1. POST WWII THROUGH THE 1960S American life begins to change

2. POST WWII THROUGH THE 1960S  As soldiers came home from the war in 1945, they want to return to civilian life by getting a job, buying a home, and starting a family  The gov’t prepares for this transition by passing the G.I. Bill

3. POST WWII THROUGH THE 1960S  America will see an economic boom after the war that will last throughout the 1950s  This is great news because our gov’t feared that after the war we would slip back into the great depression  The reasons for this boom include people cashing in their war bonds, a demand for civilian goods (Consumerism), and new jobs emerging in different parts of the country

4. POST WWII THROUGH THE 1960S  Americans will begin to move away from the Northeast and the Midwest (Rustbelt) for the South (Sunbelt) and the West Coast  People desire a better climate, and new jobs in technology were beginning to dominate our country  The people who remained once again moved out of the cities to the suburbs as the economy picked back up. (Suburbanization)

5. POST WWII THROUGH THE 1960S

6.  Life continues to improve for America as advancements in medicine, communication, and transportation emerge  Ex: Polio vaccine, birth control, and organ transplants  Ex: Television, Home Phones  Ex: Jet Airplanes  Homes become easier and cheaper to buy thanks to Levittowns. These were identical homes built in suburbs for returning veterans and their new families

7. POST WWII THROUGH THE 1960S  As the Civil Rights Movement emerges, the gov’t is focused on equality for all citizens  1968 Fair Housing Act: There can be no discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender, when it comes to selling homes  This allows people to live where they want and couldn’t previously due to segregation

8. POST WWII THROUGH THE 1960S  As life continues to improve across America, it is going to draw more immigrants to this country  1965 Immigration Act: Allowed immigration from Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, which previously had been heavily restricted

9. POST WWII THROUGH THE 1960S  This law was not perfect, as “sexual deviants” and homosexuals were still not allowed into this country  This law would begin to dramatically shift the makeup of America, as immigrants from Latin America began to pour into the U.S.  The gov’t would embrace this change by funding bi-lingual educational programs

10. POST WWII THROUGH THE 1960S  As the suburbs continue to grow, you will see a political transformation across the country  The suburbs = White and Republican  The cities = African American and Democrat  This also leads to a shift in how the sunbelt, rustbelt, west coast would start voting

11. POST WWII THROUGH THE 1960S  As the country begins to migrate, you will see problems emerge  Low employment opportunities for African Americans and the role of the gov’t in social welfare programs would spark riots  One on side: Gov’t should help those struggling with poverty and unemployment  The other side: People are responsible for their own well being

12. POST WWII THROUGH THE 1960S  As Americans focus on domestic issues to wrap up the 1960s, a foreign war is raging out of control in Asia  As America enters the 1970s, we will turn our attention away from civil rights, and towards the Vietnam War