The Cold War A Time of Prosperity and Fear

Just after the war In 1946, 10 million men and women released from military and rejoined civilian life Congress passed GI Bill of Rights in 1944 – Unemployment benefits – Loans used to buy homes and businesses – Paid for college education War had led to many changes

Change in Family Life Women had joined work force during war – 8 million women – 75 percent married – Learned to like their independence and did not want to give it up when husbands returned By 1950, more than 1 million war marriages ended in divorce

Change in Lifestyle Rise of suburbs (communities outside of major cities) – To solve housing crisis (so many men returning) – Many used loans from GI bill to move

Economy Unemployment increased Food prices rose when rationing ended Salaries went down from during the war

Economic Recovery In spite of troubles, the hardships of the war made for pent-up demand Billions of dollars in savings from defense work Economy boomed Cold War contributed to economic growth because of government spending on military, space, and rebuilding Europe

The American Dream: A Good Job Business expanding More people worked in white collar jobs – Clerical – Managerial – Professional – In sales, advertising, insurance, communications Conglomerates became common (larger companies buying smaller ones) Also franchises (1 business in many locations)

The American Dream: Home in the Suburbs Own a home in the suburbs Suburban lifestyle – Single family home – Good schools – Safe, healthy environment for children – Neighbors like themselves

The American Dream The Baby Boom Unprecedented growth in families after war – called Baby Boom In 1957, a baby born every 7 seconds – 0ver 4 million that year Largest generation in history

The American Dream Changes in Technology Improved medicine – Jonas Salk and polio vaccine Interstate Highways Television

The American Dream Buying Things Cars Toys Household goods Easy credit Advertising Shopping centers

So was it all good? Was also fear – Communists and Cold War Another “red scare” Making it worse was the fear of atomic war – a very real fear

More conflicts Spy cases… – Alger Hiss Richard Nixon – future president – prosecuteda nd made name for himself – Ethel and Julia Rosenberg Evidence weak? Some said so Convicted Executed – first U.S. civilians to be executed for espionage

McCarthyism Joseph McCarthy – started a “witch hunt” for “communists” in the country Many arrested, lost jobs, blacklisted Downfall – when actually accused U.S. Army, lost popularity

Other conflicts Bay of Pigs – 1960 – President Kennedy gave a go-ahead for invasion of Cuba – miserable failure Cuban Missile Crisis – Summer 1962 – Russia putting missiles in Cuba – Kennedy faced him down with blockade – Russia pulled back – but for awhile potential for nuclear war