MR. LIPMAN’S APUS MR. LIPMAN’S APUS POWERPOINT POWERPOINT CHAPTER 37CHAPTER 37

THE 1950’sTHE 1950’s

KEYS TO THE CHAPTERKEYS TO THE CHAPTER

Economic ProsperityEconomic Prosperity McCarthyismMcCarthyism Civil Rights Era beginsCivil Rights Era begins Cold War EscalatesCold War Escalates Space Race beginsSpace Race begins Election of 1960Election of 1960

Economic Economic ProsperityProsperity

Single Family Homes and SuburbsSingle Family Homes and Suburbs

Technology changes employment sectorTechnology changes employment sector

Unions down & “white collar jobs” upUnions down & “white collar jobs” up

““Cult of Domesticity” returns for womenCult of Domesticity” returns for women

Women move into office employmentWomen move into office employment

expansion of middle classexpansion of middle class

and consumer culture and consumer culture

Easy credit, fast food, Easy credit, fast food, new forms of recreation new forms of recreation

• 1948 – first McDonald’s 1948 – first McDonald’s • 1949 – first credit card 1949 – first credit card • 1955 – Disneyland 1955 – Disneyland

opened opened • Rock and Roll and Sex Rock and Roll and Sex

part of consumer culturepart of consumer culture

The Television RevolutionThe Television Revolution

Election of 1952 – Republicans Election of 1952 – Republicans Nominate Dwight D. Eisenhower Nominate Dwight D. Eisenhower

• General during WWII General during WWII Richard Nixon nominated as vice president Richard Nixon nominated as vice president

Election of 1952 – Democrats Election of 1952 – Democrats Weak because of Korea, Truman’s clashes Weak because of Korea, Truman’s clashes

with MacArthur, inflation, seeming spread of with MacArthur, inflation, seeming spread of communismcommunism

Nominate Adlai StevensonNominate Adlai Stevenson

Nixon’s “Checkers Nixon’s “Checkers Speech” Speech” Speech on national Speech on national

TV to confront $ TV to confront $ allegations, made allegations, made himself seem like a himself seem like a “regular guy” with a “regular guy” with a family and dog family and dog (Checkers)(Checkers)

Will lose race for Will lose race for President in 1960 President in 1960 but come back from but come back from the dead and win the dead and win presidency in 1968presidency in 1968

Senator Joseph McCarthy {a quick rise and fall}Senator Joseph McCarthy {a quick rise and fall} Elected in 1946 to US Senate from Wisconsin Elected in 1946 to US Senate from Wisconsin February 1950 – accused State Department of February 1950 – accused State Department of

knowingly employing 205 Communist party members knowingly employing 205 Communist party members Failed to produce evidence of even 1 Failed to produce evidence of even 1 Americans believed communists infiltrating gov’t and Americans believed communists infiltrating gov’t and

initially approve of McCarthy’s tacticsinitially approve of McCarthy’s tactics

McCarthy and the Republicans McCarthy and the Republicans Eisenhower was afraid to confront McCarthy, even Eisenhower was afraid to confront McCarthy, even

though he disagreed with McCarthy’s tacticsthough he disagreed with McCarthy’s tactics

McCarthy Making AccusationsMcCarthy Making Accusations

Spring of 1954 – McCarthy attacked US Army Spring of 1954 – McCarthy attacked US Army 35 days of televised hearings35 days of televised hearings

December 1954 – Senate censures him December 1954 – Senate censures him 1957 – McCarthy died of chronic alcoholism 1957 – McCarthy died of chronic alcoholism

Effects of McCarthyism Effects of McCarthyism McCarthyism – okays practice of publicizing McCarthyism – okays practice of publicizing

accusations despite insufficient evidenceaccusations despite insufficient evidence Damaged traditions of free speech Damaged traditions of free speech Careers of many ruinedCareers of many ruined

Civil Rights Movement BeginsCivil Rights Movement Begins

Life for blacks in the South in the 1950sLife for blacks in the South in the 1950s 15 million blacks lived in US and 2/315 million blacks lived in US and 2/3rdrd in South in South Lived under segregation (Jim Crow laws) Lived under segregation (Jim Crow laws)

• Isolated from whites, economically & politically powerlessIsolated from whites, economically & politically powerless

• Separate schools, toilets, drinking fountains, restaurants, Separate schools, toilets, drinking fountains, restaurants, waiting rooms, train and bus seating waiting rooms, train and bus seating

1947 Jackie Robinson breaks the baseball color barrier1947 Jackie Robinson breaks the baseball color barrier

1950 – Sweatt v. Painter1950 – Sweatt v. Painter • Separate Professional schools ruled unequalSeparate Professional schools ruled unequal

1954 – Brown v. Board of Education 1954 – Brown v. Board of Education Segregation in public schools was “inherently Segregation in public schools was “inherently

unequal” and therefore unconstitutional unequal” and therefore unconstitutional Decision reversed Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Decision reversed Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Desegregation must occur “with all deliberate speed” Desegregation must occur “with all deliberate speed”

