7) POST WAR: Post War Society and Economy Flashcards
What is consumerism?
The idea that the ever-expanding consumption of goods benefits the economy.
How many households had a TV, car and telephone by the end of the 1950s?
Nine out of ten had a TV, eight out of ten had a car and telephone.
How big was the boom in overseas spending on US goods?
By 1952, America was supplying the world with 65% of its manufactured goods.
What was the baby boom?
America saw an increase in population by 40% after the war.
Why was demand for luxury goods high after the war?
These goods were rare during the war as peacetime manufacturing was converted to wartime production.
What were the main issues Truman wanted to tackle with his Fair Deal?
Poverty- he raised minimum wage from 40 to 75 cents, cleared large slum areas to make way for affordable housing.
Rights of African Americans- an attempt to improve their rights was blocked when many Southern politicians voted against it.
What happened to women after the war?
Most women went back to more traditional roles. Women who tried to pursue a high flying business or management career often faced discrimination. By 1950, the average age a woman got married was 20- the lowest since 1890. She was living the American Dream if she had all the latest gadgets.
What did Eisenhower do when he was elected in 1952 and what was he less successful at?
He brought lots of business people into the government to keep the economy booming. But there were still vast areas of poverty and there was no national health service that guaranteed basic healthcare for everyone. In 1960 68% of over 65s had an income of less than $1000 while factory earnings were over $4000.
Why did teenagers have more leisure time and spending power than previous generations?
Booming economy meant parents could support their children financially. In 1957 the average teenager spent between $10 and $15 a week compared to $1 or $2 in the early 1940s.
What was the Rock and Roll generation?
A new style of music- rock and roll was very popular with teenagers. It was viewed as dangerous and linked with teenage crime and gang culture by the older generations. Televised rock and roll made TV extremely popular with teenagers. Elvis Presley became very popular.
Why were Americans scared of communism after the Second World War?
The Cold War- tense relations with the SU (a communist country). Fear that containment wasn’t working when China became communist in the late 1940s. Spies like Alger Hiss, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg increased fear of communism in the USA.
What was HUAC?
House of Representatives Un-American Committee. Searched for communists in the US government, in workplaces, in the media and in the movie industry. Millions were investigated between 1947 and 1950 but none were found guilty.
What was McCarthyism?
The campaign against alleged communists named after Senator Joseph McCarthy, a US politician who accused hundreds of being communists in the 1950s.
Why did McCarthyism lost support?
In 1954, McCarthy accused 45 army officers of being communist but he had no evidence and began to lose public support.
