Social Transformations: 1950s

Jim Crow Laws

State laws in the South that legalized segregation. (Separate water fountains, schools, parks, etc)

institutionalized racism

racist attitudes that are held by the vast majority of people living in a society where stereotypes and discrimination are the norm; laws and practices that uphold racism

Redlining

A process by which banks draw lines on a map and refuse to lend money to purchase or improve property within the "red" boundaries. Legacy: increased Policing, poor schools, lack generational wealth, less safe, healthy options; Monopoly examples- Baltic and Mediterranean Avenue were actual redlined areas in Atlantic City. Examples of "Green" or "Blue" areas that were populated mainly by white people who did receive loans were Ventor Ave and Boardwalk.

White Flight

50's movement where middle-class white Americans fled to suburbs leaving inner cities to decay; white-only neighborhoods (Levittown), covenants (agreements) to rent/buy to only white people; "sundown towns"

Sun Belt Migration

Trend in the US of more people moving into the South and South West. The pull factors were increasing job opportunities in defense and high tech industries and the invention of air conditioning.

1950s Women

Cold war enforced strict gender roles as a propaganda effort; faced social pressure to return to a "cult of domesticity"; be the perfect housewife; consume new household products,

1950s Culture

Baby Boom, GI Bill, Growth of Suburbs, Car Culture, Teenagers, Rock N Roll

GI Bill

law passed in 1944 to help returning veterans buy homes and pay for higher educations

Car culture in the 1950s

the US had the highest car ownership in the world, because of the combination of a growing interstate highway system and inexpensive cars

Baby Boom

Estimated 60-70 million war babies were born between 1942 and 1964.

Growth of Suburbs In 1950s

1950s was a time of prosperity and Americans were buying homes. Builders mass produced homes and made them available at a lower cost.

Nuclear Family

1950s ideal: Mother, father and children living as a unit

Korean War (1950-1953)

The conflict between Communist North Korea and Non-Communist South Korea. The United Nations (led by the United States) helped South Korea by sending American troops to contain the threat of communism.

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

War between North Vietnam and its communist allies and South Vietnam and its capitalist allies. US goal was to try to contain the spread of communism. North Vietnam wins after long and grueling fight. By end of war, most Americans are against it.

1950s innovations

Television, Birth control, Polio Vaccine, More Cars, Jet Planes, Nuclear Power Plants