European Society European Society After the Second After the Second

World WarWorld War

Science and Science and TechnologyTechnology For first time in history, “pure theoretical” For first time in history, “pure theoretical”

science and “practical” technology (”applied science and “practical” technology (”applied science”) effectively joined together on science”) effectively joined together on massive scale during WWII.massive scale during WWII.

British scientists developed British scientists developed radar radar to detect to detect enemy aircraft.enemy aircraft.

Jet Jet aircraft developed by Germanyaircraft developed by Germany Electronic Electronic computers computers further developed; further developed;

had barely come into existence before 1939.had barely come into existence before 1939. Manhattan ProjectManhattan Project: Atomic bomb most : Atomic bomb most

spectacular result of scientific research spectacular result of scientific research during the war; project overseen by during the war; project overseen by J. J. Robert OppenheimerRobert Oppenheimer

Big ScienceBig Science

““Big Science”Big Science” became new model for became new model for science after WWIIscience after WWII

Combined theoretical work with Combined theoretical work with sophisticated engineering in a large, sophisticated engineering in a large, often huge organization.often huge organization.

U.S. emerged as leader in Big Science U.S. emerged as leader in Big Science after WWIIafter WWII

Science not demobilized after WWII Science not demobilized after WWII either in U.S. or USSReither in U.S. or USSR

Large portion of all postwar scientific Large portion of all postwar scientific research went for “defense” (25%!)research went for “defense” (25%!)

The Space RaceThe Space Race

1957, USSR launched 1957, USSR launched SputnikSputnik, , an an orbiting satellite using long-range orbiting satellite using long-range rocketsrockets

US fearful Soviets could now launch US fearful Soviets could now launch a nuclear missile into space and a nuclear missile into space and then down to U.S.then down to U.S.

U.S. countered with creation of U.S. countered with creation of NASA and vastly increased NASA and vastly increased educational funding for science.educational funding for science.

1961, Soviets sent world’s first 1961, Soviets sent world’s first cosmonaut, cosmonaut, Yuri GagarinYuri Gagarin, into , into orbit.orbit.

U.S. President John F. Kennedy U.S. President John F. Kennedy responded by increasing funds for responded by increasing funds for space.space.

1969, 1969, Apollo ProgramApollo Program put first put first man on the moon; 5 more moon man on the moon; 5 more moon landings followed by 1972.landings followed by 1972.

The Brain DrainThe Brain Drain

““Brain Drain”:Brain Drain”: U.S. attracted many of U.S. attracted many of Europe’s best scientists during 1950s Europe’s best scientists during 1950s and 1960s—seen as the and 1960s—seen as the American American ChallengeChallenge

Some Europeans feared Europe was Some Europeans feared Europe was falling behind U.S. in science, technology, falling behind U.S. in science, technology, and most dynamic industrial sectors of and most dynamic industrial sectors of the late 20th century.the late 20th century.

Yet, revitalized Europe pooling resources Yet, revitalized Europe pooling resources on Big Science projects:on Big Science projects:

ConcordeConcorde supersonic passenger airliner supersonic passenger airliner and peaceful uses of atomic energy.and peaceful uses of atomic energy.

Growth of Scientific Growth of Scientific CommunityCommunity Four times as many scientists in Europe Four times as many scientists in Europe

and North America in 1975 as in 1945.and North America in 1975 as in 1945. Highly specialized modern scientists Highly specialized modern scientists

and technologists worked as members and technologists worked as members of a team, which completely changed of a team, which completely changed work and lifestyle of modern scientists.work and lifestyle of modern scientists.

James WatsonJames Watson and and Francis CrickFrancis Crick win win Nobel Prize in 1962 for discovering Nobel Prize in 1962 for discovering structure of structure of DNADNA

Class Structure and Class Structure and Social ReformSocial Reform Rise of the middle-class largely result of Rise of the middle-class largely result of

increased access to increased access to higher educationhigher education European society became more mobile European society became more mobile

and democratic.and democratic. New middle-class, based largely on New middle-class, based largely on

specialized skills and high levels of specialized skills and high levels of education, more open, democratic, and education, more open, democratic, and insecure than old propertied middle insecure than old propertied middle class.class.

Changes in structure of middle class Changes in structure of middle class influential in trend toward less rigid class influential in trend toward less rigid class structure.structure.

Rise of Middle ClassRise of Middle Class

Rapid industrial and technological Rapid industrial and technological expansion created in large expansion created in large corporations and gov’t agencies corporations and gov’t agencies became powerful demand for became powerful demand for technologists and managers.technologists and managers.

