Post War - 3 Flashcards
Who took over the presidency after Roosevelt’s death in April 1945?
Harry S Truman
Truman was Roosevelt’s vice-president.
What were the two main presidencies discussed in the context of post-war America?
Harry S Truman and Dwight ‘Ike’ Eisenhower
What significant economic phenomenon occurred in America after World War II?
A post-war economic boom
What was the impact of consumerism in the late 1940s and 1950s?
Increased production of consumer goods like refrigerators, cars, and televisions
What advertising strategies contributed to the consumer boom in the 1950s?
‘Buy now, pay later’ schemes and a huge advertising industry
By 1956, how many vehicles were on America’s roads?
75 million vehicles
What percentage of US households had a TV, car, and washing machine by the end of the 1950s?
- 90% had a TV
- 80% had a car
- 70% had a washing machine
What was the purpose of the GI Bill passed towards the end of World War II?
To help veterans with hospitals, cheap home loans, and education grants
What was Truman’s ‘Fair Deal’ aimed at addressing?
- Poverty
- Rights of African-Americans
What was the minimum hourly wage raised to under Truman’s Fair Deal?
75 cents
What challenges did Truman face in implementing his Fair Deal policies?
Opposition from Republicans and Southern politicians
Who became president in 1952 and focused on maintaining economic growth?
Dwight ‘Ike’ Eisenhower
What does the term ‘American dream’ signify?
The idea that anyone in America can succeed through hard work
What percentage of Americans were still living in poverty by the 1950s?
25 percent
What was the average income for people over 65 in 1960?
Less than $1000
What was the average age at which a woman got married by 1950?
20 years old
What percentage of men’s wages did women’s wages in factories fall to during the 1950s?
53 percent
Fill in the blank: The post-war boom in America was partly due to a _______ in the population.
baby boom
True or False: The 1950s was a time of equal economic prosperity for all racial groups in America.
False
List three industries that benefited from the continued production of weapons during the Korean War.
- Steel
- Chemical
- Electronics
What is one way the US economy was strong in the 1950s despite having only 6% of the world’s population?
Supplying 65% of the world’s manufactured goods
What societal role did many women return to after World War II?
Housewives
What was a widespread belief about women’s roles in the 1950s?
‘A woman’s place was in the home’
What was the general view of women pursuing high-level careers during the 1950s?
They faced discrimination and suspicion
What term describes the period between childhood and adulthood that became common in the 1950s?
Teenager
In which decade did the term ‘teenager’ become commonly used?
1950s
What was a common expectation for young men leaving school before the war?
Find a job or join the armed services
What traditional roles were expected of young women before the war?
Machine operator, secretary, or teacher before marriage
What percentage of students completed compulsory schooling in the 1950s?
Fewer than two out of three
What economic condition after the war allowed teenagers to have more leisure time?
Booming economy
What was one of the key ideas of the ‘American Dream’ related to the next generation?
The next generation is more successful than the previous one
How much did the average teenager spend weekly in 1957 compared to the early 1940s?
$10 to $15 in 1957 vs. $1-$2 in the early 1940s
What was the annual teenage spending power in 1950 and 1959?
$10 billion in 1950 to $25 billion in 1959
What behaviors characterized teenagers in the 1950s?
Independent, rebellious, secretive, and aggressive
Who became emblems of teenage rebellion in the 1950s?
James Dean and Marlon Brando
In the film ‘The Wild One’, what does Brando’s character symbolize?
Rebellion against everything
What significant change occurred in American advertising targeting teenagers during the 1950s?
Advertising began targeting teenagers due to their growing purchasing power
What two music genres combined to form Rock and Roll?
Country and western music and rhythm and blues
What themes were commonly found in Rock and Roll lyrics that appealed to teenagers?
Sexual references and rebellious behavior
Why was Rock and Roll music considered ‘dangerous’ by older Americans?
It was linked to teenage crime and gang culture
What was the viewership percentage of Elvis Presley’s performance in 1956?
82 percent of Americans
Fill in the blank: The average teenager’s annual spending power climbed from $_______ in 1950 to $_______ in 1959.
$10 billion, $25 billion
True or False: Teenagers in the 1950s were known for their conformity and traditional values.
False
What did the relationship between parents and children suggest in advertising from the 1940s and 1950s?
A shift in focus towards the teenage market
What significant societal change allowed teenagers to develop a distinct identity in the 1950s?
Increased leisure time and spending power
What was McCarthyism?
A campaign against alleged communists in the US during the early 1950s led by Senator Joseph McCarthy
McCarthyism is characterized by making accusations without proper evidence.
What was the first Red Scare?
A nationwide fear of communism in America during the early 1920s, leading to arrests of suspected communists
Approximately 6000 people were arrested across 33 cities.
What triggered the second Red Scare?
