1950s Domestic Review

Discretionary Income

Money that people spend on items they WANT but do not NEED helped contribute to consumerism

Consumerism

Culture of buying goods in large amounts fueled by advertising and economic prosperity- Now CHEAPER than ever!

GI Bill

Law providing benefits to WWII veterans, including tuition assistance and low-interest home alone

Fair Deal

Truman’s program aimed at expanding social programs like healthcare and civil rights - Attempt to continue FDR’s Policies

William J. Levitt

Developer of mass-produced suburban housing, creating “Levittowns”

Suburbs

Residential areas outside cities that got popular because of postwar housing demands

White Flight

White americans moving from the city to the suburbs but left cities in worse conditions

Service Sector

Part of the economy focused on providing services rather than goods (healthcare and retail)

Automobiles

Cars became essentials for suburban life

Reasons to move to suburbs

Affordable housing, better schools, safety, and rise of car culture

Dixiecrat party

Southern Democrats who opposed Truman’s civil rights and split from og Democrat Party

Smith Act

Law making it illegal to talk about overthrowing against U.S. Gov’t

HUAC

Investigated alleged communist influence in Hollywood/Gov’t

Taft Hartley Act

Law restricting labor unions - Overturned many rights won by unions during the New Deal

Joe McCarthy

Senator who led anti-communist hunts and falsely accused many of being Soviet spies

Causes of the baby boom

Soldiers returning from WWII, economic prosperity, and cultural emphasis on family

Effects of baby boom

Increased demand for schools, housing,and consumer goods, shaping 1950s society

Television

Became a dominant form of entertainment, culture, and advertisement

Dr. Benjamin Spock

Wrote a book about permissive parenting styles

Roles of women

Encouraged to be housewives and mothers

1952

Eisenhower won the election in this year

Interstate Highway System

Eisenhower’s project to create national highways, boosting economy and suburban growth

Effects of more highways

Growth of suburbs, increased car culture,decline of railroads, and rise of fast food/motels

Checkers speech

Richard Nixon’s televised defense against corruption charges,saving his VP nomination

Conformity

Cultural pressure to fit into a cookie cutter silhouette

Warminster/Southampton

Examples of suburban area in Pennsylvania

Sunbelt Migration

Population shifting to the South/West for jobs, better climate, and lower taxes

Beatniks

Group rebelling against conformity and materialism

Fallout Shelters

Built by families due to fear of nuclear war with Soviet Union

Dick Clark

Host of American Bandstand; promoted rock n roll and teen culture

Rosenbergs

Couple executed for being alleged Soviet spies

Alger Hiss

Former gov’t official accused of being a Soviet spy; convicted of perjury

Other America

Book by Michael Harrington exposing poverty in the U.S.

Hollywood Ten

Group of left-wing writers who were/had been communist and REFUSED to speak - Went to PRISON

Blacklist

Movie executives created a list of entertainment figures who should not be hired because of commie ties