THE POSTWAR THE POSTWAR BOOMBOOM

Chapter 19Chapter 19

Postwar AmericaPostwar America

Section 1Section 1

After WWII, millions of After WWII, millions of returning veterans used thereturning veterans used the GI GI

BILL of RIGHTS BILL of RIGHTS to get an to get an education & to buy homes.education & to buy homes.

At 1At 1stst, there was a terrible , there was a terrible housing shortage.housing shortage.

Stamp commemorating the G.I. Bill

Then developers such as Then developers such as William LevittWilliam Levitt built 1,000’s of built 1,000’s of

inexpensive homes in the inexpensive homes in the suburbssuburbs..

Many veterans & their Many veterans & their families moved in.families moved in.

William Levitt (left) and brother Alfred, who designed Levittown houses

The U.S. changed The U.S. changed from a wartime to a from a wartime to a peacetime economy.peacetime economy.

After the war, many defense After the war, many defense workers were laid off. workers were laid off.

Returning veterans added to Returning veterans added to unemployment. unemployment.

When wartime price When wartime price controls ended, controls ended, prices shot up.prices shot up.

Congress eventually put back Congress eventually put back economic controls on wages, economic controls on wages,

prices, and rents.prices, and rents.

The economy The economy began to improve began to improve

on its own.on its own.

Many items had not been Many items had not been available during the war. available during the war.

Now Americans bought cars Now Americans bought cars & appliances & houses. & appliances & houses.

The Cold War increased The Cold War increased defense spending & defense spending &

unemployment begins to unemployment begins to drop.drop.

President Truman President Truman faced a # of faced a # of problems immediately after problems immediately after

the war. One big problem was the war. One big problem was labor unrest.labor unrest.

During WWII the During WWII the Government had froze Government had froze wages and the price of wages and the price of

goods, after WWII and the goods, after WWII and the price of goods increased, price of goods increased, factory owners refused to factory owners refused to

increase wagesincrease wages

Truman was Truman was pro-laborpro-labor, , but he wouldn’t let but he wouldn’t let strikes cripple the strikes cripple the

nation.nation.

He threatened to draft He threatened to draft striking workers into the striking workers into the

army and then order them army and then order them back to work. The unions back to work. The unions

gave in.gave in.

During this time, before the During this time, before the economy turned around, many economy turned around, many

Americans were disgusted Americans were disgusted w/shortages, rising inflation, & w/shortages, rising inflation, &

strikes.strikes.

Voters became more Voters became more conservative. In the 1946 conservative. In the 1946

elections, conservative elections, conservative Republicans gained Republicans gained control of Congress.control of Congress.

After the war, there was After the war, there was racial violence in the South. racial violence in the South. African-American veterans African-American veterans demanded their rights as demanded their rights as

citizens.citizens.

Dark Laughter."My Daddy said they didn't seem to mind servin' him on the Anzio beach head. . ."

Published in the Pittsburgh Courier,April 2, 1960

Truman met w/African-American Truman met w/African-American leaders. They asked for a leaders. They asked for a

federal anti-lynching law, an end federal anti-lynching law, an end to the poll tax, & a commission to the poll tax, & a commission

to prevent discrimination in to prevent discrimination in hiring.hiring.

Truman put his career on the Truman put his career on the line for civil rights. But line for civil rights. But

Congress wouldn’t pass any Congress wouldn’t pass any of his civil rights measures.of his civil rights measures.

Finally, Truman acted on his Finally, Truman acted on his own. In 1948, he issued an own. In 1948, he issued an

executive order to executive order to desegregate the armed desegregate the armed

forcesforces..

He also ordered an end to He also ordered an end to discrimination in hiring discrimination in hiring government employees.government employees.

African-American and white soldiers at a base African-American and white soldiers at a base in Italy during World War II. in Italy during World War II. Source: United States Source: United States

Army.Army.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Meanwhile, the Supreme Court said that African Court said that African

Americans couldn’t be kept Americans couldn’t be kept from living in certain from living in certain

neighborhoods.neighborhoods.