““massive resistance” in Deep South massive resistance” in Deep South • 1956 -100 southern Congressman signed “Declaration of 1956 -100 southern Congressman signed “Declaration of

Constitutional Principles” pledging resistance to segregation Constitutional Principles” pledging resistance to segregation • Some states used public money to set up private schools Some states used public money to set up private schools • 1964 – only 2% of eligible blacks in desegregated classes 1964 – only 2% of eligible blacks in desegregated classes

It is only after It is only after the 1964 Civil the 1964 Civil Rights Act that Rights Act that

actual actual desegregation desegregation begins in the begins in the

schoolsschools

The The Montgomery Montgomery Bus BoycottBus Boycott----------------------------December December

1955 –1955 –January January

19571957

1957 – Congress passed first Civil Rights 1957 – Congress passed first Civil Rights Act since Reconstruction Act since Reconstruction Eisenhower is reluctant to act quicklyEisenhower is reluctant to act quickly Authorized federal injunctions (court orders) Authorized federal injunctions (court orders)

to protect voting rights to protect voting rights

1957 – Southern Christian Leadership 1957 – Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)Conference (SCLC)

1957- 1957- Little Rock, ArkansasLittle Rock, Arkansas confrontation confrontation

The “Little Rock Nine” Escorted by Federal TroopsThe “Little Rock Nine” Escorted by Federal Troops

““The Problem We All Live With”The Problem We All Live With”

February 1, 1960 – “sit-ins” begin in February 1, 1960 – “sit-ins” begin in Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina

Four students demanded service at whites-only Four students demanded service at whites-only lunch counter in Woolworth’s and were refused lunch counter in Woolworth’s and were refused

End of the week – over 1,000 students had joined End of the week – over 1,000 students had joined sit-ins in Greensboro sit-ins in Greensboro

Sit-in movement then spread across SouthSit-in movement then spread across South

April 1960 – Student Nonviolent Coordinating April 1960 – Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC, pronounced “snick”) beginsCommittee (SNCC, pronounced “snick”) begins

IKE SPENDS BIG ON MILITARY DEFENSE AND THIS IKE SPENDS BIG ON MILITARY DEFENSE AND THIS

CREATES ECONOMIC PROSPERITYCREATES ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

Interstate Highway Act of 1956 Interstate Highway Act of 1956 Public works project much bigger than New Deal Public works project much bigger than New Deal $27 billion to build 42,000 miles of interstates $27 billion to build 42,000 miles of interstates EffectsEffects

• Many new jobsMany new jobs• Suburbanization of US Suburbanization of US • Air quality problems and Increased energy consumption Air quality problems and Increased energy consumption • Railroads hurt by competition from trucks and carsRailroads hurt by competition from trucks and cars

Defense Spending as a Percentage of GDP, Defense Spending as a Percentage of GDP, 1950 - 19971950 - 1997

Problems with “massive retaliation” Problems with “massive retaliation” {more bang for the buck theory}{more bang for the buck theory}

1956 – Hungary rose in revolt against USSR1956 – Hungary rose in revolt against USSR• USSR used troops to put down rebellion USSR used troops to put down rebellion • Revealed that nuclear weapons were overkill for a small Revealed that nuclear weapons were overkill for a small

incident like Hungary incident like Hungary

Long-range planes and nuclear weapons more Long-range planes and nuclear weapons more expensive than Eisenhower first believedexpensive than Eisenhower first believed

Fear of Nuclear War makes threats less believable Fear of Nuclear War makes threats less believable against conventional weaponsagainst conventional weapons

Main US Highways, Main US Highways, 1930 – 19701930 – 1970

Highway Construction in the 1950sHighway Construction in the 1950s

The Vietnam Nightmare BeginsThe Vietnam Nightmare Begins

US helps France battle the nationalists US helps France battle the nationalists To oppose communism as well as gain To oppose communism as well as gain

French support for rearming of West GermanyFrench support for rearming of West GermanyBy 1954, US paying 80% of costs of French By 1954, US paying 80% of costs of French

armyarmy

1954 – French surrounded at Dienbienphu 1954 – French surrounded at Dienbienphu but Ike refuses to use bombers to helpbut Ike refuses to use bombers to help

------------------------------Following 1954 Following 1954

Geneva Geneva AgreementAgreement

that USA doesn’t that USA doesn’t signsign

--------------------------------1717thth Parallel Parallel

Cold War Crises in the Middle EastCold War Crises in the Middle East

The Suez crisisThe Suez crisis October 1956 – Britain, France (with Israel) October 1956 – Britain, France (with Israel)

launch assault on Egypt but failed to tell IKElaunch assault on Egypt but failed to tell IKE Britain and France forced to withdraw Britain and France forced to withdraw The Eisenhower Doctrine (1957)The Eisenhower Doctrine (1957)

Military and economic aid promised to Military and economic aid promised to Middle Eastern nations threatened by Middle Eastern nations threatened by

communist aggressioncommunist aggression

OPEC is formed in 1960 and becomes a power OPEC is formed in 1960 and becomes a power in 1970s when it cuts off oil exportsin 1970s when it cuts off oil exports

