Prosperity and Anxiety (1950s) Flashcards
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Supreme Court decision stating that “separate but equal” schools for white and black students were unconstitutional and school districts across America must desegregate with “all deliberate speed”. Controversy over this lasted for over a decade.
Montgomery bus boycott
a 1955 effort by blacks in Montgomery to have the local bus company end discriminatory seating and hiring policies. the movement began with Rosa Parks refusing to give up her bus seat, and the boycott was later continued by MLK jr.
baby boom
from 1947-1962, Americans married and had children at a record pace after the end of WWII. the “high point” of the baby boom was 1957.
The Feminine Mystique
a book written by Betty Friedan describing the frustration of suburban women in the 1950s and became a landmark for feminism in the 1960s-70s.
James Dean
young actor starring in a rebellious film that inspired many young people of the 1950s
Beat Generation
literary movement of the 1950s; writers of this movement rejected the materialistic American culture of the decade. Writers of this time included Kerouac, Ginsberg, and Burroughs.
GI Bill
Originally called “the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944” this legislation gave benefits to returning WWII veterans, including financial assistance for those wanting to go to college or get job training. There were also loan programs available for veterans looking for homes or businesses.
Levittowns
After WWII, the first “suburban” neighborhood. Located in Long Island, houses in this development were small, but perfect for the postwar family hoping to escape urban life. Levittown would become a symbol of the post-WWII flight to suburbia.
Taft-Hartley Act
1947 Congressional legislation that aided the owners in labor disputes. In key industries the president could declare an 80-day cooling-off period before a strike could take place; the bill allowed owners to sue unions over broken contracts and forced union leaders to sign anti-Communist oaths. The bill was passed over Truman’s veto although it had only been for political reasons.
Fair Deal
a series of domestic programs proposed to Congress by President Truman that included a Fair Employment Practices Act, a call for government construction of public housing, an extension of Social Security, and a proposal to ensure employment for all American workers.
Checkers Speech
Speech by Nixon on TV on September 23, 1952, where he defended himself against charges that rich supporters had set up a special expense account for his use. This speech saved his spot of the 1952 Republican ticket (as VP) and saved his political career.
domesticity
social trend of post-WWII America; many Americans turned to family and homelife as a source of contentment. Emphasis on family as a source of fulfillment forced some women to abandon the workforce and achieve “satisfaction” as homemakers.
Rebel Without a Cause
1955 film starring James Dean exploring the difficulties of family life and the alienation teenagers felt in the 1950s. Juvenile delinquency was the main focus of the film as well as the source of many other youth-oriented films of the time.
