Topic 59: Political, Social and Economic Evolution of the US since 1945. Their Influence in International Politics. Current Literary Overview

Introduction

• Significant sociopolitical and economic transformation since 1945

  • After WWII, the US was a superpower

  • Entered Cold War, adopted anti-communist policies

  • Civil Rights Movement (Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965)

  • Feminist and LGBTQ+ movements

• Shifts between liberal and conservative ideologies

  • Mid 20th century: Democratic leaders (Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson)

  • 1980s: Republican leaders (Ronald Reagan)

• Economy

  • Post-war industrial growth, technological innovation, thriving middle class (”Golden Age of Capitalism”)

  • Shift into service economy

  • Tech boom of the 1990s

  • 2007-2008 financial crisis

Authors and works

• Novel

  • Ralph Ellison (The Invisible Man)

  • Toni Morrison (Beloved)

  • Philip Roth (American Pastoral)

• Drama

  • Arthur Miller (Death of a Salesman)

  • Tennessee Williams (A Streetcar Named Desire)

  • August Wilson (Fences)

• Poetry

  • Sylvia Plath (Ariel)

  • Allen Ginseberg (Howl)

  • Maya Angelou (And Still I Rise)

Historical background (Post-war period)

• Beginning of the Cold War, a prolonged state of geopolitical tension with the Soviet Union

• Containment policies against communism

• Initiatives: Marshall Plan, NATO

Historical Background (Mid-20th century)

• Pivotal for social change (Civil Rights Movement)

  • Civil Rights Act (1964), Voting Rights Act (1965)

Historical Background (1960s-1970s)

• Continued Cold War conflicts and domestic changes

• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) heightens superpower rivalry

• Vietnam War (1955-1975) divisive conflict

• Domestically, feminist, environmental and LGBTQ+ rights movements gain momentum

Historical Background (1980s)

• Conservative shift in politics under president Reagan (deregulation, tax cuts, strong anti-communist stance)

• Reagan’s politics contributed to the end of the Cold War (fall of Berlin Wall in 1989, dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991)

  • US becomes sole superpower

Historical Background (1990s)

• Rise of globalisation

• US promotes free trade and economic integration through agreements like North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the establishment of the World Trade Organisation

• Tech boom, digital economy

Historical Background (Early 21st century)

• New challenges

  • Terrorist attacks on September 11, 2002

  • War on Terror

  • Conflicts on Afghanistan and Iraq

• Economic challenges

  • Dot-com bust

  • 2007-2008 financial crisis

  • Great Recession (needed significant government intervention and stimulus measures)

• Politics

  • Polarisation intensified, contrasting presidencies

    • Barack Obama: healthcare reform, environmental issues

    • Donald Trump: tax cuts, deregulation, nationalist policies

Social evolution

• Profound changes since the 1945

• End of racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans after the Civil Rights Movement

• Feminist movement gained traction in the 1960s-1970s, advocating for gender equality and women’s rights

• LGBTQ+ rights movement, legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2015

• Latter part of the 20th and early 21st century witnessed increasing cultural diversity due to immigration, which enriched the nation’s cultural tapestry

Political evolution

• Post-1945 era marked by shifts between liberal and conservative ideologies

  • Mid 20th century

    • Dominance of the Democratic Party with politicians such as Roosevelt, Truman and Lyndon B. Johnson, who implemented progressive policies such as the New Deal and the Great Society programs

  • Latter part of the 20th century

    • Conservative resurgence

      • Election of Reagan in the 1980s (deregulation, tax cuts, strong military stance)

      • Presidencies of George W. Bush and Donald Trump (tax reforms, conservative judicial appointments, nationalist foreign policty)

    • Periods of centrist and progressiev policies

      • Bill Clinton and Barack Obama

      • Healthcare reform, environmental regulations, efforts to address income inequality

Economic Evolution

• Significant growth and transformation post 1945

• Immediate post-war period

  • Industrial expansion, technological innovation and burgeoning middle class

  • Golden Age of Capitalism

• Late 20th century

  • Shift towards service-oriented economy

  • Rise of information technology

  • Tech boom of the 1990s

  • Globalisation, free trade agreements

• Early 21st century

  • Economic challenges

    • Dot-com bust

    • Financial crisis of 2007-2008, Great Recession

    • Recovery efforts

US International Influence in Politics (strategies, alliances, interventions)

• Marked influence on international politics since 1945, shaping global order through its economic power and military brute force, starting after WWII when the US emerged as a global superpower

• Adopted anti-communist policies, which impacted its foreign and domestic policies

