Manisha H. , Tom M. , Rachel M. , Allie R. , Kirsten R.

Chapter 26: Postwar Growth and Social Change

 

Introduction

 

Ø      Chapter 26 explains the structural changes that American societies will go through during the 25 years after World War II.

Ø      Large scale social and economic shifts were taking place.

Ø      This chapter shows how technological advances lead to economic growth and change in patterns of work and daily life.

Ø      This growth is still very apparent in modern times.

Ø      Although many Americans in this time period [1945-1996] lived comfortably and enjoyed their material gains living the American dream, there were still social and economic divisions.

·        Gap between the rich and poor was huge

·        Prejudice against the minorities was still present

 

Economic Boom

 

Ø      Baby boom resulted from the American soldiers returning home

Ø      Large corporations increased

Ø      New technology/products came into the market

Ø      Americans experienced increasing prosperity

·        Size of the middle class increased

 

The Thriving Peacetime Economy

Ø      Prosperity continued in the postwar years. (“Peaceful, prosperous, and productive” the nation had become the ‘affluent society’)

·        Gross National Product (GNP) increased more than four times

·        Per capita personal income increased more than three times

·        America’s big burst of economic growth was in time periods like these, perhaps today people in our nation should not be so frustrated and upset when other emerging countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China [referred to as the BRIC countries] are having their economic booms.  Why?  This point needs to be made more explicitly - what is the connection between the U.S. economic boom of the post-war era, more recent economic booms in the "emerging world", and frustration expressed by Americans about current international economic competition?  It is clear that you see a connection, but it is not clear what that connection is.

·        60% of all families were now part of the middle class

Ø      After World War II ended…

·        American factories no longer mass produced ships, tanks, planes and other war equipment, which lead to accumulated savings worth millions of dollars.

·        Consumers could now afford all American goods and were ready to buy.

○       Purchasing power increased drastically

○       Families had more discretionary money (higher wages)

Ø      Three main parts to the economic boom

·        The automobile industry

○       Now that factories didn’t have to produce military vehicles more than four times as many cars were built.

○       For the first time customers could choose from a wide variety of engines, colors and optional accessories.

○       Became a status symbol and showed economic achievement

○       Cars are definitely still a status symbol today.

○       Eisenhower supported the development of massive interstate highways.

§         Interstate Highway Act of 1956 ($26 billion to build roads)

○       Problems of pollution and “urban flight”

○       America became dependent on a constant supply of “cheap and plentiful” oil.

○       This is a clear example of a nation having to deal with consequences of major decisions that have been made throughout it’s history.  Even today America is dependent on other countries for cheap and plentiful oil.  Perhaps Eisenhower’s decision to develop all those highways has made our country dependent on cars…perhaps if he had spent that money on the electrical train, or subway we wouldn’t have the problem of oil today.  Interesting point; valid too.  (Another point - if Congress allowed the oil companies to drill and explore in the Continental U.S., etc., we would be able to end our dependence upon foreign oil, gas, petroleum, etc.)

·        House construction

○       The number of families owing homes almost doubled.

○       Millions of soldiers purchased homes because of the GI Bill of 1944- offered low interest home mortgages to returning soldiers in addition to other advantages (educational benefits, jobs, etc.).

·        Federal policies

○       Government allowed big businesses to purchase 80% of factories built by the government during the war for much less than they cost.

○       Drastic rise in defense spending as the Cold War issues came about

§         National Security Act- created the Department of Defense (initial budget $13 billion)

§         About half of the entire federal budget went to the armed forces (helped stimulate aircraft and electronic industries).

○       Americans decided this massive spending was understandable.  This is most probably due to the fact that they were fearful of the spread of communism and feared a nuclear war with Russia.  Just like the columnist David Lawrence wrote, “Cold war is an atomic pump primer.  Turn a spigot, and the public clamors for more arms spending.” (Which is later discussed in Chapter 27.)  Excellent point - a little awkwardly expressed...

