1. I. Technological Changes in the U.S., 1945-2000
Objective 11.05: Examine the impact of technological innovations that have impacted American life.

2. A. Competition with the Soviet Union
The U.S. wanted to be better than the USSR in everything, so that meant coming up with new technology before they did.
Idea: The greater country has the best technology.
Space Race – better space technology
Each country spent large amounts of money in research, and new inventions were made for the every day people.

3. B. Entertainment Televisions became very popular after WWII (1945)
1953: 2/3 of all U.S. households had a TV
Major impact on society: People actually watched what was happening in the world and became more involved in politics – greater social awareness
What are some examples of events that people saw on TV? How do you think it made them feel?
Radios – became much smaller and portable and were mostly used for listening to music.
These new radios were really influential in a reform movement. Which one do you think? Hint: it’s the group that listened to a lot of music.

4. C. Business
Computers were invented to be used during WWII, but they became really useful for business.
You can calculate numbers in seconds instead of hours.
Silicon Valley: where the new technology was being built, still the main producer of computers today.
Commercial plane travel – began in the late 1950s.
People can travel across the country in much faster to see business partners or family.

5. D. Technological Changes in the 1980s and 1990s
Video link: story-of-the-us-millenium-12-12_people
Watch from 24:30 – 31:35
Questions:
Where does the idea of the internet come from?
How did the technology boom of the 1980s and 1990s impact the United States?

6. Independent Practice
Imagine you are salesman for some of these new technologies. Pick one of the new products and create an “elevator speech”.
Your “elevator speech” can only be 1 minute long if you were to say it aloud, so you only have 6 sentences to try and convince me to buy your new technology.

7. Exit Ticket
1) Which of the following is true concerning radio after WWII? a. It ceased to play any role after the invention of the television. b. It played a key role in the new youth movement emerging in the 50s. c. It changed considerably once microwave technology was applied. d. The invention of ICBMs made radio more powerful than ever before.

8. Exit Ticket
2) In what ways did television great impact American culture in the 1960s and 1970s? a. Its popularity made radios obsolete. b. It led to increased public unity as it molded the vast majority of citizens into one, common culture. c. It led to a lack of interest in social issues and concerns because more and more people stayed home to watch television rather than become involved in causes relevant to the time period. d. It created greater social awareness – and many times divisions – as people were able to witness things like civil rights protests, the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal firsthand from their own living rooms.

9. Exit Ticket
3) What has been responsible for the most significant change in business and communication in the late 20th century?
a. Computers
b. Radios
c. Telegraphs
d. Telephones

10. Exit Ticket
4) How were businesses and the American economy changed by new technology? Name two ways.