1. 1950s: Boom Time

2. The War is Over. Now What?
Demobilization: The shift from a war-time economy back to a peace-time consumer economy
What’s the big fear?
For Men
For Women

3. G.I Bill of Rights (1944) Financial help to veterans 3 main components
Unemployment insurance for 1 year
Financial aid for college
Government loans for homes and business
How did the GI Bill “democratize” America?

4. Baby Boom (1946-64) Huge increase in population following the war
Usually a sign of stability and economic growth
What did it mean for women?

5. Growing Economy Inflation: Too much $, too few goods. Prices rise.
Worldwide Dominance:
Americans had plenty of money to spend.
Conspicuous consumption improves the standard of living.
Huge manufacturing output (50% of worldwide productivity)

7. Growing Economy (cont.)
Technological Advances:
War tech converts to consumer uses
Government Spending:
Government propped up economy during war, so now continue to “invest” in America
GI Bill; Marshall Plan ?

8. Harry S. Truman Won the war, but…
Labor (usually nice to Democrats) not happy
Republicans want power
Inflation
Taft-Hartley Act

9. Election of 1948 Democrats split into THREE factions
Race plays a large issue in Democratic split
Truman pulls off the biggest upset in American political history
Fair Deal

10. Eisenhower wins 1952 election
Little political experience
Great name recognition from WW II
A leader and calming influence
Take a more conservative middle ground approach
Didn’t expand gov’t, but did little to shrink it
Interstate Highway System

11. A Society on the Move
Post-War Changes

12. Growth of Suburbs Increased auto ownership Interstate highway system
Families vacation in state and national parks
Migration to the Sunbelt
Shifts in political representation (Think back to the first week of class)

13. Education More people attend college
People needed in more skilled/ technological jobs
Educated workers=boost in productivity
Rise in high school and college graduates
Gov’t funding especially after Sputnik
More money to public universities
California Master Plan
Brown v Board of Ed of Topeka

14. Brown v Board of Education of Topeka

15. Economy Service sector “Postindustrial” society Information industries
Women in workforce
Rise of a true middle class
Manufacturing & farming decline
Franchise businesses
Multi-national corporations
AFL-CIO join forces