            ○       Video Clip of a fearful family:  http://archives.cbc.ca/clip.asp?page=1&IDClip=1460&IDCat=387&IDCatPa=264&IDDossier=

Ø      Inflation slowed down drastically by the 1950s and 60s.

 

The Corporate Impact on American Life

Ø      After 1945, large businesses dominated America.

Ø      During wartime the government had shelved antitrust actions and gave out contracts that helped in expansion…Later American capitalism saw the formation of oligopoly.

Ø      The booming economy lead to firms purchasing a wide variety of companies so that in case one part of the economy became unstable, the rest could still grow. [conglomerates]

·        For example International Telephone and Telegraph bought Avis Rent-a-Car, Continental Baking Sheraton Hotels, Levitt and Sons Home Builders, and Hartford Fire Insurance.

Ø      Franchise operations like McDonald’s, KFC, etc. took shape.

Ø      Large corporations moved some of their plants overseas to save money on salaries paid to employees.

Ø      Jobs going over seas to Mexico, India, and China is a very heated topic in current times.  It is strange how modern issues seem unique to us but in fact history teaches us that similar things have happened before.  Yup.

Ø      Corporate planning and maximizing profit became important.

 

Changing Work Patterns

Ø      America became a nation of service providers rather than a producer of goods.

Ø      White collar employees, earning a salary (not paid by the hour), had to leave their individual personalities and become part of the corporation’s image.

Ø      Blue collar factory workers saw their lifestyle improving because the union movement had brought many gains…But 40% of the work force had less stable, less secure jobs held by minorities, teenagers and women.

Ø      Even today our work patterns are changing because of the use of the internet and computers.  People can now work from home and make conference calls across the world from their living rooms.  But it is still true that minorities, and women have lower paying jobs.  Excellent point of comparison.

 

The Union Movement at High Tide

Ø      There were 14.5 million union members belonging to the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations.

·        Supported war and salary enhancements, especially during postwar job layoffs

·        More workers were on strike than ever before.

Ø      In the 1940’s, the industrial warfare hostility ended.

·        Companies began to show concern for workers and cooperate, instead of competing.

·        Unions limited strike activity and sacrificed independence.

·        ALF and CIO merged in 1955; represents 90% of all union members.

 

Agricultural Workers in Trouble

Ø      Postwar mechanization results in loss of 15 million rural jobs

·        Improved fertilizers, machines, etc.

·        Farm sizes grew, and agriculture became a big business.

·        Millions of people migrated north and to urban areas.

Ø      This time period was characterized by major change.  Agriculture, which had been a traditional component of the American system for centuries, was suddenly changed forever.  Standard ways of life in the America were transforming at an exponential rate, sometimes at the expense of people’s employment.

 

Demographic and Technological Trends

Ø      Postwar economic boom resulted in demographic change

·        Many people migrated west and/or to suburbs

·        Consumer culture of technology characterized suburban life

 

Population Shifts

Ø      Major growth in population

·        1957 baby boom, 4.3 million were born

·        Graph showing the baby boom of 1957:   

                                              

○       Many women left work force to care for children/homes

○       Classrooms, teachers, and diapers were in high demand

§         The lack of teachers and classroom space for all of the children in American today remains a critical issue, as the population continues to skyrocket.  Perhaps less is more.  Careful how you compare "then" and "now".  Back then, many Americans got married - and many were having children.  However, even though our population is growing, it is not, primarily, due to American citizens having children, but, rather, due to both immigration numbers - both legal and illegal - AND, to immigrant families having children.  Just as in Europe (though not to the accelerated degree), immigrants are having large families, but the "locals" (so-called) are not.  And, of course, one of the hot-button questions is how ought we "look at" the growing immigrant population...

·        Death rate decreased with introduction of medical drugs

·        Mobility increased, especially towards the expanding west in California

○       High aircraft production

○       Many bureaucratic contributors

 

The New Suburbs

Ø      Millions of white people migrated to suburbs

·        Major cities actually decrease in population

○       It is interesting how the cities generally came to be seen as more of a place for work and leisure, and less of an appropriate place to settle into a home.  Yup.