These acts marked the These acts marked the beginning of a federal beginning of a federal

commitment to deal w/racial commitment to deal w/racial issues.issues.

Truman was nominated Truman was nominated for president in 1948.for president in 1948.

He insisted on a strong civil He insisted on a strong civil rights plank in the rights plank in the

Democratic Party platform. Democratic Party platform. This split the partyThis split the party..

President Harry S. Truman at the mic, left Harley O. Staggers & Alben W. Barkley. 1948 in Keyser, West Virginia on Whistle Stop Train

Many Southern Democrats left Many Southern Democrats left the Democratic Party. These the Democratic Party. These DixiecratsDixiecrats were against civil were against civil

rights. They wanted to preserve rights. They wanted to preserve the “Southern way of life.”the “Southern way of life.”

Some liberals left the Some liberals left the Democratic Party to form the Democratic Party to form the

Progressive Party.Progressive Party.

It didn’t look like Truman could It didn’t look like Truman could win. But he took his ideas to the win. But he took his ideas to the

people. He criticized the “do-people. He criticized the “do-nothing Congress”.nothing Congress”.

Truman won a narrow Truman won a narrow victoryvictory. Democrats took . Democrats took

control of congress.control of congress.

Famous photograph of Famous photograph of Truman grinning and Truman grinning and holding up a copy of the holding up a copy of the newspaper with the newspaper with the erroneous headline.erroneous headline.

Presidential electoral votes Presidential electoral votes by state by state

Truman tried to pass Truman tried to pass economic & social reforms. economic & social reforms.

He called his program theHe called his program the FAIR DEALFAIR DEAL..

Health insurance & a crop-Health insurance & a crop-subsidy program for farmers subsidy program for farmers

were both defeated by were both defeated by Congress. But an increase in Congress. But an increase in the minimum wage, extension the minimum wage, extension of Social Security, & financial of Social Security, & financial

aid for cities passed.aid for cities passed.

Truman didn’t run for Truman didn’t run for reelection in 1952. There reelection in 1952. There

were 5 big issues of the ’52 were 5 big issues of the ’52 campaign….campaign….

1)1) The stalemate in the The stalemate in the Korean War Korean War 2)2) anti- anti-

Communist hysteria & Communist hysteria & McCarthyism McCarthyism 3)3) the the growing power of the growing power of the

federal government federal government 4)4) strikes strikes 5)5) inflation. inflation.

The Republicans nominated The Republicans nominated war hero General war hero General Dwight D. Dwight D.

EisenhowerEisenhower..

He easily beat He easily beat Democrat Democrat AdlaiAdlai

StevensonStevenson..

Presidential electoral votes Presidential electoral votes by state. by state.

Eisenhower was a low-key Eisenhower was a low-key president w/middle-of-the president w/middle-of-the

road policies.road policies.

He did have to deal with 1 He did have to deal with 1 controversial issuecontroversial issue….….Civil Civil

RightsRights..

School segregation protest. School segregation protest. Credit:Credit: National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration.

Eisenhower signing Civil Eisenhower signing Civil Rights Act Rights Act

Credit:Credit: Dwight D. Eisenhower Library Dwight D. Eisenhower Library

In 1954, the Supreme Court In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in ruled in Brown v. Board of Brown v. Board of

EducationEducation that schools that schools couldn’t be segregated.couldn’t be segregated.

Educational separation in the US Educational separation in the US

priorprior to Brown to Brown

George E.C. Hayes, Thurgood Marshall, and George E.C. Hayes, Thurgood Marshall, and James Nabrit, congratulating each other, James Nabrit, congratulating each other,

following Supreme Court decision declaring following Supreme Court decision declaring

segregation unconstitutionalsegregation unconstitutional

Eisenhower believed that the federal Eisenhower believed that the federal government shouldn’t be involved in government shouldn’t be involved in desegregation, but he upheld the law.desegregation, but he upheld the law.

When the governor of Arkansas When the governor of Arkansas tried to keep African-American tried to keep African-American

students out of a white high students out of a white high school, Eisenhower sent federal school, Eisenhower sent federal troops to integrate the school.troops to integrate the school.

