The 1950’s

The Cold War and the American Dream

(1945-1960)

Chapter 28, Section 3

Essential Questions:

• Is money the root of all evil?

LaVern Baker• 1950’s Rock n’ Roll Artist:

– “Tweedlee Dee”– “Jim Dandy”– “See See Rider”

• White Artists Copied Her Songs in the 1950’s

• Radio Stations (Controlled by Whites) Played the White Artists Songs ($$$)

• What Does This STILL Tell You About Society in the 1950’s?

1950’s Boom? Really?• The 1950’s is Known

as a time of Great Prosperity

• However, 1 out of 5 Americans Lived in Poverty (20%)

• Most Poor Americans Lived in the Cities

• Many Poor Americans were Minorities

The Suburbs• As Many American Businesses

Prospered, Many Americans Moved to the Suburbs

• Towns Outside of Cities Prospered

• Fewer Middle and Upper Class Americans Lived in the Cities:– Less Taxes Collected– Schools Got Less $$$– Less $$$ to Pay for City

Needs (Fire/Police/Garbage)

– Cities Across America Began Urban Decay

• Scarsdale vs. Valhalla

Mexican Immigration During WWII

• During WWII, the U.S. Government Encouraged Mexican Immigration!

• During WWII, Shortage of Farm Workers (The Draft)

• U.S. Created the Bracero Program

• Over 120,000 Mexicans Were Part of the Bracero Program

Struggling Minorities• During the 1950’s, Most

African Americans, Latinos & Mexicans Did Not Experience a “Boom”

• During the Bracero Program (WWII) Mexicans were Paid Poorly & Had Hard Living/Working Conditions

• When the Bracero Program Ended, Many Mexicans Stayed Illegally

• Why Don’t Illegal Immigrants Protest Low Pay, Poor Working & Living Conditions?

Accomplishments of “Ike”

• President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Major Accomplishments:– Kept Most New Deal

Programs– Expanded Social

Security– Increased Minimum

Wage for Workers– Created the

Department of:•Health•Education•Welfare

The Highway Act of 1956• In 1956, Congress

Passed the Highway Act

• The U.S. Spent $32 Billion Dollars to Build Over 41,000 Miles of Highway

• Created Jobs

• Why are Highways Essential for ANY Economy?

The Baby “Boom”• After WWII, Many

Americans Began Having Families

• Due to the 1950’s Economic Boom, Many Americans Had More Than 2 Children

• The U.S. Grew by Over 30 Million

• The “Baby Boomer” Generation Had a Huge Impact on the Economy

Impact of the Baby Boom:

• Americans Wanted Houses in the Suburbs for their Kids to Grow Up In

• Businesses Spread to the Suburbs to Sell to the Growing Population

• Needed a Car in the Suburbs to Get Around:– Car Sales Increased

• The Economy GREW!

The Baby Boomers

The Sunbelt States• During the 1950’s, Many

Americans Moved to the South and Southwestern Part of the U.S.

• The “Sunbelt” States

• California Became the Most Populated State in U.S.

• The U.S. Economy Continued to Grow

The “American Dream”• During the 1950’s, the

“American Dream” Was Defined As:– Life in the Suburbs– Your Own House– Good Schools– Shopping Malls– Safe Place to Raise

Your Kids

• Has the “American Dream” Changed Today?

Women of the 1950’s• Women During the

1950’s were Promoted as the “Keepers of the Suburban Dream”

• Job Opportunities for Women Were Limited:– Nurses– Teachers– Secretaries

1950’s Economic Boom• During the 1950’s,

American Businesses Were Making All Sorts of Goods Needed for the Home

• Baby Boom Generation Spurred the Growth

• Advertising on Television Became Huge

Television• During the 1950’s,

Television was Invented

• By 1960, 9 out of 10 Homes Had a TV

• The Movie Industry Started Losing $$$

• Why is the Movie Industry Losing $$$ Today?

Who Am I?

Rock n’ Roll

• The Founders of Rock n’ Roll:– Bill Haley and the

Comets– Chuck Berry– Little Richard– Fats Domino– Jerry Lee Lewis

• Elvis Presley, “The King” of Rock n’ Roll

• Who is “The King” of Pop?

1960 Presidential Election• John F. Kennedy

(Democratic) vs. Richard Nixon (Republican)

• 1960 Election is One of the Closest in U.S. History

• JFK Won the Election

• JFK Became the Youngest President Ever to Serve (43 Years Old)

1960 Televised Debate

• 1st Presidential Debate Ever Televised

• How Did Television Actually Help JFK to Win the Debate and the Election?

Essential Questions:

• Is money the root of all evil?