Post-War American Society Flashcards
How did prosperity grow after WW2?
The total value of all goods and services produced doubled
The economic boom increased as the US has suffered no mainland bombing
Many wealthy Americans moved from cities to suburban areas, relying on motor transport
Refrigerators and washing machines and TVs were even more common in the household
The living standard had increased dramatically for an American
Spending rather than saving became the normal as there was a-lot more advertisements
What was the normal way to buy?
Through hire purchase - a lot more people got used to living on credit, rather than saving up
Many realised the goods were only expected to last a few years before they’d be replaced with a newer model
Very difficult to get spare parts for older models so many people were tempted into getting the latest good/model
How did pop culture blossom?
It was dominated by Tv, Radio and Cinema with many films reflecting the confidence and optimism of white America
American youth had a lot more leisure time and spending money than those in 1920s, with the term ‘teenager’ coming to light.
Any teens acted against parents and rebelled and many of this was reflected in films
How did music blossom?
Rock n roll became really popular among teenagers.
Rock n roll starts included Chuck Berry, Little Richard e.t.c
Elvis Presley became a very famous figure as he wowed fans
He had around 170 hit singles and 80 top-selling albums
How many households had TVs in 1948 compared to 1958?
1948 - 0.4% of households had a TV
1958- 83.2% of households had a TV
How was TV really popular?
It replaced reading, listening to the radio and even going to he cinema
Most TVs has advertisements which encourage spending
Most programmes were game shows, soap operas and sitcoms which rarely any serious programmes
It became really powerful as stuff was bought depending on how heavily advertised it was on TV
With everyone watching the same programme it created a new sense of national culture
Why did fear of communism increase after WW2?
Because Russia had taken control of Eastern Europe and China fell to the communists and Americans were afraid it was spreading
How did Fear start to spread within America?
Many Americans suspected people of being communists if they didn’t display American virtues (e.g. freedom, patriotism)
Fears were so great that the US congress set up HUAC - (House Un-American Activities Committee) to investigate communist involvement in government, education and film industry
Many people were sacked on suspicion and many people were accused
Who was Joseph McCarthy?
He was a senator who started a campaign against possible Communists using half-truths, rumours, smears and lies
When were fears against communists particularly strong?
Around the start of the Korean War
What did McCarthy claim about communists secretly working in America?
Many used the phrase ‘Reds under the beds’
McCarthy claimed that many communists sympathisers were working in the government so he put many on trial and found them guilty with little proof
He never under covered any real evidence but it was still a wide spread fear
When did people think McCarthy had gone too far?
When he began to accuse some officers in the US army
A committee was sent to investigate Joseph McCarthy and he was shown to be an irresponsible bully
However, damage had been done to many people’s lives and the reputation of the US due to these accusations
What did McCarthy’s allie, J Edgar Hoover, keep doing?
Him and the FBI kept files on 1million suspects and he used techniques such as phone-tapping
These were used to investigate civil right leaders e.g. Martin Luther King
What are some examples of Segregation laws/racial prejudice?
In many states African-Americans were prevented from voting, often through violence (in Mississippi many faced lynching if tried to vote)
Most police failed to prevent these attacks, with some taking part in them
White juries almost always drop the case when a white was accused of killing an African-American
In South, white teachers earned 30% more than African-American
The best universities were closed to black people (In 1958, an African American teacher was committed to a mental asylum after applying to the university of Mississippi)
What was the Brown v Board of education case?
The NAACP brought a case about a young girl called Linda Brown (African American) who had to walk several miles across dangerous railway tracks to go to school, as she wasn’t allowed to go to a white-only school which was closer to her home
They chose this case as a test to see whether the Supreme Court would allow states to continue to segregate schools
What happened in May 1954 for the Brown v Board case?
Chief Justice Earl Warren announced in favour of Linda Brown and the NAACP
He said segregated education should not be considered equal
He ordered that southern states set up integrated schools fast
What happened in the Little Rock (Arkansas) situation in 1957?
The Supreme Court ordered the Governor of Arkansas to allows 9 African Americans to attend a white high school in Little Rock.
The governor ordered his troops to prevent the African Americans from attending, claiming he couldn’t guarantee their safety if they went
He only backed down when President Eisenhower sent federal troops to protect the students which stayed for 6 weeks
How did the Civil Rights movement first start in Montgomery with Rosa Parks in 1955?
Montgomery had a bus law that African Americans had to sit at the back of the bus and had to give up their seat of a white person wanted them
Rosa Parks took a stand and refused to give yo her seat to a white man
She was arrested and convicted of breaking the bus laws
What did the MIA then do?
The Montgomery Improvement Association organised a bus boycott.
On the first day of the boycott, the busses were empty and 10-15,000 people turned up to hear a speech from Martin Luther King (newly elected president of MIA)
The boycott was a success as the bus company lost 65% of its income
Many African-Americans car-pooled which carried 2/3 of passengers the buses would’ve had, with the rest walking
What did this lead to in December 1956?
The Supreme Court declared Montgomery’s bus laws to be illegal which meant all segregation of public services were illegal
How were the MIA leaders/people subjected to intimidation?
Although it was the first major example of non-violent action, Martin Luther King was arrested twice
Local judges passed injunctions to declare car pooling illegal
Churches and homes were set on fire and racially integrated buses were shot at by snipers
Who were the SCLC?
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
It ran conferences and trained civil rights activists in techniques of non-violent protests, and how to handle the police, law and media
It was formed by Martin Luther King
Who were the SNCC?
Student Non-Violent Coordinating committee
Formed by many African American and white students
What was CORE?
Congress of Racial Equality
Formed by James Farmer
What campaign did the SNCC students do in 1960, in Greensboro?
A local branch in Woolworths had a lunch counter which had seats only for whites, and African Americans had to stand
4 black students sat in the white-only seats and refused to leave when they were refused service
The next day 23 students did the same, then 66 the next day
Within a week, 400 African Americans and White students were organising sit ins at lunch counters in the town
