APUSH Ch. 26

Post-WWII Economic Boom

US economy grew due to global recovery.

Pax Americana

Period of American economic dominance post-WWII.

Bretton Woods Conference

1944 meeting establishing global economic institutions.

World Bank

Provides loans to developing countries.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Stabilizes international currencies.

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

Sets global trade rules established in 1947.

Military-Industrial Complex

Eisenhower's term for military-industry collaboration.

Defense Department Bureaucracy

Grew significantly for national security post-WWII.

Defense Spending Increase

Rose from 1% to 10% of GDP.

Sputnik Launch

1957 USSR satellite prompting US education reforms.

National Defense Education Act

1958 act increasing funding for scientific research.

Corporate Domination

Post-WWII corporations expanded and took over industries.

White-Collar Workforce

New workers sourced from universities for corporations.

David Riseman's The Lonely Crowd

Critique of corporate life as unmasculine.

Automation Impact

Manufacturing jobs lost to machines post-WWII.

GDP Growth

US GDP doubled in 15 years, quintupled in 30.

Income Inequality Reduction

Dropped by 33% during postwar prosperity.

The Affluent Society

Galbraith's critique of neglecting the poor.

The Other America

Harrington's focus on the overlooked impoverished.

GI Bill

1944 law aiding WWII veterans' education and housing.

Trade Unions' Role

Gained power post-Great Depression, improved worker conditions.

Consumer Republic

A society characterized by high levels of consumption.

Baby Boom

Significant increase in births post-WWII.

Disposable Income

Income available for spending after necessities.

Commercial TV

Television programming designed to sell products.

Nuclear Family

Family unit consisting of parents and children.

Teenager

Cultural phenomenon emerging post-WWI, influencing markets.

Market Research

Study of consumer preferences and buying habits.

Rock 'n' Roll

Music genre symbolizing rebellion and youth culture.

Cultural Dissenters

Individuals rejecting mainstream societal norms.

Beat Generation

Literary movement emphasizing rebellion and nonconformity.

Billy Graham

Evangelist who used TV to spread Christianity.

Robert Schuller

Preacher integrating modern materialism into his message.

Vincent Peale

Author promoting therapeutic approaches to religion.

Cold War

Period of geopolitical tension post-WWII.

Compassionate Marriages

Marriages focused on romance and friendship.

Middle Class

Social class characterized by moderate income and lifestyle.

Television Advertisers

Professionals skilled in promoting products via TV.

Youth Culture

Cultural norms and practices of young people.

Hollywood Influence

Impact of film industry on youth spending habits.

Interracial Dating

Romantic relationships between individuals of different races.

Pledge of Allegiance

U.S. patriotic oath, modified in 1954.

Materialism in Religion

Integration of consumer values into religious messages.

Baby Boom

Significant increase in birth rates post-WWII.

Average Marriage Age

Lowered age at which Americans married.

Dr. Jonas Salk

Developed the polio vaccine in 1954.

Common Sense Book

Dr. Spock's influential parenting guide.

Feminism Rise

Women questioned traditional roles, leading to feminism.

Women in Workforce

Increased participation of women in jobs post-WWII.

Cultural Conservatism

Rise in traditional values during the postwar era.

Griswold v. Connecticut

1965 case allowing contraceptive access for women.

Alfred Kinsey

Studied American sexual behavior scientifically.

Homophile Movement

Activism for gay and lesbian rights in America.

Media Influence

Concerns over morality in media content emerged.

Playboy Magazine

Founded in 1953, promoted a sexual lifestyle.

Women's Pay Gap

Women earned 60% of men's wages.

Middle-Class Values

Emphasis on education and family stability.

Miracle Drugs

Medications that significantly improved health outcomes.

Penicillin

Antibiotic discovered in 1943, revolutionized medicine.

Streptomycin

Antibiotic introduced in 1945 for tuberculosis treatment.

Cortisone

Anti-inflammatory drug introduced in 1946.

Job Market Tightness

Baby boomers faced limited job opportunities upon entry.

Women's Roles

Expected to manage home and family responsibilities.

Stereotypical Jobs

Women often restricted to traditional career paths.

College Enrollment Surge

Increase in students attending college during this era.

Suburbanization

Movement of people from cities to suburbs post-WWII.

Postwar Housing Boom

Rapid increase in suburban housing after WWII.

William J. Levitt

Builder known for mass-producing affordable homes.

FHA

Federal Housing Administration; facilitated affordable mortgages.

VA

Veterans Administration; supported home loans for veterans.

Levittowns

Suburban communities created by Levitt, racially exclusive.

Shelley v. Kraemer

1948 case outlawing racial covenants in housing.

Fair Housing Act

1968 law prohibiting housing discrimination.

Interstate Highways Act

1956 law funding 42,500 miles of highways.

Cold War Infrastructure

Highways built for defense against nuclear attacks.

Dwight Eisenhower

President who endorsed the Interstate Highways Act.

Fast Food Industry

Began with McDonald's, revolutionized suburban dining.

Ray Kroc

Expanded McDonald's into largest restaurant chain.

Sunbelt

Region known for low taxes and mild climate.

Military Industrial Complex

Economic growth driven by defense spending.

Orange County, CA

Example of suburban growth linked to military bases.

Disneyland

Theme park in Orange County, spurred suburban development.

Shopping Malls

New consumer centers that fit suburban lifestyles.

Consumption Culture

Postwar focus on consumerism as societal keystone.

Racial Discrimination

Continued in housing despite legal prohibitions.

Suburban Lifestyle

Characterized by car commuting and shopping centers.

Kerner Commission

1967 report on racial division in America.

Urban Crisis

Problems in cities due to poverty and racism.

Post-WWII Immigration

Increased acceptance of immigrants after World War II.

Displaced Persons Act

1948 law allowing 415,000 European immigrants.

McCarran-Walter Act

1952 law ending Asian immigration exclusion.

Bracero Program

1942 program utilizing Mexican labor in agriculture.

Urban Immigrants

Post-WWII immigrants settling in major cities.

Cuban Refugees

Immigrants fleeing Castro's regime, settling in Miami.

Institutionalized Racism

Systemic discrimination affecting African Americans' opportunities.

Slum Housing

Poor quality housing in urban areas.

Racial Segregation

Separation of races in housing and communities.

Federal Housing Projects

Government-funded housing often isolating communities.

Urban Displacement

1.4 million people displaced by city demolition.

Eisenhower's Dynamic Conservatism

Balanced welfare with reduced federal government power.