Chapter 31: 1950-1960Chapter 31: 1950-1960Adjustment of the Adjustment of the

1950’s1950’s

THE SUBURBAN THE SUBURBAN LIFESTYLELIFESTYLE

Most Americans worked Most Americans worked in cities, but fewer and in cities, but fewer and fewer of them lived fewer of them lived therethere

New highways & New highways & affordability of cars & affordability of cars & gasoline made gasoline made commuting possiblecommuting possible

Of the 13 million homes Of the 13 million homes built in the 1950s, 85% built in the 1950s, 85% were built in suburbswere built in suburbs

For many, suburbs were For many, suburbs were the American Dreamthe American DreamThe American Dream complete with

a white picket fence

FRANCHISES EMERGEFRANCHISES EMERGE

Another strategy for Another strategy for business expansion business expansion was franchisingwas franchising

A franchise is a A franchise is a company that offers company that offers similar services in similar services in many locationsmany locations

Fast food restaurants Fast food restaurants developed the first developed the first franchises in Americafranchises in America

McDonald’s is one of the leading franchises

in the world

(1955)

WHY SO MANY BABIES?WHY SO MANY BABIES? Baby boom:Baby boom: The sharp The sharp

increase in the increase in the population following population following WWII.WWII.

Why did the baby boom occur Why did the baby boom occur when it did?when it did?

Husbands returning from Husbands returning from warwar

Decreasing marriage ageDecreasing marriage age Desirability of large familiesDesirability of large families Confidence in economyConfidence in economy Advances in medicineAdvances in medicine

THE BABY BOOMTHE BABY BOOM During the late During the late

1940s and through 1940s and through the early 1960s the the early 1960s the birthrate in the birthrate in the U.S. soaredU.S. soared

At its height in At its height in 1957, a baby was 1957, a baby was born in America born in America every 7 seconds every 7 seconds (over 4.3 million (over 4.3 million babies in ’57 alone)babies in ’57 alone)

Baby boomers Baby boomers represent the represent the largest generation largest generation in the nation’s in the nation’s historyhistory

IMPACT OF BABY IMPACT OF BABY BOOMBOOM

As a result of the As a result of the baby boom 10 baby boom 10 million students million students entered elementary entered elementary schools in the 1950sschools in the 1950s

California built a California built a new school every 7 new school every 7 days in the late ’50sdays in the late ’50s

Toy sales reached Toy sales reached an all-time high in an all-time high in 1958 when $1.25 1958 when $1.25 billion in toys were billion in toys were soldsold

RISE OF RISE OF CONSUMERISMCONSUMERISM

By the mid-1950s, By the mid-1950s, nearly 60% of nearly 60% of Americans were Americans were members of the members of the middle classmiddle class

Consumerism Consumerism (buying material (buying material goods) came to be goods) came to be equated with equated with success and statussuccess and status

NEW PRODUCTSNEW PRODUCTS One new product One new product

after another after another appeared in the appeared in the marketplacemarketplace

Appliances, Appliances, electronics, and other electronics, and other household goods household goods were especially were especially popularpopular

The first credit card The first credit card (Diner’s Club) (Diner’s Club) appeared in 1950 and appeared in 1950 and American Express was American Express was introduced in 1958introduced in 1958

Personal debt Personal debt increased nearly 3x in increased nearly 3x in the 1950sthe 1950s

THE ADVERTISING THE ADVERTISING AGEAGE

The advertising The advertising industry capitalized industry capitalized on runaway on runaway consumerism by consumerism by encouraging more encouraging more spendingspending

Ads were everywhereAds were everywhere Ad agencies Ad agencies

increased their increased their spending 50% during spending 50% during the 1950sthe 1950s

Advertising is everywhere today in America

A SUBCULTURE EMERGESA SUBCULTURE EMERGES

Although mass Although mass media and media and television were television were wildly popular in wildly popular in the 1950s, the 1950s, dissenting voices dissenting voices emergedemerged

The “Beat The “Beat Movement” in Movement” in literature and literature and rock n’ roll rock n’ roll clashed with tidy clashed with tidy suburban views suburban views of lifeof life

BEATNIKS FOLLOW OWN BEATNIKS FOLLOW OWN PATHPATH

Centered in San Centered in San Francisco, L.A. and Francisco, L.A. and New York’s Greenwich New York’s Greenwich Village, the Beat Village, the Beat Movement expressed Movement expressed social nonconformitysocial nonconformity

Followers, called Followers, called “beatniks”, tended to “beatniks”, tended to shun work and sought shun work and sought understanding understanding through Zen through Zen Buddhism, music, and Buddhism, music, and sometimes drugssometimes drugsBeatniks often performed

poetry or music in coffeehouses or bars

SECTION 2: POPULAR SECTION 2: POPULAR CULTURECULTURE

A new era of A new era of mass media led mass media led by television by television emerged in emerged in 1950s1950s

In 1948, only 9% In 1948, only 9% of homes had T.Vof homes had T.V

In 1950, 55% of In 1950, 55% of homes had T.V.homes had T.V.