Sputnik I and Sputnik II Sputnik I and Sputnik II 1957 The Race is On1957 The Race is On

Effects of SputnikEffects of Sputnik American superiority in science, military, and American superiority in science, military, and

education questioned and NASA establishededucation questioned and NASA established

1958 – US put satellite in orbit1958 – US put satellite in orbit

By 1960, US had developed its own ICBMs By 1960, US had developed its own ICBMs

US education criticized for being too easy US education criticized for being too easy Drive to replace electives with math and science Drive to replace electives with math and science

coursescourses

Federal Federal gov’t gets gov’t gets involved in involved in EducationEducation

U-2 incident May 1, 1960U-2 incident May 1, 1960

Gary Powers (CIA pilot) shot down while Gary Powers (CIA pilot) shot down while spying in Soviet airspace spying in Soviet airspace • US denied he was spying, but USSR brought out US denied he was spying, but USSR brought out

proofproof

Summit ruined when Khrushchev stormed outSummit ruined when Khrushchev stormed out

Tensions remain high between countries and Tensions remain high between countries and now Cuba becomes a problemnow Cuba becomes a problem

The Cuban RevolutionThe Cuban Revolution January 1959 – Fidel Castro carried out January 1959 – Fidel Castro carried out

revolution and deposed Batista revolution and deposed Batista

Castro seizes property from Americans to Castro seizes property from Americans to carry out land distribution carry out land distribution

Castro allied with USSR when US cut off Castro allied with USSR when US cut off sugar imports sugar imports • US threatened to enforce Monroe Doctrine, but did US threatened to enforce Monroe Doctrine, but did

not when Khrushchev threatened war not when Khrushchev threatened war

Nixon and Kennedy Debate: Election 1960Nixon and Kennedy Debate: Election 1960

Election of 1960 – results Election of 1960 – results Kennedy won, narrowly Kennedy won, narrowly

• Margin of only 118, 574 votes (out of 68 million Margin of only 118, 574 votes (out of 68 million cast) {“the Chicago factor”?}cast) {“the Chicago factor”?}

• First Roman Catholic, and youngest ever elected First Roman Catholic, and youngest ever elected

• Received strong support in big cities, from Received strong support in big cities, from workers, Catholics, blacks workers, Catholics, blacks

Democrats won both houses of CongressDemocrats won both houses of Congress

Accomplishments under Eisenhower Accomplishments under Eisenhower US was extremely prosperous US was extremely prosperous

• With pockets of poverty and some farm problems With pockets of poverty and some farm problems

Some Civil Rights victories (but hated Warren pick)Some Civil Rights victories (but hated Warren pick)

Controlled military through rough decade with USSRControlled military through rough decade with USSR• Warned of “military-industrial complex”Warned of “military-industrial complex” in in

farewell address in 1961farewell address in 1961

Reality was Eisenhower a strong president despite Reality was Eisenhower a strong president despite critics; gained greater reputation as time has passescritics; gained greater reputation as time has passes

POST WAR LITERATUREPOST WAR LITERATURE

In fiction, some prewar realists continued In fiction, some prewar realists continued Ernest Hemingway: The Old Man and the Sea Ernest Hemingway: The Old Man and the Sea

(1952); killed himself in 1961 (1952); killed himself in 1961 John Steinbeck: East of Eden (1952) and John Steinbeck: East of Eden (1952) and

Travels with Charley (1962); Travels with Charley (1962); Norman Mailer: The Naked and the DeadNorman Mailer: The Naked and the Dead Joseph Heller: Catch-22Joseph Heller: Catch-22 Kurt Vonnegut: Slaughterhouse 5Kurt Vonnegut: Slaughterhouse 5

Post War PlaywrightsPost War Playwrights

Tennessee Williams wrote of psychological Tennessee Williams wrote of psychological misfits trying to hold it together in modern lifemisfits trying to hold it together in modern life

• A Streetcar Named Desire; Cat on a Hot Tin RoofA Streetcar Named Desire; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Arthur Miller’s plays about American values Arthur Miller’s plays about American values • Death of a Salesman (1949); The Crucible (1953) Death of a Salesman (1949); The Crucible (1953)

Lorraine Hansberry: A Raisin in the SunLorraine Hansberry: A Raisin in the Sun Edward Albee: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Edward Albee: Who’s Afraid of Virginia

Woolf? (1962) Woolf? (1962) • exposed the darker side of middle-class life exposed the darker side of middle-class life

Bestselling books by black authors Bestselling books by black authors

Richard Wright: Native Son (1940) Richard Wright: Native Son (1940)

Ralph Ellison: Invisible Man (1952) about Ralph Ellison: Invisible Man (1952) about blacks’ search for identity blacks’ search for identity

James Baldwin: The Fire Next Time (1963) James Baldwin: The Fire Next Time (1963) explored racial questions explored racial questions