50s Econ & Legislation
Describe the economy during the post WWII era (1945-1960)
An export economy; high demand from international markets and domestic advertising; strong and growing
Define McCarthyism
a witch hunt atmosphere aimed at finding Communist subversives; Americans would be accused with little evidence and their lives ruined
After school most preppies went home and...
watched American Bandstand
nonviolent resistance
What is the name of the group of African American students who first integrated an infamous Arkansas high school?
Little Rock Nine
Define or describe America's Affluent Society
Americans invested in public projects and infrastructure; taxes were high, but federal money paid for education, national defense, healthcare innovation, interstate highway system etc
What caused (made possible) mass migration to the suburbs?
highway system, affordable homes, strong middle class wages
Why did teenagers love Rock N Roll music so much?
it was rebellious because it was African American music; it had a fun beat; you could dance to it
What did the NAACP do?
take on court cases that tested the 14th amendment and Brown vs Board of Ed
What political argument was made to support the continuation of school segregation in the south?
Federalism; public education is a state's right, the federal govt isn't supposed to have jurisdiction
What was the name of the opportunity offered to Veterans for college tuition stipends and low-interest mortgages?
GI Bill
Why did American society shift toward conservatism in the 50s?
Liberal rhetoric or sympathies would land you on a Communist watch list
What made Elvis so popular among teens but scandalous to adults?
the way he danced
the Civil rights movement had three avenues of action--what were they?
Describe the goal of the Freedom Rides
to test desegregation in interstate transportation: busses, depots, and terminals
America's middle class enjoyed high wages; name either a cause or an effect of that trend
C: union membership; corporations sharing profits with workers; high consumer demand
E: more consumerism
Provide three examples of conformity in suburban life
women stayed home with the kids, men were the breadwinner, everyone wore the same fashions, no one got divorced, no one spoke critically of America, African Americans were excluded
Explain how Greasers were a symptom of classism
They were often lower-middle class kids; not rich enough to enjoy consumer culture; they had a chip on their shoulder
What made the Montgomery Bus Boycott successful?
the bus companies lost revenue for over a year; it was money
Emmett Till's death demonstrates greater, widespread trends in the south beginning in 1865. What are they?
Jim Crowism, vigilante violence against black men, lack of justice for crimes against African Americans
to be able to evacuate urban areas quickly; to land military aircraft anywhere
Who were the Hollywood Ten?
10 Movie screenwriters, actors, and producers accused of Communist sympathies who were interrogated by HUAC
What cultural sentiment defined the beatniks?
anti-consumerism; anti-conformity
Why was a subsequent supreme court decision, Brown II, necessary?
"all deliberate speed"
What contextual factors explain why Emmett Till whistled at the white woman?
He was from the north and didn't understand how dangerous that behavior was in the south