By 1960, 90% of By 1960, 90% of American homes American homes had T.V.had T.V.

FCCFCC

Mass media: TV will become Mass media: TV will become popular.popular.

FCC: Federal Communication FCC: Federal Communication Commission will regulate and Commission will regulate and license TV.license TV.

Beat movement: Poets, writers, Beat movement: Poets, writers, and artists will express the and artists will express the social and literary social and literary nonconformity.nonconformity.

THE GOLDEN AGE THE GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISIONOF TELEVISION The 1950s was The 1950s was

known as the known as the “Golden Age of “Golden Age of Television”Television”

Comedies were Comedies were the main the main attraction as attraction as Milton Berle, Milton Berle, Lucille Ball and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were Desi Arnaz were very popularvery popular

Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball starred in I Love Lucy

TELEVISION EXPERIMENTS TELEVISION EXPERIMENTS WITH VARIOUS FORMATSWITH VARIOUS FORMATS

Television Television innovations like on-innovations like on-the-scene-news the-scene-news reporting, reporting, interviews, westerns interviews, westerns and sporting events and sporting events offered the viewer a offered the viewer a variety of shows variety of shows

Kids’ shows like Kids’ shows like The The Howdy Doody ShowHowdy Doody Show and and The Mickey The Mickey Mouse ClubMouse Club were were extremely popularextremely popular

TV ADS, TV GUIDES AND TV TV ADS, TV GUIDES AND TV DINNERS EXPANDDINNERS EXPAND

TV advertising soared from $170 million in 1950 to TV advertising soared from $170 million in 1950 to nearly $2 billion in 1960nearly $2 billion in 1960

TV Guide magazine quickly became the best TV Guide magazine quickly became the best selling magazineselling magazine

Frozen TV dinners were introduced in 1954 – these Frozen TV dinners were introduced in 1954 – these complete ready-to-heat meals on disposable complete ready-to-heat meals on disposable aluminum trays made it easy for people to eat aluminum trays made it easy for people to eat without missing their favorite showswithout missing their favorite shows

MUSIC IN THE 1950sMUSIC IN THE 1950s

Musicians in the Musicians in the 1950s added 1950s added electronic electronic instruments to instruments to traditional blues traditional blues music, creating music, creating rhythm and bluesrhythm and blues

Cleveland DJ Alan Cleveland DJ Alan Freed was the first Freed was the first to play this music in to play this music in 1951– he called it 1951– he called it “rock and roll”“rock and roll”

FREED

Rock ‘n’ RollRock ‘n’ Roll

New form of music which started in New form of music which started in the 1950s.the 1950s.

Named by Cleveland, OH DJ Alan Named by Cleveland, OH DJ Alan Freed.Freed.

Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and others were the most popular artists.others were the most popular artists.

Influenced by African-American Influenced by African-American music.music.

ROCK N’ ROLLROCK N’ ROLL In the early and mid-fifties, Richard Penniman, Chuck In the early and mid-fifties, Richard Penniman, Chuck

Berry, Bill Haley and the Comets, and especially Elvis Berry, Bill Haley and the Comets, and especially Elvis Presley brought rock and roll to the forefrontPresley brought rock and roll to the forefront

The driving rhythm and lyrics featuring love, cars, The driving rhythm and lyrics featuring love, cars, and problems and problems of being young --- of being young --- captivated teenagers captivated teenagers across the across the country country

THE KING OF ROCK THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLLAND ROLL

Presley’s Presley’s rebellious rebellious style captured style captured young young audiencesaudiences

Girls screamed Girls screamed and fainted, and fainted, and boys tried and boys tried to imitate himto imitate him

Section 3: Minorities Make Section 3: Minorities Make Some ProgressSome Progress

Early CasesEarly Cases Jim Crow laws existed in the South Jim Crow laws existed in the South

since the 1800s.since the 1800s. Plessy v. FergusonPlessy v. Ferguson: Supreme Court : Supreme Court

case which made segregated, but case which made segregated, but equal facilities legal (1896).equal facilities legal (1896).