·        Desire for larger houses resulted in housing boom

○       Houses became products, built with less care and more efficiency

○       Government-insured mortgages fuel boom

○       Many trees, pastures, etc. were removed to accommodate housing

Ø      While many Americans enjoy the perks of suburban life, some are ignorant of the ecological effects.  The mass-production of houses throughout the country has, no doubt, contributed to the removal of much wildlife.  It is great that America has its citizen’s best interest in mind, but humans mustn’t disregard the environment.

Ø     A picture of Levittown, New York which exhibits the mass production approach William J. Levitt took to building homes for American suburbs:

                                              

 

The Environmental Impact

Ø      Housing developments, fast food restaurants, and shopping centers all had an effect on the environment

·        Little planning went into development, invaded some of the nations most attractive rural areas.

○       Shows Americans’ emphasis on immediate recovery and progress with the end of the war regardless of the possibly detrimental long-term effects.

Ø      Some American did show concern for the environment

·        Steady job opportunities and higher wagers → families were able to take regular holidays throughout the year

○       Many explored the beautiful landscapes of the nation

○       Congress established the National Outdoor Recreation Review Commission in 1958

○       Some did recognize need to protect and appreciate the environment, which parallels today’s advocates for environmental awareness. 

 

Technology Supreme

Ø      War research during WWII caused rapid change in technology

·        The National Institutes of Health was est. in 1948 for medical research

·        The National Science Foundation was est. in 1950 to fund basic scientific research

Ø      The Atomic Energy Commission, est. 1946, and the Department of Defense, est. 1947, funded research and development

·        Government became more involved

·        Money went to large research universities where scientists helped develop nuclear weapons, jet planes, satellites, and consumer goods

      ·       Photograph of 1947 XB-45: First U.S. 4 engine jet bomber making its first test flight to California:

                                   

                                   

○       Truman’s support of the government’s responsibility for the social welfare of Americans, which characterized his presidency, was first seen with these programs.  Eisenhower would later reverse much of the government’s newfound involvement and activity.

Ø      Computers reflected and assisted the process of technological development

○       Large but workable calculators

○       Machines that contained their own internal instructions and memories

·        In 1948, three scientists at Bell Laboratories developed the transistor

○       Computer became faster and more reliable

Ø      Computers were used for space research, reservations for airlines and hotels, and for accounting purposes

Ø      Although mechanization was not new, it became more widespread

·        Threatened both skilled and unskilled workers

·        The increase in technology was fueled by American desire to advance as a nation.  Such progress united American, increasing the nation’s strength and nationalistic support.

 

The Consumer Culture

Ø      Television was developed in the 1930s and became a major influence on America after WWII

·        T.V sets went from fewer than 17,000 sets in 1946 to three quarters of all American families owning sets by 1960

·        Popular shows that were watched on T.V included The Mickey Mouse Club, I Love Lucy, and Elvis Presley music

· Olden time video clip from popular television series I Love Lucy:  http://www.tvland.com/video/index.jhtml?bcpid=174317557&bclid=202217714

Ø      Most families had at least one automobile, and staple appliances

·        Refrigerator, washing machine, television, and vacuum cleaner

Ø      American economy depended on consumption with the expansion of consumer credit

·        Allowed lower-middle class families to enjoy luxuries previously too expensive.  Increased the standard of living and the “power of the purse” held by the middle class.

·        Credit cards became popular with buying television sets, household items, and eating out

○       First credit cards: Diner’s Club and American Express

○       2 million cardholders by 1965

Ø      Advertising became important after the WWII to get people to buy consumer products

○       Television conveyed the spirit of consumption to millions of Americans

○       More effective than radio because the television could actually show the product

§         Shows the impact and connection that the increase in the technology industry has with consumers and the economy.

