Chapter 28 – The Affluent Society

A collection of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms and concepts from Chapter 28 of The Unfinished Nation.

The Economic Miracle

The post-World War II rapid economic expansion characterized by massive government spending, consumer demand, and suburban growth.

Suburban Growth

The expansion of residential areas outside urban centers, exemplified by developments like Levittown.

Baby Boom

The significant increase in the birth rate following World War II, leading to increased demand for housing and consumer goods.

Federal Highway Act of 1956

Legislation that facilitated the expansion of the automobile industry by funding the construction of interstate highways.

Medical Advances

Breakthroughs in health care such as the mass production of penicillin and development of polio vaccine.

UNIVAC

The first modern computer that marked the beginning of the information age.

Sputnik

The first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union, which initiated major federal initiatives in space exploration.

Consumer Culture

A society characterized by the acquisition of goods and services, heavily influenced by advertising and easy credit.

Rock 'n' Roll

A music genre that emerged in the 1950s, reflecting youth culture and contributing to social change.

Urban Poverty

Economic difficulties faced by inner-city populations during the 1950s as middle-class families moved to suburbs.

Brown v. Board of Education

A landmark Supreme Court case that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional.

Civil Rights Movement

A struggle for social justice and equality for African Americans, driven by grassroots protests and leadership figures like Martin Luther King Jr.

Dynamic Conservatism

President Eisenhower's domestic policy that aimed to balance fiscal conservatism with acceptance of social welfare programs.

Massive Retaliation

A Cold War strategy that aimed to deter Soviet aggression through the threat of nuclear force rather than large-scale military deployment.

Military-Industrial Complex

The relationship between a country's military, economy, and politics, as cautioned against by President Eisenhower.