1. Chapter Notes

5. Returning Home from War
GI Bill of Rights (1944): offer loan interest loans in addition to education assistance, many people purchase homes with this $$$
housing shortage, lots returning home want to buy houses
William Levitt and Henry Kaiser work to mass-produce homes (standardized)
Result is the “suburbs”
Creates a new lifestyle
Move away from cities, status symbol

6. 11/14/2018

7. 11/14/2018

8. 11/14/2018

9. Truman’s Presidency
“The Buck Stops Here”, the Fair Deal (extension of New Deal)
Two major issues to deal with: restoring US economy after war, and rising threat of communism
Affluent Society (most Americans prosper) but…..
End of price controls leads to rising inflation
Strikes (no longer at war unions demand more rights)
Truman supports Civil Rights, order integration of military
Truman’s Fights with Congress, over turn many New Deal programs and ignore his domestic plans.

10. Election of 1948
Republicans win control of House in 1946 ready for 1948
Democrats wanted Eisenhower but go with Truman
Dixiecrats nominate Strom Thurmond
Progress Party: Henry Wallace
Republicans: Thomas Dewey
Truman wins by narrow margin

12. Election of 1952
Democrats nominate Adlai Stevenson
Republicans nominate: Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower (VP Richard Nixon)
Checkers Speech
Power of TV
Ike wins and Republicans Win control of Congress

13. Ike Is…. Ike is: Least experienced Pres of 20th C
Pursued modest domestic policy, intensifies commitment to containment
1st Republican in 20 years
Most of administration from business community
Cabinet is mostly corporate lawyers and business men
Believes in limiting federal activities and encouraging private business
Opposes new social programs
Works to reduce deficit and balance budget
His last year in office (1960) government has $1 billion surplus

14. Good Times Are Here 1950 Economy Booms!
By 1960 income doubles, almost doubles again by 1970.
Middle Class expands
Changes for Women (economically and socially)

15. Interstate Highway Act
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, popularly known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act (Public Law ), was enacted on June 29, 1956, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law.

16. Babies….lots of Babies Post war baby boom Peaks in 1957 Effects:
Changes in trends
Youth Acts like Youth
Role of women
Dr. Benjamin Spock
“The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care”
Jonas Salk invents the polio vaccine

17. Sub-Culture of 1950’s Beat Movement Alan Ginsberg, poem Howl
Beatniks
Against Conformity of 1950s
Made up of authors, artists, poets, musicians, etc.
Alan Ginsberg, poem Howl
Jack Kerouac, On the Road
Describes nomadic search across America for authenticity
American disagrees with Beats view of world

18. The Other America White Flight Inner Cities and the Urban Poor
National Housing Act tries to solve problem