The emergence of the Soviet Union as a nuclear superpower and fears of communism spreading to the USA
This period was part of the broader Cold War rivalry.
Define containment in the context of the Cold War.
Official American policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism
Containment was a response to the spread of communism in Eastern Europe and China.
Who were Alger Hiss and the Rosenbergs?
Individuals accused of spying for the Soviet Union in the 1940s
Alger Hiss was a government official, while Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were executed for espionage.
What was the HUAC?
The House of Representatives Un-American Activities Committee, which investigated alleged communists
HUAC targeted government employees, media, and the film industry.
What was the Loyalty Programme?
A program introduced by President Truman allowing the FBI to investigate government employees for potential security risks
Millions were investigated, leading to job loss due to unfounded suspicions.
What happened to Hollywood filmmakers investigated by HUAC in 1947?
Ten filmmakers were blacklisted after refusing to disclose their political affiliations
They faced job loss and were unable to work in the film industry again.
What accusations did Joseph McCarthy make in 1950?
He claimed to have a list of over 200 communists working for the government
His unverified claims gained significant media attention and public support.
True or False: McCarthy’s popularity declined after he accused army officers of being communists.
True
His inability to provide evidence led to a loss of public support.
What does the term ‘blacklist’ refer to in the context of McCarthyism?
A list of individuals who were denied employment due to suspected communist affiliations
Being blacklisted often resulted in career ruin for those involved.
Fill in the blank: The period of rivalry between the USA and the Soviet Union was known as the _______.
Cold War
This rivalry featured political tension, military competition, and ideological conflict.
What impact did the spy scandals of the 1940s and 1950s have on American society?
Increased fear and suspicion of communism, leading to widespread investigations and loss of employment
The scandals contributed to the culture of McCarthyism.
List the four factors that contributed to the second Red Scare.
- Emergence of the Soviet Union as a nuclear power
- Accusations of spying
- The rise of communism in China
- Spread of communism in Eastern Europe
Each factor heightened the fear of communism in the US.
What was the role of the HUAC during the second Red Scare?
To investigate and root out suspected communists in various sectors, including government and entertainment
Their actions often led to damaging consequences for the accused.
What was the Civil Rights Movement?
A campaign from the 1940s to the late 1960s for civil rights for African-Americans equal to those of white Americans.
It aimed for equal opportunity and access to employment, housing, education, voting rights, and freedom from racial discrimination.
What was the significance of the ‘Brown v Board of Education of Topeka’ case?
It declared that segregation in schools was unconstitutional, leading to the desegregation of schools across America.
The Supreme Court ruling in May 1954 mandated that education boards end segregation.
Who was Oliver Brown?
The father of Linda Brown, who took the Topeka Board of Education to court over school segregation.
His case was pivotal in the ‘Brown v Board of Education’ ruling.
What role did the NAACP play in the ‘Brown v Board of Education’ case?
The NAACP assisted Oliver Brown in his legal battle against school segregation.
It aimed to eliminate segregation and racial discrimination.
What was the outcome of the Little Rock case in 1957?
Nine African-American students were initially prevented from entering Central High School but later gained the right to attend after a court ruling.
This incident highlighted the resistance to desegregation in Southern states.
What was the reaction of the Arkansas Governor during the Little Rock incident?
Governor Orville Faubus sent National Guard soldiers to prevent black students from entering Central High School.
His actions illustrated state-level opposition to federal desegregation mandates.
Fill in the blank: The Civil Rights Movement aimed for equal access to _______.
employment, housing, education, voting, and freedom from racial discrimination.
True or False: The ‘Brown v Board of Education’ ruling was immediately implemented in all Southern states.
False.
Many Southern states resisted desegregation, and some did not comply for years.
What did Elizabeth Eckford experience on her first day at Central High School?
She faced hostility and was prevented from entering the school by armed guards.
This incident reflected the intense racial tension and violence of the era.
What was the impact of the ‘Brown v Board of Education’ ruling on school desegregation?
It led to many cities beginning to desegregate schools, although some states resisted.
The ruling was a catalyst for further civil rights activism.
What was the significance of the Supreme Court ruling against segregation in schools?
It was an important victory for the Civil Rights Movement and the NAACP.
What event in 1955 marked a key moment in the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery, Alabama?
The Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Who was Rosa Parks, and what did she do on December 1, 1955?
A 42-year-old African-American woman who refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger.
What was the immediate consequence of Rosa Parks’ refusal to move on the bus?
She was arrested and jailed.
What role did Martin Luther King play in the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
He was chosen to lead the boycott.
What was the primary outcome of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
The Supreme Court ruled that segregated buses were illegal.
What percentage of the bus company’s business did African-Americans provide?
75 percent.
What term describes Martin Luther King’s approach to achieving equal rights?
Non-violent protest.
