History

Truman’s Fair Deal

President Truman's proposals for domestic economic reforms including a nationwide health care system, increased minimum wage, extension of Social Security, and financial aid for failing cities.

GI Bill of Rights

Legislation that provided a range of benefits to returning World War II veterans, including education and housing assistance.

Consumerism

An economic and social theory that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.

Baby Boom

A significant increase in birth rates in the United States during the late 1940s through the early 1960s.

Suburban Living

A lifestyle characterized by living in residential areas outside city centers, often associated with the post-war American Dream.

Interstate Highway Act

A 1956 law that authorized the construction of a national network of interstate highways, significantly transforming American transportation.

Television's Impact

The role of television in shaping culture and societal norms, promoting traditional American values, and creating a mass audience.

Beat Generation

A literary and cultural movement of the 1950s that rejected conventional values and celebrated spontaneity, exploration, and artistic expression.

Atomic Anxieties

Public fears associated with nuclear weapons and the threat of atomic warfare prevalent during the Cold War.

McCarthy Hearings

A series of hearings led by Senator Joe McCarthy to investigate alleged Communist influence in the government, often infringing upon the rights of individuals.