Nifty Fifties Best Years for white male Americans

Nifty Fifties- “Best Years”… (for white, male Americans)

Economic growth in 50 s Why? ? ? 1 Federal spending �Roads, houses, schools �GI Bill (next slide) �Cold War spending 2 Baby boom (3, 548, 000 “consumers” born in 1950 alone) 3 Increased productivity w/ new technology �Computers, nuclear power plants

G. I. Bill billions of Fed. $ to WW 2 veterans Pays for College tuition Cheap loans for homes, businesses, farms

Levittown and the Growth of Suburbs “Mass production” of homes GI Bill- cheap loans (Millions enter “middle class”)

The Baby Boom Generation is born: “Greatest Generation” grows up in Great Depression (30 s), comes of age in WW 2 (40 s) 1950 s? - lots and lots of BABIES! (boom (3, 548, 000 “consumers” born in 1950) alone)

1950 s- Baby Boom

Television 1946 - 17, 000 tv’s exist 1950 - 7, 000 sold What are some effects of television on American life (political, economic, social)?

1950 s “Automania” 1956 - Interstate Highway Act $250, 000, 000 for highways 41, 000 miles of highway

Civilians could move out of URBAN AREAS �Suburbs can be further and further away �“White flight”- Poorer people remain in urban areas MILITARY could quickly move in event of war �One of the reasons Eisenhower signs it Easier to TRANSPORT goods around country �“trucking” leads to a decline in railroad use Stimulates other areas of the economy �Hotels, fast food, tourism (Disneyland opens)

The Cold War at Home: MCCARTHYISM

Effect at home: “Red Scare” the

Communists at the State Department: - State Department official Alger Hiss was imprisoned for perjury in 1950. - Hiss had lied under oath, denying that he was a part of a Soviet spy ring that sent U. S. government secrets to the Soviet Union.

Example of American fears of Communism: - Americans, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, were accused of stealing nuclear secrets for the Soviets. - The Rosenbergs were executed for their crimes in 1953.

Mc. Carthy’s reckless claims: · In 1950, Senator Joseph Mc. Carthy announced that he had a list of 205 State Department employees that were members of the Communist party. “Mc. Carthyism” definition Since 1950 s- unfair tactic of accusing people of disloyalty without providing evidence Audio: Senator Joseph Mc. Carthy Responds to E. R. Murrow on CBS's See It Now

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Investigates communist influence inside and outside the government 1947 - investigates the movie industry “The Hollywood Ten”- did not cooperate Sent to prison Blacklist- list of people considered to have communist backgrounds Careers were ruined

Television 1946 - 17, 000 tv’s exist 1950 - 7, 000 sold What are some effects of television on American life (political, economic, social)?