Curious Central High School students gathered on the Curious Central High School students gathered on the sidewalk in front of the school on September 4 to watch sidewalk in front of the school on September 4 to watch the reporters, photographers and the crowd gathered to the reporters, photographers and the crowd gathered to

wait for the black students to attempt to enter the wait for the black students to attempt to enter the school.school.

Photo and caption Copyright © Craig Rains, 1997Photo and caption Copyright © Craig Rains, 1997

One of the "Little Rock Nine" One of the "Little Rock Nine" braves a jeering crowdbraves a jeering crowdPhotograph by and courtesy of Will CountsPhotograph by and courtesy of Will Counts

The America of the mid-The America of the mid-1950’s was a place of 1950’s was a place of “peace, progress, & “peace, progress, &

prosperity.”prosperity.”

Eisenhower won a Eisenhower won a landslide reelection landslide reelection

in 1956.in 1956.

Presidential electoral votes Presidential electoral votes by state by state

The American The American Dream in the Dream in the

FiftiesFifties

Section 2Section 2

The economy grew rapidly in the The economy grew rapidly in the 1950’s. By ’56, more Americans 1950’s. By ’56, more Americans were were white-collarwhite-collar workers than workers than

were were blue-collarblue-collar workers. workers.

ConglomeratesConglomerates and and franchisingfranchising made businesses made businesses

expand.expand.

These large companies These large companies offered well-paying, secure offered well-paying, secure

jobs to certain kinds of jobs to certain kinds of workers.workers.

These workers were These workers were conformists, or “company conformists, or “company people” who would fit in & people” who would fit in &

not rock the boat.not rock the boat.

Businesses rewarded loyalty Businesses rewarded loyalty rather than creativity. They rather than creativity. They

promoted a sameness of promoted a sameness of people rather than creativitypeople rather than creativity

Books such as Books such as The The Organization ManOrganization Man & & The Man The Man

in the Gray Flannel Suitin the Gray Flannel Suit criticized this conformity.criticized this conformity.

Many Americans worked in Many Americans worked in cities but lived in cities but lived in suburbssuburbs. .

They had the American dream They had the American dream of a single-family home, good of a single-family home, good

schools, & a safe neighborhood schools, & a safe neighborhood w/ people just like themselves.w/ people just like themselves.

There was an increase There was an increase in births called the in births called the

baby boombaby boom..

It was caused by the It was caused by the reuniting of families after the reuniting of families after the

war & growing prosperity.war & growing prosperity.

Medical advances also Medical advances also wiped out childhood wiped out childhood

diseases.diseases.

Dr. Jonas SalkDr. Jonas Salk developed a developed a vaccine to prevent vaccine to prevent poliopolio. .

Polio had killed or crippled Polio had killed or crippled 58,000 children a year.58,000 children a year.

Dr. Jonas E. Salk, inventor of the polio vaccine, working in his lab

AL FENN/TIME LIFE PICTURES

Iron lungs in gymIron lungs in gym Courtesy of Rancho Los Courtesy of Rancho Los

Amigos National Rehabilitation CenterAmigos National Rehabilitation Center

Franklin D. Roosevelt used a Franklin D. Roosevelt used a wheelchair after contracting Polio wheelchair after contracting Polio

in 1921in 1921

The baby boom created a The baby boom created a need for more schools & need for more schools & products for children.products for children.

Suburban family life revolved Suburban family life revolved around children.around children.

Many parents depended on Many parents depended on advice from a popular baby-care advice from a popular baby-care book by book by Dr. BenjaminDr. Benjamin Spock.Spock.

He said it was important that He said it was important that mothers stay at home w/their mothers stay at home w/their

children. The role of homemaker & children. The role of homemaker & mother was also glorified in the mother was also glorified in the

media. But many women felt alone media. But many women felt alone & bored at home& bored at home..

By 1960, 40% of mothers By 1960, 40% of mothers worked outside the home. worked outside the home.

But their career But their career opportunities usually were opportunities usually were limited to “women’s fields.”limited to “women’s fields.”

These included secretarial work, These included secretarial work, nursing, & teaching. Even if nursing, & teaching. Even if women did the same work as women did the same work as

men, they were paid less.men, they were paid less.