Facilities in the South were not equal, Facilities in the South were not equal, but they were separate.but they were separate.

Start of Civil Rights Start of Civil Rights MovementMovement

1. WWII helped by letting African 1. WWII helped by letting African Americans work in the factories when Americans work in the factories when there were job shortages.there were job shortages.

2. 1 million African American men 2. 1 million African American men served during WWII.served during WWII.

3. Roosevelt passed a law prohibiting 3. Roosevelt passed a law prohibiting racial discrimination for those racial discrimination for those involved with the war.involved with the war.

Thurgood MarshallThurgood Marshall Lawyer who argued Lawyer who argued

cases before the cases before the Supreme Court with Supreme Court with the NAACP.the NAACP.

Was the first African Was the first African American Supreme American Supreme Court justice in 1967.Court justice in 1967.

Lawyer for the Lawyer for the Brown Brown v. Board of Education v. Board of Education of Topeka of Topeka court case.court case.

This case stated This case stated segregation in segregation in schools were schools were unconstitutional.unconstitutional.

Reaction to CaseReaction to Case KKK showed up to protest.KKK showed up to protest. Little Rock, Arkansas: Little Rock, Arkansas:

Protests to African Protests to African American students American students attending Central High attending Central High School.School.

9 African American 9 African American students volunteered to students volunteered to integrate the school.integrate the school.

Gov. Orval Faubus ordered Gov. Orval Faubus ordered the National Guard to keep the National Guard to keep the 9 students out.the 9 students out.

Little Rock (con’t)Little Rock (con’t) Federal judge ordered Federal judge ordered

the governor to let the the governor to let the students in.students in.

NAACP members called NAACP members called 8 of the 9 students and 8 of the 9 students and arranged rides to arranged rides to school.school.

One student, Elizabeth One student, Elizabeth Eckford, did not have a Eckford, did not have a phone.phone.

She had to face an She had to face an angry mob outside of angry mob outside of the schoolthe school

Rosa ParksRosa Parks Seamstress and an NAACP Seamstress and an NAACP officer.officer.

Sat on the front of the bus Sat on the front of the bus and refused to give up her and refused to give up her seat for a white man.seat for a white man.

Parks was arrested.Parks was arrested. Martin Luther King, Jr. was Martin Luther King, Jr. was

asked to lead the bus asked to lead the bus boycott in Montgomery.boycott in Montgomery.

1956: Supreme Court 1956: Supreme Court outlawed bus segregation.outlawed bus segregation.

Martin Luther KingMartin Luther King Used nonviolent resistance.Used nonviolent resistance. He used teachings from He used teachings from

Jesus, writer Thoreau, A. Jesus, writer Thoreau, A. Philip Randolph, and Gandhi.Philip Randolph, and Gandhi.

In 1957, he helped found the In 1957, he helped found the Southern Christian Southern Christian Leadership Conference Leadership Conference (SCLC)(SCLC)..

Group carried out nonviolent Group carried out nonviolent crusades against crusades against segregation. segregation.

Peaceful marches and Peaceful marches and protests.protests.

Student Nonviolent Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Coordinating Committee

(SNCC)(SNCC) Ella Baker helped students Ella Baker helped students

at universities start SNCC.at universities start SNCC. A national protest group who A national protest group who

also protested peacefully.also protested peacefully. SNCC used the CORE as an SNCC used the CORE as an

example.example. They staged They staged sit-inssit-ins at at

diners at the white only diners at the white only counters.counters.

Most would have food Most would have food poured over them, but would poured over them, but would not react- stayed not react- stayed peaceful!!!!!peaceful!!!!!

Poverty leads to ActivismPoverty leads to Activism

BracerosBraceros: Mexican farm workers who : Mexican farm workers who helped during WWII and who were helped during WWII and who were supposed to return to Mexico when supposed to return to Mexico when the war was over.the war was over.

Most stayed illegally, did not want to Most stayed illegally, did not want to return to the poor conditions in return to the poor conditions in Mexico.Mexico.

Felix LongoriaFelix Longoria

Mexican American WWII soldier who Mexican American WWII soldier who was killed in battle.was killed in battle.

A Texan funeral director refused to A Texan funeral director refused to hold the funeral service.hold the funeral service.

