1. Unit 13 SSUSH21 Unit 13 (SSUSH21)

2. Modern America Warm-Up 1.How would you describe “modern” America (America today and in the recent past)? 2.Come up with a list of 5 things that you think are particularly “American”.

3. Modern America Notes

4. America in the 1950s Baby Boom: After World War II, the birthrate soared. “Baby boomers” became the largest generation in U.S. History.

5. The Suburban Lifestyle Most Americans worked in cities, but new highways and affordability of cars led to growth of suburbs.

6. Interstate Highway Act Interstate Highway Act: – Passed by Eisenhower in 1956 – Part of defense strategy – Created nationwide highway network – New roads encourage the growth of new suburbs

7. Levittowns: – Mass produced houses that make suburban houses affordable – prime example of 1950s suburban lifestyle and conformity

8. Consumerism of 1950s Consumerism increases (what is consumerism?) Economic growth  people spend more New technologies change America – TELEVISION!

9. New Technology - Television Television becomes entertainment, information and advertising tool of the postwar years (9% of Americans had TVs in 1950, 55% by 1954, and 90% by 1960)

10. Kennedy – Nixon Debates Televised debate between presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960 Debate helped Kennedy win because he looked and spoke better than Nixon

11. TV Coverage of Civil Rights Movement Americans across the country watched footage of civil rights protestors in the South This encouraged many Americans to support the movement

12. New Technology – Air conditioning In the 1950s, air conditioning use expanded significantly and was a part of the new suburban lifestyle This allowed for growth of southern cities like Atlanta, Houston, and Miami

13. New Technology – Personal Computer “Simon Mechanical Brain” – appeared in 1950 – “electromechanical” personal computers were improved throughout the 1960s, before the personal computers appeared in the 1970s. – The technology that led to the personal computer was also developed in the 1950s.

14. How has this technology changed in the last 30 years?!? In the last 5 years?!?