POST WAR AMERICA 1946 1964 The Soldiers Return

POST WAR AMERICA 1946 -1964

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

Levittown's- Suburbia ■ 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

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

■ 2 nd 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 Mc. Carthy -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

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

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

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

Beatniks ● 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”

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 20 th century

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)

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

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