Outraged Mexican-Americans, they Outraged Mexican-Americans, they founded the Unity League of founded the Unity League of California which registered Mexican-California which registered Mexican-Americans to vote.Americans to vote.

Native AmericansNative Americans

The Federal gov’t tried to assimilate The Federal gov’t tried to assimilate or “Americanize” Native Americans or “Americanize” Native Americans since the 1800s.since the 1800s.

1944: est. the National Congress of 1944: est. the National Congress of American Indians. American Indians. – 1. Wanted the same civil rights as 1. Wanted the same civil rights as

whites.whites.– 2. Enable them to keep customs on 2. Enable them to keep customs on

reservations.reservations.

Termination PolicyTermination Policy

The U.S. gov’t plan to give up The U.S. gov’t plan to give up responsibility for Native American responsibility for Native American tribes by eliminating federal tribes by eliminating federal economic support, getting rid of the economic support, getting rid of the reservation system, and giving away reservation system, and giving away tribal lands.tribal lands.

Moved to cities and could not find Moved to cities and could not find jobs b/c of poor training and racial jobs b/c of poor training and racial prejudices.prejudices.

Section 4: TWO Section 4: TWO NATIONS LIVE ON THE NATIONS LIVE ON THE

EDGEEDGE After World War II, U.S. After World War II, U.S.

and U.S.S.R. competed and U.S.S.R. competed in developing atomic & in developing atomic & hydrogen bombshydrogen bombs

The Soviets tested The Soviets tested their first atomic bomb their first atomic bomb in 1949 in 1949

U.S. began work on a U.S. began work on a bomb 67 times bomb 67 times stronger than the stronger than the atomic bomb dropped atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima – the on Hiroshima – the hydrogen bombhydrogen bomb

An H-bomb test conducted by America near Bikini Island in

Pacific Ocean, 1954

The Arms Race:The Arms Race:A “Missile Gap?”A “Missile Gap?”

} The Soviet The Soviet Union Union exploded its exploded its first A-bomb in first A-bomb in 1949.1949.

} Now there Now there were two were two nuclear nuclear superpowers!superpowers!

H-bombH-bomb

Hydrogen bomb: thermonuclear Hydrogen bomb: thermonuclear weapon that is stronger than weapon that is stronger than atomic bomb.atomic bomb.

U.S. created it on 11/1/1952U.S. created it on 11/1/1952 Soviet Union created it on Soviet Union created it on

8/1953.8/1953.

Warsaw PactWarsaw Pact

Stalin died in 1953.Stalin died in 1953. 1955: West Germany was allowed 1955: West Germany was allowed

to build a military & join NATO.to build a military & join NATO. Soviet Union was upset and Soviet Union was upset and

formed the Warsaw Pact.formed the Warsaw Pact. Military alliance b/w Soviet Union Military alliance b/w Soviet Union

& 7 Eastern European countries.& 7 Eastern European countries.

BRINKMANSHIPBRINKMANSHIP Both countries had the Both countries had the

H-bomb (1953), H-bomb (1953), President Eisenhower & President Eisenhower & Secretary of State John Secretary of State John Foster Dulles made it Foster Dulles made it clear they were willing clear they were willing to use all military force to use all military force (including nuclear (including nuclear weapons) to stop weapons) to stop aggressionaggression

Expanded military & Expanded military & nuclear weaponsnuclear weapons

Soviets followed suit Soviets followed suit This willingness to go This willingness to go

to the edge of all-out to the edge of all-out war became known as war became known as brinkmanshipbrinkmanship Some Americans created

shelters in their backyards in case of nuclear attack

THE COLD WAR SPREADSTHE COLD WAR SPREADS

As the Cold War As the Cold War heated up, U.S. heated up, U.S. depended more and depended more and more on information more on information compiled by the compiled by the Central Intelligence Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)Agency (CIA)

The CIA began The CIA began attempts to weaken or attempts to weaken or overthrow overthrow governments governments unfriendly to the U.S.unfriendly to the U.S.

