The 1950s - “Anxiety, Alienation, and Social Unrest” “Conservatism, Complacency, and Contentment” OR Topic 24

The Baby Boom It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant. --British visitor to America,  1 baby born every 7 seconds

More students = more schools

Where will the boomers live? What industries will also boom? SUBURBIA Sameness? Conformity?

Credit Cards…….Manufacturing…….Debt

The Car Culture Car registrations: 1945  25,000,  60,000,000 Car registrations: 1945  25,000,  60,000,000 2-family cars doubles from family cars doubles from Interstate Highway Act  largest public works project in American history largest public works project in American history $32 billion. 41,000 miles of new highways built.

Cars, Cars, and Cars Suburbia Shopping Centers Drive In theaters, Diners, Motels Amusement Parks – Disney Land Opened 1955

Television 1946  7,000 TV sets in the U. S  50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S  7,000 TV sets in the U. S  50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S. Values and Lessons

Teen Culture 1951  A Catcher in the Rye 1951  A Catcher in the Rye The Beats – Jack Kerouac “On the Road” The Beats – Jack Kerouac “On the Road” A Counter Culture resisted conformity A Counter Culture resisted conformity 1955 The Wild One 1953

Scientific Advances and more First IBM Mainframe Computer First IBM Mainframe Computer DNA Structure Discovered DNA Structure Discovered Salk Vaccine Tested for Polio Salk Vaccine Tested for Polio First Commercial U. S. Nuclear Power Plant First Commercial U. S. Nuclear Power Plant NASA Created NASA Created Press Conference of the First 7 American Astronauts Press Conference of the First 7 American Astronauts

More 50’s images

From Eisenhower to JFK In 1961, Eisenhower warned of the military-industrial complex John F. Kennedy beat Richard Nixon in the 1960 elections, winning by only 120,000 votes Kennedy - The Higher Education Act of 1963, Area Redeveloping Act, Manpower Retraining Act, and Peace Corps The New Frontier – Kennedy had plans to stimulate the economy and challenge poverty – Supported Medicare, federal aid to education and urban renewal – Wages were raised from $1 to $1.25 per hour –

Cold War under JFK Increased involvement in Vietnam JFK’s views shifted from aggressive containment to making peace between U.S and USSR – Built up American nuclear and conventional weapons system, defensive spending increased dramatically – Covert use of the CIA, sent more advisors, okayed the assassination of Pres. Diem. Due to massive poverty in Latin America, Kennedy established the Alliance for Progress Pledged to land on the Moon.

New Years Day Castro seizes power He turns to Soviet Union after U.S cuts off economic aid – Castro joins the Cuban Communist Party – Sold sugar to Soviets and nationalized American- owned oil companies Eisenhower boycotts Cuba Kennedy takes over Eisenhower’s plan for Cuba, - secretly arming and training wealthy Cuban exiles 1,400 counter- revolutionaries at the Bay of Pigs Castro knew about the invasion and crushed it. Bay of Pigs – April 17, 1961

The Cuban Missile Crisis - Oct , 1962 After the Bay of Pigs, Castro became concerned about future U.S invasions Asked Soviets for military aid, Khrushchev sent a large amount of weaponry (including nuclear missiles) Kennedy demands removal of missiles and orders a naval blockade of military equipment shipped to Cuba Khrushchev removes missiles in exchange for the acknowledge of Cuban sovereignty and a promise to not invade the island

John F. Kennedy Is Assassinated November 22, 1963