• US deployed various geopolitical strategies to counter eastern influence

  • Marshall Plan: extensive economic aid to rebuild Western European economies

  • Military alliances:

    • NATO (1949): collective security against potential Soviet aggression

    • Alliances

      • ANZUS pact

      • Treaties with Japan and South Korea

• Arms race against the Soviet Union

  • Vast nuclear arsenal in the US to deter Soviet aggression

  • Arms control agreements

    • SALT and INF treaties

• US as a proponent of democracy and human rights internationally

  • Truman Doctrine: precedent for US intervention in global conflicts to support countries resisting communism

• US in international organisations

  • Founding member and host of the United Nations headquarters

  • Influence in NATO, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the G7/G20

US International Influence in Politics (wars, culture)

• Proxy wars and military intervention during the Cold War

  • Korean War (1950-1953)

  • Vietnam War (1955-1975): resulted in a costly and controversial withdrawal. Effort to prevent the domino effect of communism in Southeast Asia

  • Middle East

    • Support for Israel

    • Gulf Wars

    • War on Terror following the 9/11 attacks

• US cultural reputation

  • Hollywood, music, media

  • Educational exchange programs (Fullbright)

Literary panorama (overview of themes)

• Since 1945 marked by a rich diversity of voices and a profound engagement with social, political and cultural issues

• Personal and collective identity, racial injustice, economic disparity, existential angst

Literary panorama (novels)

• Ralph Ellison

  • Born in 1914

  • One of the most influential African American writers of the 20th century, studied music, pursued writing later

  • Invisible Man (1952): complexities of African American identity and social invisibility in a racially segregated society

• Toni Morrison

  • Born in 1931, a prominent novelist, editor and professor. First African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993

  • Beloved (1987): haunting legacy of slavery and struggles of African American identity post-civil war

• Philip Roth

  • Born in 1933. One of the most prominent and controversial American novelists. His works explore themes of identity, personal conflict and the American Dream

  • American Pastoral (1997): disintegration of American family and the socio-political disturbances of the 1960s

Literary panorama (drama)

• Arthur Miller

  • Born in 1915. Became a renowed playwright whose works often addressed social and political issues. Won numerous awards, including a Pulizter Prize

  • Death of a Salesman (1949): critiques the American Dream through the tragic story of a struggling salesman. Exploration of identity, family and societal expectations

• Tennessee Williams

  • Born in 1911, adopted Tennessee Williams as a pen name. Leading playwright of the 20th century, his works reflect his struggles with mental health and complex familial relationships

  • A Streetcar Named Desire (1947): themes of desire, mental illness and the clash between reality and illusion through the character of Blanche DuBois. Won the Pulitzer Prize

• August Wilson

  • Born in 1945. Acclaimed playwright, known for his ten-play cycle chronicling African American life in the 20th century. Received two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama

  • Fences (1985): struggles and aspirations of an African American family in the 1950s, focuses on race and identity

Literary Panorama (drama)

• Sylvia Plath

  • Born in 1932, poet and novelist known for her confessional style of writing. Her work explores themes of mental inllness, death and self-identity

  • Ariel (1965): posthumously published collection of poems noted for its intensity, vivid imagery and exploration of personal suffering and liberation

• Allen Ginseberg

  • Born in 1926, leading figure of the Beat Generation. His poetry is known for its candidness, political activism and challenge to societal norms.

  • Howl (1956), a poem with a powerful critique of modern society, exploring themes of sexuality, mental illness and disillusionment

• Maya Angelou

  • Born in 1928, adopted Maya Angelou as a pen name. A poet, memoirist and civil rights activist. Her work reflects her life experiences and advocacy for social justice

  • And I Still Rise (1978): a collection of poems that celebrates resilience, strength and the indomitable spirit of African American women

Relevance of topic 59 in the classroom

Curriculum Element	Topic 59 Contribution
Specific Competences	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Key Competences	CCL, CP, CPSAA, CC, CD, CCEC (especially CCEC and CC)
Operating Descriptors	Comprehension strategies, literary production, turn-taking, mediation, plurilingual awareness
End-of-Stage Profile	Effective communication in diverse contexts; cultural appreciation; critical thinking
Basic Knowledge	Conceptual (Cold War, Civil Rights, post-war literature), Procedural (analysis, interpretation), Attitudinal (respect for diversity and social justice)
21st Century Challenges	Globalisation, Digital Transformation, Education, Inequalities, Migration, Gender Equality, Sustainability
SDGs	4, 5, 10, 16