone eventually became known as the Federal Republic of Germany, or West Germany.
• The British, Americans, and French also tried to set up a democratic government in West Berlin.
–The Soviets were not happy with the idea of a Western-style government and economy in the middle of the Soviet zone of occupation.
The Soviets Block Traffic
•In June 1948 the Soviets announced that they would block any road, rail, or river traffic into West Berlin.
•West Berlin’s residents were cut off from food, coal, and other products.
•West Berlin was not completely cutoff because it had airstrips.
The Berlin Airlift
•British and American planes began making deliveries to West Berlin.
•The Berlin Airlift continued for months and months.
•Finally, the Soviet Union lifted its blockade on May 12, 1949.
NNorth orth AAtlantic tlantic TTreaty reaty OOrganization (1949)rganization (1949)
United StatesUnited States
BelgiumBelgium
BritainBritain
CanadaCanada
DenmarkDenmark
FranceFrance
IcelandIceland
ItalyItaly
LuxemburgLuxemburg
NetherlandsNetherlands
NorwayNorway
PortugalPortugal
1952: Greece & 1952: Greece & Turkey Turkey
1955: West 1955: West GermanyGermany
1983: Spain1983: Spain
Berlin Blockade Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-& Airlift (1948-
49)49)
The Korean War 1950-1953
The Korean War•North Korea invaded South
Korea on June 25, 1950.
•Most leaders in the United States were surprised by this attack.
•Truman decided that the United States would take a stand against Communist aggression in Korea and sent in ground troops.
Combat in the Korean War
• UN forces made an amphibious landing behind North Korean lines at the port city of Inchon.
• The September 1950 invasion at Inchon was a key victory for UN forces.
• By October 1950 all of South Korea was back in UN hands.
•UN forces had begun to move into North Korea, but the when 260,000 Chinese troops joined the North Koreans the UN began to retreat.
•UN forces retreated all the way back to Seoul. It was the longest fallback in U.S. military history.
MacArthur is Fired
• MacArthur said that the UN faced a choice between defeat by the Chinese or a major war with them.
• He wanted to expand the war by bombing the Chinese mainland, perhaps even with atomic weapons.
•Lieutenant General Matthew Ridgway stopped the Chinese onslaught and pushed them back to the 38th parallel—without needing to expand the war or use atomic weapons.
•MacArthur disagreed with President Truman about the direction of the fighting and challenged the authority of the president.
Fighting ends in Korea•In July 1951 peace talks began.
•One major obstacle was the location of the boundary between the Koreas.
•In October 1951 peace talks stalled over prisoners of war.
•Negotiators in Panmunjom continued to argue over the details of a peace agreement throughout 1952.
• In 1952 Dwight D. Eisenhower—who promised to end the war—was elected president.
•An armistice agreement was finally reached on July 27, 1953.
•The Korean War left the map of Korea looking much as it had in 1950.
Trying to Build a Better World
–50 nations met in June 1945 to create the UN Charter.
–The Charter committed its members to respect fundamental human rights, respect treaties and agreements, and to promote the progress and freedom of all people.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights•It declared that all human beings are
born free and equal.
•It called for an end to slavery, torture, and inhumane punishment.
•It demanded a variety of civil rights, including the right to assembly and the right to access the courts.
•It stated that elementary education should be free and available to all.
The 50s Come to a CloseThe 50s Come to a Close
1959 1959 Nixon- Nixon-Khrushchev Khrushchev “Kitchen Debate”“Kitchen Debate”
Cold War Cold War ----->-----> TensionsTensions
<----- Technology <----- Technology
& Affluence & Affluence
