1. The Eisenhower Presidency 1953-1961 Popular war hero Popular war hero Grandfatherly Grandfatherly Calming influence Calming influence

2. The Domestic 50’s The Stereotype The Stereotype An age of conformity An age of conformity Family values Family values Peace and economic prosperity Peace and economic prosperity Religion and morality Religion and morality

3. The Domestic 50’s A decade of exceptions when it came to the American family A decade of exceptions when it came to the American family Early marriage – ½ of women by 20; avg. age of men was 22 (never as early in U.S. history) Early marriage – ½ of women by 20; avg. age of men was 22 (never as early in U.S. history) Large families – most believed the ideal family should have 4-5 children (birthrates had declined since 1810) Large families – most believed the ideal family should have 4-5 children (birthrates had declined since 1810) Relatively low divorce rates – the rate of increase declined from 1947-1963 Relatively low divorce rates – the rate of increase declined from 1947-1963

4. The Domestic 50’s Women in the 1950’s were idealized as domestic Women in the 1950’s were idealized as domestic Television and the media popularized this image Television and the media popularized this image

5. The Domestic 50’s Increasing number of (by the end of the decade) Increasing number of (by the end of the decade) college educated women college educated women women postponing marriage women postponing marriage Nearly 40% of married women in the workforce Nearly 40% of married women in the workforce

6. The Domestic 50’s A women’s rebellion was brewing in the 50’s A women’s rebellion was brewing in the 50’s Subservient to husband Subservient to husband Devoid of individuality (Mrs. John Smith) Devoid of individuality (Mrs. John Smith) Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique (1963) Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique (1963)

7. The Domestic 50’s Other factors that defy the stereotype and show a different side to sexuality in America Other factors that defy the stereotype and show a different side to sexuality in America The Kinsey Report The Kinsey Report Playboy Magazine Playboy Magazine

8. The Domestic 50’s Growth of a rebellious youth culture Growth of a rebellious youth culture Generation Gap (Depression era parents and baby boom kids) Generation Gap (Depression era parents and baby boom kids) Growing up with “Duck and Cover” Growing up with “Duck and Cover” Rock and Roll Rock and Roll “Rebel Without a Cause” “Rebel Without a Cause” Juvenile delinquency Juvenile delinquency

9. The Domestic 50’s When you think of the social history of the U.S. in the 1950’s think of the influence of When you think of the social history of the U.S. in the 1950’s think of the influence of The Television The Television The Interstate Highway System The Interstate Highway System Suburbia Suburbia The Civil Rights movement The Civil Rights movement

10. Ike on the New Deal “Should any political party attempt to abolish Social Security and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history.” “Should any political party attempt to abolish Social Security and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history.”

11. Foreign Policy in the 50’s Reduction in Cold War tension Reduction in Cold War tension Policy of massive retaliation (John Foster Dulles – Sec. of State) Policy of massive retaliation (John Foster Dulles – Sec. of State) Increased CIA covert activities (Iran, Guatemala, Cuba) Increased CIA covert activities (Iran, Guatemala, Cuba) U-2 Spy Plane incident in 1960 U-2 Spy Plane incident in 1960

12. Vietnam Long history of outside domination (mostly by China) Long history of outside domination (mostly by China) French colonial possession since the 1860’s French colonial possession since the 1860’s In the 1930’s Ho Chi Minh formed a communist resistance group to French rule In the 1930’s Ho Chi Minh formed a communist resistance group to French rule

13. Vietnam The Japanese seized Vietnam during WWII The Japanese seized Vietnam during WWII During the war Ho Chi Minh resisted the Japanese (Viet Minh) During the war Ho Chi Minh resisted the Japanese (Viet Minh) On Sept. 2, 1945 he declared Vietnamese independence after the defeat of the Japanese (opens with a quote from our Dec. of Ind.) On Sept. 2, 1945 he declared Vietnamese independence after the defeat of the Japanese (opens with a quote from our Dec. of Ind.)

14. Vietnam The French, however, would regain colonial control of Vietnam (with U.S. support) The French, however, would regain colonial control of Vietnam (with U.S. support) Ho Chi Minh led a resistance against the French (1946-1954) Ho Chi Minh led a resistance against the French (1946-1954) By 1954 the U.S. was paying 80% of the cost of France’s war (fear of communist expansion) By 1954 the U.S. was paying 80% of the cost of France’s war (fear of communist expansion) Dien Bien Phu (May 7, 1954) Dien Bien Phu (May 7, 1954)

15. Vietnam The Geneva Conference on Indochina (1954) The Geneva Conference on Indochina (1954) Divided Vietnam at the 17 th Parallel Divided Vietnam at the 17 th Parallel Ho Chi Minh withdrew forces to the north Ho Chi Minh withdrew forces to the north Ngo Dinh Diem to lead the south (Vietnamese that fought against Ho Chi Minh) Ngo Dinh Diem to lead the south (Vietnamese that fought against Ho Chi Minh) Free elections scheduled for 1955 Free elections scheduled for 1955

16. Vietnam When it became apparent that Ho Chi Minh would win free elections that would unite Vietnam, the U.S. gave its support to Diem declaring South Vietnam an independent nation When it became apparent that Ho Chi Minh would win free elections that would unite Vietnam, the U.S. gave its support to Diem declaring South Vietnam an independent nation

17. Vietnam We propped up Diem’s government despite the fact that he was an unpopular leader, until his assassination in 1963 We propped up Diem’s government despite the fact that he was an unpopular leader, until his assassination in 1963