The Eisenhower Era Post WWII saw an increase in home construction Post WWII saw an increase in home construction These new homes were built in groups known as tract homes. One of the first developers was a man named Bill Levitt These new homes were built in groups known as tract homes. One of the first developers was a man named Bill Levitt Affordable housing for returning GI’s Affordable housing for returning GI’s

Technology Transistor Transistor Computers start of IBM Computers start of IBM First computers take up rooms, many wires First computers take up rooms, many wires

Aerospace Industries Civilian and military aircraft Civilian and military aircraft Seattle based – Boeing Seattle based – Boeing Eisenhower first president to have an airplane, named it Air force one Eisenhower first president to have an airplane, named it Air force one

Cult of Domesticity 1950s T.V. shows depict women as mothers living in suburbs raising two children 1950s T.V. shows depict women as mothers living in suburbs raising two children Shows such as Ozzie & Harriet and Leave it to Beaver Shows such as Ozzie & Harriet and Leave it to Beaver

1950s Women Working Women’s Jobs – 30 million new jobs, known as “pink collar ghetto” Women’s Jobs – 30 million new jobs, known as “pink collar ghetto”

Feminists Movement Betty Friedan wrote “The Feminine Mystique” in the late fifties Betty Friedan wrote “The Feminine Mystique” in the late fifties Beginning of the Feminist Movement Beginning of the Feminist Movement What is women’s role? What is women’s role?

Consumers of the Fifties Expansion of the Middle Class Expansion of the Middle Class 1949 Diners Club credit card 1949 Diners Club credit card 1955 Disneyland opens 1955 Disneyland opens McDonalds – 1948 San Bernardino, Ca. McDonalds – 1948 San Bernardino, Ca.

Television By 1960 almost all households had a T.V. By 1960 almost all households had a T.V. Advertisers big on Television Advertisers big on Television Televangelist Billy Graham, Oral Roberts and Fulton J. Sheen Televangelist Billy Graham, Oral Roberts and Fulton J. Sheen Sport teams moved west, Dodgers and N.Y. Giants Sport teams moved west, Dodgers and N.Y. Giants

Music Elvis Presley born Mississippi 1935 died of drug abuse 1977, he was 42 Elvis Presley born Mississippi 1935 died of drug abuse 1977, he was 42 Baby Boomers and rock n roll Baby Boomers and rock n roll

Icons of the 50s Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe First publication of Playboy First publication of Playboy Hugh Heffner afraid, did not even put his name of the first issue Hugh Heffner afraid, did not even put his name of the first issue

Consumerism Harvard socialist wrote about this generation as being conformists Harvard socialist wrote about this generation as being conformists David Riesman The Lonely Crowd 1950 David Riesman The Lonely Crowd 1950 William H. Whyte Jr. The Organization Man William H. Whyte Jr. The Organization Man Sloan Wilson The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit 1955 Sloan Wilson The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit 1955 Books all about conforming Books all about conforming

Continued John Kenneth Galbraith – economists wrote abut relationship between private wealth and public good in The Affluent Society 1958 John Kenneth Galbraith – economists wrote abut relationship between private wealth and public good in The Affluent Society 1958

Eisenhower Most popular man of his time Most popular man of his time 1952 election issues 1952 election issues Korean War Korean War Problems w/MacArthur Problems w/MacArthur

Election Adlai E. Stevenson – democrat Adlai E. Stevenson – democrat Richard Nixon Eisenhower’s VP Richard Nixon Eisenhower’s VP

Richard Nixon & Controversy Nixon accused of misuse of government funds Nixon accused of misuse of government funds Responds on T.V. speech “Checkers” Responds on T.V. speech “Checkers” Saved his career and he became VP Saved his career and he became VP

End of Campaign Eisenhower promised to go to Korea to end the War, he was not successful Eisenhower promised to go to Korea to end the War, he was not successful 7 months after armistice signed 7 months after armistice signed Ike hinted during negotiations about a possible nuclear attack on China Ike hinted during negotiations about a possible nuclear attack on China China tired of war and expense China tired of war and expense

End of Korean War Lasted 3 years Lasted 3 years Start and stopped at the 38 th parallel Start and stopped at the 38 th parallel 54,000 U.S. lives lost 54,000 U.S. lives lost One million Chinese, North Koreans and South Koreans died One million Chinese, North Koreans and South Koreans died Communism had been contained to the North Communism had been contained to the North

Post Korean War Joseph McCarthy was a republican senator who was a crusader against communism. He accused Secretary of State Dean Acheson of knowingly hiring 205 communists McCarthy gets no where Only the military fought back in televised hearings Spring of 1954

Communism Threat T.V. not good to McCarthy, pretty much cut his own throat T.V. not good to McCarthy, pretty much cut his own throat Senate formally condemned him for “conduct unbecoming” of a member Senate formally condemned him for “conduct unbecoming” of a member 3 years later McCarthy died of alcoholism 3 years later McCarthy died of alcoholism

Racism Desegregating American Society Desegregating American Society 1950, 50 million black citizens of which two- thirds still lived in the South 1950, 50 million black citizens of which two- thirds still lived in the South Jim Crow Laws strong Jim Crow Laws strong Separate facilities such as bathrooms and schools Separate facilities such as bathrooms and schools Only twenty percent of eligible blacks were registered voters. Fewer than 5% voted in Mississippi and Alabama Only twenty percent of eligible blacks were registered voters. Fewer than 5% voted in Mississippi and Alabama

Racism continued 1954 Emmett Till of Chicago was murdered by white mob 1954 Emmett Till of Chicago was murdered by white mob Changes, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American baseball player, Brooklyn Dodgers Changes, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American baseball player, Brooklyn Dodgers Rise of Civil rights, Wendell Willkie wrote “One World” in 1943 and Gunnar Myrdal wrote “An American Dilemma” which highlighted the contradiction in the U.S prejudice v equality Rise of Civil rights, Wendell Willkie wrote “One World” in 1943 and Gunnar Myrdal wrote “An American Dilemma” which highlighted the contradiction in the U.S prejudice v equality

Civil Rights WWII left the lasting feeling of wanting to be free WWII left the lasting feeling of wanting to be free Black community not willing to suffer in silence. Ready for the Civil Rights Movement Black community not willing to suffer in silence. Ready for the Civil Rights Movement Legal Rights – NAACP trying to get rid of rulings like Plessy v Ferguson Legal Rights – NAACP trying to get rid of rulings like Plessy v Ferguson

Civil Rights Sweatt v Painter found that separate professional schools for blacks failed to meet the test of equality Sweatt v Painter found that separate professional schools for blacks failed to meet the test of equality Dec Rosa Parks caused the Montgomery Bus Boycott Dec Rosa Parks caused the Montgomery Bus Boycott 27 year old Martin Luther King, Jr. becomes a civil rights leader in Montgomery 27 year old Martin Luther King, Jr. becomes a civil rights leader in Montgomery Bus strike would last over a year, result buses ordered to desegregate Bus strike would last over a year, result buses ordered to desegregate