Life in the 1950s

World War II had ended and the task of rebuilding Europe was begun –the Marshall Plan

• Israel gained its independence, finally, from Britain, changing its name from Palestine to Israel, but many people felt displaced. War broke out the next day when its Arab neighbors attacked. Israel survived but the boundaries were changed.

Harry S. Truman1945-1953

• DEMOCRAT• 33rd President• Born: May 8, 1884 • Birthplace: Missouri• Died: December 26, 1972• Ran against Dewey in 1948

Truman’s Political Career• Took over as President of the United States

when Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945

• During his presidency:– Ordered the Atomic bombs to be dropped on

Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Truman’s 21 Points (The Fair Deal)– Truman Doctrine– NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)– Korean War 1950-1953

The Korean War

• Korea divided into North and South at the 38th parallel

• UN forces were able to push back the North Korean forces to the Yalu River

• The Chinese government led by Mao Tse-Tung warned them to go no further

Dwight D. Eisenhower1953-1961

• 34th President• REPUBLICAN• Born: October 14, 1890• Birthplace: Texas• Died: March 28, 1969• Ran for President promising

to end the Korean War

War veterans came home and Congress passed the GI Bill.This gave returning Vets low cost home loans and money to go to college

• The American Dream of a home and a car was made possible by increased use of assembly lines to manufacture buildings and products.

• People moved from the cities into residential areas outside the cities – the suburbs mostly in the Sunbelt

• The Highway Act of 1956 established the Interstate Highway System, eventually making it possible to drive from coast to coast in a matter of days instead of weeks.

• Televisions gained in popularity although most people still got their information from newspapers, radio, and newsreels.

• Music was Rock and Roll with such greats as “The King” (Elvis Presley), Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Fats Domino.

• Protesters of all this decadence were called beatniks and people snapped their fingers to clap!

• And best of all vaccines became popular, ending or limiting the devastating effects of many diseases such as polio and smallpox.