COVERT ACTIONS IN THE COVERT ACTIONS IN THE MIDDLE EASTMIDDLE EAST

One of the first One of the first covert covert operations operations occurred in the occurred in the Middle EastMiddle East

In Iran the U.S. In Iran the U.S. orchestrated orchestrated the return of the the return of the pro-U.S. Shah of pro-U.S. Shah of Iran in 1953Iran in 1953

The last Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza

Pahlavi

Covert Operations in Latin Covert Operations in Latin AmericaAmerica 1954, the CIA took 1954, the CIA took

covert actions in covert actions in Guatemala (Central Guatemala (Central America)America)

The U.S. believed The U.S. believed Guatemala was on the Guatemala was on the verge of becoming verge of becoming Communist, so the Communist, so the CIA trained an army CIA trained an army which invaded the which invaded the small country small country

The actions The actions eventually failed as a eventually failed as a military dictator rose military dictator rose to powerto power

THE THE HUNGARIAN HUNGARIAN

UPRISINGUPRISING

Dominated by the Soviet Dominated by the Soviet Union since the end of Union since the end of WWII, the Hungarian WWII, the Hungarian people rose up in revolt in people rose up in revolt in 19561956

Led by Imre Nagy, the Led by Imre Nagy, the liberal Communist leader liberal Communist leader of Hungary, the people of Hungary, the people demanded free elections demanded free elections and the end of Soviet and the end of Soviet dominationdomination

The Soviets responded to the Hungarian revolt with tanks

The Soviets’ response was swift and brutal – 30,000 Hungarians were killed (including Nagy) as the Soviets reasserted control

Hungarian UprisingHungarian Uprising

Controlled by Soviet Union, the Controlled by Soviet Union, the Hungarians revolted in 1956.Hungarians revolted in 1956.

Wanted democratic gov’t.Wanted democratic gov’t. Soviet troops & tanks killed Soviet troops & tanks killed

30,000 Hungarians.30,000 Hungarians. Over 200,000 people fled.Over 200,000 people fled. U.S. & the UN did not help.U.S. & the UN did not help.

U-2 PLANES U-2 PLANES SPY ON SPY ON

SOVIETSSOVIETS Late 1950s, CIA Late 1950s, CIA

began secret began secret high-altitude spy high-altitude spy missions over missions over Soviet territorySoviet territory

The U-2’s infra-The U-2’s infra-red cameras took red cameras took detailed pictures detailed pictures of Soviet troop of Soviet troop movements & movements & missile sitesmissile sites

U-2 SPY PLANE U-2 SPY PLANE SHOT DOWN OVER SHOT DOWN OVER

USSRUSSR On May 1, 1960, Gary On May 1, 1960, Gary

Power’s U-2 spy plane Power’s U-2 spy plane was shot down over was shot down over Soviet territorySoviet territory

Powers parachuted into Powers parachuted into Soviet territory, was Soviet territory, was captured and sentenced captured and sentenced to 10-years in prisonto 10-years in prison

Because of this incident, Because of this incident, the 1960s opened with the 1960s opened with tension between the tension between the two superpowers as two superpowers as great as evergreat as ever

Powers was released in 1962 in exchange for convicted Soviet spy

Rudolph Abel

U-2 IncidentU-2 Incident

Eisenhower denied that the plane Eisenhower denied that the plane was spying.was spying.

Soviets found evidence on the Soviets found evidence on the planeplane

Khrushchev wanted an apology & Khrushchev wanted an apology & for the missions to stop.for the missions to stop.

Eisenhower would stop the flights, Eisenhower would stop the flights, but refused to apologize.but refused to apologize.

Made Khrushchev angry.Made Khrushchev angry.

Suez WarSuez War

Egypt tried to play the Soviets Egypt tried to play the Soviets against the U.S. on building a against the U.S. on building a dam.dam.

Almost led to war.Almost led to war. UN stepped in to keep peace.UN stepped in to keep peace.

Eisenhower DoctrineEisenhower Doctrine

Warning that the U.S. would Warning that the U.S. would defend the Middle East if defend the Middle East if attacked by a Communist nation. attacked by a Communist nation.

Soviet Union was becoming Soviet Union was becoming powerful in the region.powerful in the region.

Nikita KhrushchevNikita Khrushchev

Space race began, Soviet Union Space race began, Soviet Union launched launched SputnikSputnik, the first , the first satellite.satellite.

U.S. scrambled to build one and U.S. scrambled to build one and launch.launch.

THE COLD WAR TAKES TO THE THE COLD WAR TAKES TO THE SKIESSKIES

The Space Race was The Space Race was initially dominated by initially dominated by the Sovietsthe Soviets

On October 4, 1957, On October 4, 1957, they launched they launched SputnikSputnik, , the world’s the world’s first artificial satellitefirst artificial satellite

Sputnik traveled Sputnik traveled around earth at around earth at 18,000 miles an hour, 18,000 miles an hour, circling the globe circling the globe every 96 minutesevery 96 minutes