Postwar America
After WWII, what was the primary concern for the U.S. economy?
Rebuilding and maintaining economic stability
Who was the President of the United States at the start of the postwar era?
Harry S. Truman
What were some causes of juvenile delinquency that people pointed to during the 1950s?
What genre of music became popular with the youth during the 1950s?
Rock 'n Roll
Which parts of Truman's Fair Deal did Congress refuse to pass?
National health insurance, aid for farmers and schools, civil rights legislation
What is one major social issue that arose in postwar America?
Segregation, Civil Rights Movement
Who was expected to win the 1948 presidential election?
Thomas Dewey
What is one reason for American suburban growth?
Escape from crime, affordability, GI Bill and tax deductions on mortgages
Who were some of the key figures in the Beat Movement?
Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac
How did the U.S. economy transition from wartime to peacetime?
The U.S. economy transitioned by shifting from military production to consumer goods
What is one medical breakthrough that occurred in postwar America?
Radiation treatments, chemotherapy, CPR, artificial heart valves, pacemakers, TB antibiotics, polio vaccine
What was Eisenhower's "dynamic conservatism"?
Eisenhower's dynamic conservatism emphasized balancing the budget while supporting social programs, contrasting with more liberal policies.
What major shift occurred in the postwar American workplace?
Blue collar to white collar
How did Hollywood adapt to the rise of television?
Hollywood adapted by producing films that could compete with television, including blockbusters and big-screen spectacles.
What factors contributed to the economic prosperity of the 1950s?
Increased consumer spending, technological advancements, the GI Bill
What factors contributed to the baby boom in the U.S.?
Postwar marriages, GI benefits, popular culture
What was the outcome of the 1948 presidential election?
Truman won the 1948 presidential election
What kind of TV programs became popular in the 1950s?
What was the significance of Hollywood's adaptation to the popularity to TV?
Hollywood began to spread American culture across the world
What did the Taft-Hartley Act do?
Outlawed the closed shop, allowed right-to-work laws, outlawed union shops, prohibited featherbedding, banned use of union money for political campaigns
What was the "affluent society," and who coined the term?
The term "affluent society" was coined by John Kenneth Galbraith, referring to the postwar economic boom and consumer culture.
What were the key components of the Fair Deal?
The Fair Deal aimed to extend social security, raise the minimum wage, and provide housing assistance, among other initiatives.
What challenges did African Americans face during the postwar period?
Discrimination, segregation, poverty
Who is one influential African American entertainer of the era?
Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Ray Charles, the Shirelles, the Ronettes
What caused a sharp rise in inner city poverty?
The shift of middle-class families to the suburbs and the loss of their tax revenue