Old propertied middle class lost control Old propertied middle class lost control of many family-owned businesses.of many family-owned businesses.

Top managers and ranking civil Top managers and ranking civil servants represented model for new servants represented model for new middle class of salaried specialists; well middle class of salaried specialists; well paid and highly trainedpaid and highly trained

Passed on opportunity for advanced Passed on opportunity for advanced education to their children.education to their children.

Working ClassesWorking Classes Structure of lower classes also became Structure of lower classes also became

more flexible and open.more flexible and open. Mass exodus from farms and countryside.Mass exodus from farms and countryside. Resulted in drastic decline in one of Resulted in drastic decline in one of

Europe’s most traditional and least mobile Europe’s most traditional and least mobile groups.groups.

Industrial working class ceased to expand Industrial working class ceased to expand while job opportunities for white-collar while job opportunities for white-collar and service employees grew rapidly.and service employees grew rapidly.

European governments reduced class European governments reduced class tensions by further expanding social tensions by further expanding social security reforms: health care, family security reforms: health care, family allowances, maternity grants, public allowances, maternity grants, public housing housing

ConsumerismConsumerism

Sparked by rising standard of living Sparked by rising standard of living giving more people disposable income.giving more people disposable income.

European automobile industry European automobile industry expanded phenomenally.expanded phenomenally.

““Gadget revolution”Gadget revolution” Like US, Europeans bought washing Like US, Europeans bought washing

machines, vacuum cleaners, machines, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, dishwashers, radios, TVs, refrigerators, dishwashers, radios, TVs, and stereos.and stereos.

Purchasing greatly facilitated by Purchasing greatly facilitated by installment purchasing.installment purchasing.

Leisure and recreationLeisure and recreation

Increased social welfare resulted in more Increased social welfare resulted in more disposable income and less need to save for disposable income and less need to save for old age.old age.

Leisure and recreation Leisure and recreation became big business became big business as workers worked fewer hours.as workers worked fewer hours.

Soccer matches, horse races, movies, TV, Soccer matches, horse races, movies, TV, commercialized hobbiescommercialized hobbies

Increased attendance in cultural events: Increased attendance in cultural events: concerts and exhibitions.concerts and exhibitions.

Travel industry mushroomed most dramaticallyTravel industry mushroomed most dramatically Before WWII travel for pleasure or relaxation Before WWII travel for pleasure or relaxation

largely aristocratic.largely aristocratic. Paid vacations required by law in most Paid vacations required by law in most

countriescountries

The Youth Movement The Youth Movement and Countercultureand Counterculture Counter-CultureCounter-Culture: rebellion against parents, : rebellion against parents,

authority figures and status quoauthority figures and status quo ““Baby boom” after WWII developed Baby boom” after WWII developed

distinctive and international youth culture.distinctive and international youth culture. Many raised in economic prosperity and more Many raised in economic prosperity and more

democratic class structure.democratic class structure. New generation influenced by revival of New generation influenced by revival of

leftist thought created a “counter-culture” leftist thought created a “counter-culture” Youth in America took the lead.Youth in America took the lead. Some youth rebelled against conformity and Some youth rebelled against conformity and

boredom of middle-class suburbs.boredom of middle-class suburbs.

Causes of Youth CulureCauses of Youth Culure

Mass communication and youth travel Mass communication and youth travel linked countries and continents together.linked countries and continents together.

Baby boom meant youth became Baby boom meant youth became unusually large part of population and unusually large part of population and exercised exceptional influence on society exercised exceptional influence on society as a whole.as a whole.

Postwar prosperity and greater equality Postwar prosperity and greater equality gave youth more purchasing power than gave youth more purchasing power than ever before.ever before.

Youth to set mass trends and fads in Youth to set mass trends and fads in everything from music to chemical everything from music to chemical stimulants.stimulants.

Causes of Youth Causes of Youth CultureCulture Common patterns of Common patterns of

consumption and behavior consumption and behavior fostered generational loyalty.fostered generational loyalty.

Good jobs were readily available.Good jobs were readily available. High demand for workers meant High demand for workers meant

youth had little need to fear youth had little need to fear punishment from straight-laced punishment from straight-laced employers for unconventional employers for unconventional behavior. behavior.

Rock music helped tie counter-Rock music helped tie counter-culture togetherculture together

Beatles, British rock band, Beatles, British rock band, became one of biggest pop became one of biggest pop groups in music historygroups in music history