1. Post War America

2. The Soldiers Return
GI Bill- still active program to assist returning veterans by giving low interest loans, paying for college or vocational education
Result- more employed, educated and larger middle class
Baby Boom: 1946 to early 60’s
Population surges with high birth rates from parents who fought in WWII
The Largest and now aging generation in the US

3. 4 Modern style uniformed suburbs marketed specifically for veterans with large families
The birth of the modern planned suburb
Eisenhower creates the Interstate System in the 1950’s increasing the spread of suburbia
Levittown's- Suburbia

4. 1948 Election
Harry S. Truman (Dem) Thomas Dewey (Rep) Strom Thurmond (Dixiecrat)
Thurmond runs due to Truman's support for Civil Rights
The split in the Democratic party leads the assumption Dewy will win
Truman actually wins

5. 2nd Red Scare 1949- China turns Communist & Soviets detonate an A-Bomb
Soviet A-Bomb + Red China = Red Scare
Fear the US itself could fall to Communism
Alger Hiss & the Rosenberg's show that communist spies are in the country
HUAC: House Un American Activities Commission
Formed to seek out Subversives.
Not only went after government officials and workers  but also Hollywood
Blacklisted- being labeled a likely communist would prevent studios from hiring you. “The Hollywood Ten”
Sen. Joseph McCarthy -Made claims that he had inside knowledge and proof but never produced proof
Successful at first but…..
Went to far when accusing Army Officers and questioning them on television.
Jonas Salk creates a Polio Vaccine, the inoculation program criticized as to Socialist

6. Arms Race
Brinksmanship: Pushing to the verge of nuclear war, but knowing both sides will be destroyed so each will back down
Brings fear of nuclear Annihilation
Duck & Cover Drills at school
Bomb Shelter industry Grows
1962 Cuban Missile Crisis- Soviet Union places missiles in Cuba. US quarantines island
If Soviets ships crossed line, US ships to fire.
If so WWIII starts

7. Mass Culture Teen Culture Socks & Greasers Drive In’s Rock’n’ Roll
Elvis Presley
Buddy Holy
Four Tops
Television
New main form of mass media
One in every home

8. Civil Rights kicks off
1954- Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery Alabama Bus

9. Beatniks Earliest form of hippy communal lifestyle in America
The beat movement
Earliest form of hippy communal lifestyle in America
Lived without material goods (including furniture & new clothing)
Grew long beards and grew their hair out and women wore NO make-up
Created the terms “bread” and “pad”

10. Election of 1960 JFK (Democrat) vs. Richard Nixon (Republican)
TV’s Role:
Televised debates show Kennedy as calmer and more youthful making people “like” him better
Outcome: JFK Wins
JFK is the first President born in the 20th century

11. John F. Kennedy: JFK New Frontier- JFK’s domestic program
Goal: To end poverty and jump start space program
Peace Corps: A volunteer program of volunteer assistance to the developing nations of Latin America, Asia, and Africa
Mandates the US reach the moon by the end of the decade
(Apollo 11 lands July 1969)
Limited test ban treaty: banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere
(a response to the Cuban Missile Crisis)

12. Dallas November 1963
JFK is assassinated in November 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald
Oswald is later shot in police custody by Jack Ruby
Vice President Johnson is sworn in as president
Warren Commission: Investigated and concluded that Oswald acted alone

13. Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ)
The Great Society: Domestic Program of Lyndon Johnson
“War on Poverty”
Goal: To end poverty and end racial discrimination
Programs Created:
Job Corps, Head Starts, Medicaid, Medicare, Food Stamps, Welfare
1964 Election: Johnson Defeats Barry Goldwater 486 electoral votes to 52
Forms the Department of Housing & Urban Development to aid inner cities