 

Consensus and Conformity

 

Conformity in School and Religious Life

Ø      Students with similar levels of education dressed the same, watched the same shows, and had the same mindset

Ø      Americans in the postwar years discovered a shared religious sense and returned to their churches in record numbers

·        95% of Americans identified with some religious denomination in the 1950s

○       Billy James Hargis founded his Christian Crusade  in 1947 and preached the close connection between religion and politics

○       Evangelist Billy Graham was in the forefront of the anti-communist campaign in the 1950s and 60s

·        Reinforced the importance of family life and offered ad escape from the anxieties of a middle-class executive’s life

Ø      Congress added the words “under God” to the pledge to the flag and required the phrase “In God we trust” on all U.S currency as a result of the religious revival

Ø      Religious revivals unified many Americans.  However, the book notes that many people blindly supported their religion, creating false belief.  The unity could have been superficial as well.  Almost certainly.  Keep in mind, however, that while there WAS religious ignorance and hypocrisy during this era, it was also a time of growth within mainline churches - Catholic and Protestant.  And Americas were interested in addressing substantive moral questions within the "public square".  For example:  throughout the 1950s, network TV broadcast an extremely popular (and award-winning) show called "Life is Worth Living" (a series of discussion/lectures about various moral issues, by Bishop Fulton Sheen).  Imagine anyone suggesting such a thing now, in 2008!

 

Back to the Kitchen

Ø      Traditional patterns were altered for both men and women after WWII

·        Men were expected to gain an education and then work in the business world

·        Women were expected to stay at home and raise the family

·        In 1950s the baby boom which increased the average size of the family, furthermore, encouraged women to stay home

·        African American women often lost jobs they held during war, bit in the 1950s, they succeeded by moving into white collar jobs and increasing their income

·        By 1960, over a third of African American women held professional jobs.

Ø      Baby and Child Care by Benjamin Spock advised mothers to stay at home

Ø      Feminine Mystique, published in 1963 by Betty Friedman provided a profile of the average woman

Ø      Sexuality was a postwar concern

·        Sexual Behavior in Human Male by Alfred Kinsey that was published in 1948, stirred up more buzz

·        Marilyn Monroe and Playboy which appeared in 1953, created fascination

Ø      Since the war left many of the women in charge of their husbands’ jobs and duties, the women became adjusted to that way of life, therefore, increasing the percentage of women working at a steady rate.  The men did also succeed in gaining back their jobs and putting that kind of ideology back into America.  Culture and expression was also expanding in what would be considered "outrageous" ways like with Playboy.

 

Clothing (Recovering the Past pgs. 934-935)

Ø      Clothing is a sign of emotion, and the way someone dresses helps to convey a person’s age, sex, origin, occupation, and even stance in politic.

Ø      Through the decades, the way Americans have dressed seems to reflect what went on during that time

·        In the 1920s, flappers and other women often dressed like children in order to convey a feeling of freedom and playfulness.  The men’s suits also had a youthful look

·       Photograph of a 1927 flapper:

                                                      

 

·        During and After WWII in the 1940s as America was recovering, the fashion defined the women with a more decorative role and involvement in the business world.

·        The 1960s was when casual clothing was prominent.  Jeans and long hair was in as the people were more relaxed.

Ø      Just like in the past, today people also use clothing to express themselves.  If someone were to be lazy, they may be found in their pajamas, just like an important businessman would be found wearing an expensive suit. 

Cultural Rebels

Ø      After WWII, some Americans were alienated from the culture and rebelled against traditional values.

Ø      Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger aroused readers to sympathize with the main character in his attempts to fit in.

Ø      “Beat Generation” was a group of writers who exposed unconventional values in their stories and poems.

·        Rejected materialism and promoted marijuana and sexual activity

·        Jack Kerovac, Allen Ginsberg, and J.D. Salinger were many known writers in “Beat Generation.”