Americans had more leisure Americans had more leisure time. They spent time & time. They spent time &

money on leisure activities, money on leisure activities, such as sports.such as sports.

They also watched sports on They also watched sports on t.v. & read books & magazines. t.v. & read books & magazines. Youth activities, like Scouts & Youth activities, like Scouts & Little League, became popular Little League, became popular

too.too.

Willie MaysBob Cousy

Easy credit for buying cars & Easy credit for buying cars & cheap gasoline led to a boom cheap gasoline led to a boom

in automobile ownership.in automobile ownership.

In the 1950’s the # of In the 1950’s the # of American cars on the road American cars on the road grew from 40 to 60 million.grew from 40 to 60 million.

A car was a necessity in the A car was a necessity in the suburbs. There was no suburbs. There was no public transportation. public transportation.

People needed to drive to People needed to drive to

their jobs in the citiestheir jobs in the cities..

They also had to drive to They also had to drive to shop & do errands. shop & do errands.

Therefore, more and better Therefore, more and better roads were also needed.roads were also needed.

In 1956, the U.S. In 1956, the U.S. began building a began building a

nationwide highway nationwide highway network. network.

In turn, these roads allowed In turn, these roads allowed long-distant trucking. This long-distant trucking. This

led to a decline in the led to a decline in the railroads.railroads.

Americans loved to drive. Americans loved to drive. They went to drive-in They went to drive-in

restaurants & movies. They restaurants & movies. They drove long distances on drove long distances on

vacation. Motels & shopping vacation. Motels & shopping malls were built to serve them. malls were built to serve them.

These new industries were These new industries were good for the economy.good for the economy.

But the increase in But the increase in driving also caused driving also caused problems. These problems. These included stressful included stressful traffic jams & air traffic jams & air

pollution.pollution.

Many white people Many white people left the cities. left the cities.

Jobs & industries followed. Jobs & industries followed. This left mostly poor people This left mostly poor people

in crowded inner cities.in crowded inner cities.

By the mid 1950’s, nearly By the mid 1950’s, nearly 60% of Americans were in 60% of Americans were in

the middle class. They had the middle class. They had the $ to buy more & more the $ to buy more & more

products.products.

They measured success by They measured success by their their consumerismconsumerism, or the , or the amount of material goods amount of material goods

they bought.they bought.

American business flooded American business flooded stores with new products. stores with new products.

Consumers had $ to spend & Consumers had $ to spend & leisure time.leisure time.

They bought household They bought household appliances like washing appliances like washing

machines, dryers, & dishwashers, machines, dryers, & dishwashers, & recreational items such as & recreational items such as television set, BBQ grills, & television set, BBQ grills, &

swimming pools.swimming pools.

Manufacturers also tried a new Manufacturers also tried a new marketing strategy called marketing strategy called Planned obsolescencePlanned obsolescence..

They purposely made products to They purposely made products to become outdated or to wear out become outdated or to wear out

quickly. Americans began to quickly. Americans began to throw away items in order to buy throw away items in order to buy

“new model.”“new model.”

Easy credit, including the Easy credit, including the introduction of credit cards, introduction of credit cards,

encouraged people to buy.encouraged people to buy.

Private debt grew.Private debt grew.

The 1950’s was the The 1950’s was the “advertising age”. Ads were “advertising age”. Ads were

everywhere.everywhere.

They tried to persuade Americans They tried to persuade Americans to buy things they didn’t need. to buy things they didn’t need.

They appealed to people’s desire They appealed to people’s desire for status & for a sense of for status & for a sense of

belonging.belonging.

POPULAR POPULAR CULTURECULTURE

Section 3Section 3

TelevisionTelevision became the most became the most important means of important means of

communication in the 1950’s.communication in the 1950’s.

It both showed & influenced It both showed & influenced popular culture of the time.popular culture of the time.

Father Knows Best 1954-1958

Milton Berle

The # of homes The # of homes w/television went w/television went

from 9% of all homes from 9% of all homes in 1950 to 90% in in 1950 to 90% in

1960.1960.