Ø      Signs of cultural rebellion was also found with in Music

·        Elvis Presley

o       Template for rebellious young boys to follow

·       Photograph of Elvis Presley:

                                               

Ø      Artists were also in rebellion

·        Jackson Pollock

o       Used huge canvas instead of easel

o       Abstract style of art

Ø      “Paperback Revolution”

·        Introduced in 1939

·        Dominated book market after WWII

Ø      People were becoming more creative and self-expressive.  The “Beats Generation” paved the way for this new way of thinking; therefore, people were coming of with more ideas and acting more as an individual.  Careful!  Don't "buy into" the idea that "new" and "different" = more creative, etc. (simply by virtue of being new, or by virtue of challenging the status quo).  This is not to say that nothing "new" is creative - only that it isn't creative simply because it is different.  Sometimes junk is just junk.  :-)

 

 

The Other America

 

Ø      Poverty

·        Existed in inner cities and rural areas

·        Affected minorities, African Americans, and less fortunate whites

 

Poverty Amid Affluence

Ø      Despite the common “trickle-down” theory (economic growth from upper class makes growth in lower classes), economic growth clearly favored the upper & middle classes

·        1960 – Four person family income was about $3,000 on average. Six person family income was about $4,000.

Ø      Migrant workers still received little pay and discriminating situations

Ø      27% of the residential units in the U.S. were substandard or overcrowded

·        Michael Harrington: socialist author & critic who wrote The Other America (1962) using terms such as “economic underworld” to describe the conditions of the poor who he believed were everywhere

·        Woody Guthrie: songwriter who called poor life “pastures of the plenty”

Ø      Many people in the upper class did not realize how bad life for the less fortunate people was.  They assumed that because they were living so well, their wealth must be “trickling down” to the lower classes.  Unlike a few people like Harrington, most people did not open their eyes to see the poverty around them.

Ø      Although the same thing sometimes happens today, it is less likely because of the advertisement to help the less fortunate out on the television and how much people in the world want to help those in need.  We still have horrific poverty in America - but, it is certainly true that there is less of an excuse for ANY American to be ignorant of it (given what you've written above), and even the worst poverty here exists within a world of plenty in comparison to poverty of the so-called "Third World".

 

Hard Times For African Americans

Ø      African Americans were among the least prosperous citizens in the postwar period

·        The New Deal stole from black people by making machinery to do their paid work.Therefore, they were not needed in the country and moved to the cities (better jobs, better schooling, and freedom from landlord control)

o       Detroit’s black population increased from 16% to 29% and Chicago’s black population increased from 14% to 23% in the 1950’s due to millions of African Americans moving to the North and toward the cities

Ø      The black “ghetto” was permanently introduced in the United States after WWII as an area where African Americans who shared the same culture, values, political standpoints, and level of poverty coulad live together

Ø      1968 – Fair Housing Act attempted to prevent racial discrimination for the sale, rent, or financing of housing units.  Although the act was passed, it was never effective.

Ø      Blacks were told there were better conditions in the north and soon it became the “promised land” for them

·        James Baldwin: Nobody Knows My Name (1961) book describing the black ghetto conditions as slum and its effect on blacks

·        Cover of Baldwin’s novel:

 

 

                                         

 

Ø      Unemployment led to drunken public fights and stability of a family with no strong male figure because women had an easier time finding work.

Ø      Chicago’s South Side replaced New York’s Harlem as the African American cultural capital.

·        Joe Louis à African American boxing champion

·        Mahalia Jackson à African American gospel singer

·        William Dawson à only African American representative in Congress

Ø      Church was the only thing that remained constant in African Americans’ lives.  Prayer was the only thing blacks could really count on and believe in.

Ø      Church also helped ease the transition from the south to the north and offered social services.

Ø      African American business growth:  Newspaper & magazines (“Jet”), African American-led banks.

Ø      Graph that shows growth within the African American business life in the mid 1900s:

 

 

                                           

 

Ø      Most remained second class citizens and escape was nearly impossible – poverty was a fact of life

Ø      It appears that the African Americans are much like the immigrants that would go through Ellis Island.  Constantly, they were looking for something bigger and better to help them get a better live, but they could not find it at this point.

 

Minorities on the Fringe

Ø      Immigrants suffered from some of the same problems (unskilled & illiterate) and moved to the cities as well

Ø       “Urban Barrios” were places where cultures were cohesive in poverty stricken times

Ø      Mexicans

·        “Braceros” (helping hands) were Mexicans who harvested crops seasonally.

o       They were expected to return to Mexico after their work was no longer needed, but most of them ended up staying in the U.S. illegally

Ø      Puerto Ricans

·        East Harlem was a center for Puerto Ricans for salsa music and “bodegas” or small town grocery stores

o       Guillermo Cotto-Thorner: “Trόpico en Manhattan” shows a sort of nationalism or pride for their neighborhood, El Barrio.

o       Puerto Ricans hoped to earn money and go home; some did and some stayed.

Ø      Government attempts to control immigrants

·        1953-1954: Operation Wetback: Government deportment of illegal immigrants

o       About 1.1 million were successfully deported

o       From this graph we can see that actions such as the “Operation Wetback” have been an issue time and time again (You should cite where you got this graph!):

 

 

o       Although Chicanos protested, their attempts were futile.

·        Migratory Labor Agreement with Mexico: helped Americans take advantage of cheap labor

Ø      Native Americans

·        More disconnected, but still experienced racism.

·        Technology reaching the Native Americans caused old patterns to change. Protests followed in the cities and eventually gained strength.

Ø      Problems with immigrants from this time are still being dealt with today.  The question of when cheap labor is from American jobs is an extremely g away from American jobs is an extremely fine line.  (This is unclear - what is the point you are trying to make?)  Looking at this time period, it is evident that these problems started when immigrants began coming into the United States for a particular reason and not leaving after they finished their duty.

 

 

Conclusion

The United States was generally stable and secure.  Standards reached new heights especially compared with the rest of the world.  Recessions in the economy still occurred, but the economy was able to bounce back with booming cities and businesses.  Confidence, hope, and faith in the American Dream were evident, but the American Dream was not always attained.  There were signs of discontent and they show to be the causes of the protest movements in the 1960s. Still there was a continuing struggle for realities of American life to match the ideals.  However, the upper and middle-class Americans were healthy and comfortable and their prosperity and growth continued into the years ahead.

 

Ø      Additional insight to Chapter 26 can be found by relating it to the first section of Chapter 28

Period 3 - Chapter 28

 

(Excellent suggestion.)

 

Vocabulary

 

Conglomerate- a corporation consisting of a number of subsidiary companies or divisions in a variety of unrelated industries, usually as a result of merger or acquisition

Discretionary income- individual income that is not allocated for necessary items such as food and shelter, but rather luxuries and wants

Oligopoly- domination of an industry by a small number of sellers

White collar workers- office, professional workers who are paid by salary

 

IDs

 

Allen Ginsberg

Andrew Carnegie

Billy Graham

Billy James Hargis

Dwight Eisenhower

Elvis Presley

J.D. Salinger

Jack Kerouac

Jackson Pollock

James Baldwin

Joe Louis

Mahalia Jackson

Michael Harrington

Ray Kroc

Richard and Maurice McDonald

William Dawson

Woody Guthrie

 

Geography

 

California 

Central America

Cuba

Houston, Texas 

Mexico

New York

Phoenix, Arizona

Puerto Rico

San Bernadino, California

 

 

A+/98.

Excellent work, over-all.  The links and video-clips are great!

Criticisms:

1.  Need consistency in how you present text.  For example, sometimes your group uses a "." to end sentences and phrases (which is fine), but at other times not.  This is an unnecessary distraction - be consistent!

2.  Cite sources - since this is "published" online, you really need to disclose where you got your charts, photos, etc.  (Or, am I missing something - did they all actually come from our text?!  :-) ...)