At 1At 1stst, the # of television stations , the # of television stations was limited by the was limited by the Federal Federal

Communications Commission Communications Commission (FCC(FCC). Soon, however, TV ). Soon, however, TV stations spread across the stations spread across the

country. Many shows became country. Many shows became widely popular all over the nation.widely popular all over the nation.

Television reflected the Television reflected the mainstream values of white mainstream values of white

suburban America.suburban America.

These values were secure These values were secure jobs, material success, well-jobs, material success, well-

behaved children, & behaved children, & conformity.conformity.

As dramas & comedies As dramas & comedies moved to TV, radio changed. moved to TV, radio changed. It began to focus on news, It began to focus on news,

weather, music, & local weather, music, & local issues.issues.

The radio industry did well. The radio industry did well. Advertising increased & so Advertising increased & so

did the # of stations.did the # of stations.

The movie industry suffered The movie industry suffered from competition by television. from competition by television. The # of moviegoers dropped The # of moviegoers dropped

50%.50%.

But Hollywood fought back. It But Hollywood fought back. It responded by using color, responded by using color, stereophonic sound, & the stereophonic sound, & the

wide screen to create wide screen to create spectacular movies.spectacular movies.

Television showed the Television showed the suburban way of life. But 2 suburban way of life. But 2 subculturessubcultures presented other presented other

points of view.points of view.

1 was the 1 was the beat movementbeat movement in in literature. These writers made literature. These writers made

fun of the conformity & fun of the conformity & materialism of mainstream materialism of mainstream

American society.American society.

Their followers were called Their followers were called beatniksbeatniks..

They rebelled against They rebelled against consumerism & the suburban consumerism & the suburban

lifestyle. They didn’t hold lifestyle. They didn’t hold steady jobs & lived steady jobs & lived

inexpensively. They read their inexpensively. They read their poetry in coffee houses. Their poetry in coffee houses. Their art & poetry had a free, open art & poetry had a free, open

form.form.

Some musicians also took a Some musicians also took a new direction. They added new direction. They added

electronic instruments to the electronic instruments to the African-American music African-American music called rhythm & blues.called rhythm & blues.

The result was……The result was……

Rock ‘n’ RollRock ‘n’ Roll

It’s lyrics focused on the It’s lyrics focused on the interests of teenagers. They interests of teenagers. They bought millions of records.bought millions of records.

The biggest star of all- the King of The biggest star of all- the King of

Rock ‘n’ Roll- was Rock ‘n’ Roll- was Elvis Elvis PresleyPresley..

Some adults criticized rock Some adults criticized rock ‘n’ roll. They said it would ‘n’ roll. They said it would

lead to teenage crime & lead to teenage crime & immorality.immorality.

But television and radio But television and radio helped bring rock ‘n’ roll into helped bring rock ‘n’ roll into

the mainstream.the mainstream.

Many of the great performers of the Many of the great performers of the 1950’s were African American. Nat 1950’s were African American. Nat

“King” Cole, Lena Horne, Harry “King” Cole, Lena Horne, Harry Belafonte, & Sidney Poitier were Belafonte, & Sidney Poitier were

popular w/white audiences.popular w/white audiences.

They led the way for later They led the way for later African-American stars.African-American stars.

Nat King Cole in The Blue Gardenia (1953)

Belafonte (center) on the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C with Sidney Poitier(left) and Charlton Heston

Jazz musicians like Jazz musicians like Miles DavisMiles Davis & & DizzyDizzy GillespieGillespie also also

entertained audiences of both entertained audiences of both races.races.

The most popular black The most popular black performers were the early performers were the early

rock ‘n’ roll stars, like rock ‘n’ roll stars, like Little Little RichardRichard & & Chuck BerryChuck Berry..

Chuck Berry Dizzy Gillespie

Television was slow to integrate. Television was slow to integrate. One of the 1One of the 1stst programs to do so programs to do so was Dick Clark’s popular rock ‘n’ was Dick Clark’s popular rock ‘n’ roll show roll show AmericanAmerican Bandstand.Bandstand.

In 1957, In 1957, Bandstand Bandstand showed showed both black and white couples both black and white couples

on the dance floor.on the dance floor.

Dick Clark, host of American Bandstand

THE OTHER THE OTHER AMERICAAMERICA

Section 4Section 4

In the 1950’s, millions of In the 1950’s, millions of middle-class white people left middle-class white people left

the cities for the the cities for the suburbs.suburbs.

This was called “This was called “white flightwhite flight”. ”. Meanwhile, many poor African Meanwhile, many poor African

Americans moved from the rural Americans moved from the rural South to Northern cities. South to Northern cities.

Businesses, and jobs, followed Businesses, and jobs, followed whites out of the cities. The whites out of the cities. The urban urban

poorpoor suffered as their suffered as their neighborhoods decayed.neighborhoods decayed.

One way the government One way the government tried to solve the problem of tried to solve the problem of the inner cities was called the inner cities was called

urban renewalurban renewal..

Minorities couldn’t afford the new Minorities couldn’t afford the new homes that had been built in the homes that had been built in the

suburbs during the 50’s. As a result, suburbs during the 50’s. As a result, inner –city neighborhoods became very inner –city neighborhoods became very

overcrowded.overcrowded.

Blight often stands side-by-side with new structures during urban renewal efforts. Note the reflection of the new construction in progress

Urban renewal was designed Urban renewal was designed to tear down decaying to tear down decaying

neighborhoods & build low-neighborhoods & build low-cost housing.cost housing.

However, sometimes highways & However, sometimes highways & shopping centers were built instead. shopping centers were built instead. The people who had lived in the old The people who had lived in the old

slums ended up moving to other slums ended up moving to other slums… rather than into better slums… rather than into better

housing.housing.

During WWII, there was a During WWII, there was a shortage of laborers to harvest shortage of laborers to harvest crops. The federal government crops. The federal government

allowed allowed bracerosbraceros, or hired , or hired hands, to enter the U.S. from hands, to enter the U.S. from

Mexico.Mexico.

They were supposed to work on They were supposed to work on American farms during the war, & American farms during the war, &

then go back to Mexico. then go back to Mexico. However, when the war ended, However, when the war ended, many braceros stayed illegally.many braceros stayed illegally.

When Mexican-Americans came When Mexican-Americans came home from the war, they wanted home from the war, they wanted to be treated fairly. They formed to be treated fairly. They formed

an organization to protest an organization to protest injustices.injustices.

Mexican Americans began to Mexican Americans began to have a nationwide political have a nationwide political

voice.voice.

In 1944, In 1944, Native AmericansNative Americans formed an organization to formed an organization to

work for their civil rights & work for their civil rights & for the right to keep their for the right to keep their

own customs.own customs.

After WWII, Native Americans got After WWII, Native Americans got less financial help from the less financial help from the

government. Outsiders grabbed government. Outsiders grabbed tribal lands for mining & tribal lands for mining &

development.development.

In 1953, the federal government decided to In 1953, the federal government decided to end its responsibility for Native American end its responsibility for Native American tribes. This tribes. This termination policytermination policy stopped stopped

federal economic support. It also ended the federal economic support. It also ended the reservation system & distributed tribal land reservation system & distributed tribal land

among individual Native Americans.among individual Native Americans.

Above: A Native American family working as hops pickers. (Courtesy Special Collections Division, University of Washington of Washington Libraries

As part of the termination policy, the As part of the termination policy, the Bureau of Indian Affairs also moved Bureau of Indian Affairs also moved

thousands of Native Americans to the thousands of Native Americans to the

cities.cities.

It helped them find jobs & It helped them find jobs & housing. This program was a housing. This program was a

failure. Native Americans didn’t failure. Native Americans didn’t have the skills to succeed in the have the skills to succeed in the cities. They were cut off from cities. They were cut off from

medical care. They suffered job medical care. They suffered job discrimination. discrimination. The termination The termination

policy was ended in 1963.policy was ended in 1963.

THE ENDTHE END

Coming Next…..Coming Next…..

““The New Frontier & The New Frontier & the Great Society”the Great Society”

CHAPTER 20