James Patterson Grand Expectations The United States 1945 1974 SD

Momentum of Expectations: Following WWII, expectations regarding America’s role and capabilities surged.

The 1940s and 50s: Characterized by initial optimism that gained acceleration in the early 1960s.

Notable stymied progress occurred later, but core expectations persisted in American cultural aspirations.

Given the state of the economy, the optimism is intriguing:

• Living Conditions:

  • 1947: One-third of homes lacked running water; two-fifths lacked flush toilets.

  • 30% of Americans lived in poverty by contemporary standards.

  • Only 46% had telephones; 43% of farm dwellings lacked electricity.

• Education: Only 12.5% of youth aged 18-24 attended any form of higher education in 1946.

Despite conditions, Americans' expectations were high based on international status:

• In 1945, Walter Lippmann envisioned America’s role on the global stage, akin to Rome and Great Britain’s past.

• By the late 1940s:

  • U.S. had 7% of the world’s population but produced about 50% of global manufacturing.

  • U.S. manufactured 57% of the world’s steel, 43% of its energy, and 80% of its cars.

Rapid increase in car ownership:

1950: 40.3 million cars for nearly the same number of families.

1960: 73.8 million cars for 45 million families.

Influence of culture and optimism reflected in design elements of the 50s:

• Thomas Hine's "Populux": Discusses design trends of the era linking them to optimism and innovation, portraying an "onward and upward" feeling.

Significant advancements during this period fueled optimism:

• Development of penicillin, radar, and the fight against polio.

• Prominent scientists predicted near eradication of diseases, viewing scientific progress as an unstoppable force.

Civil Rights Movement: Intensified its efforts, creating a widespread and newfound rights consciousness.

Following from this, various groups began advocating for their rights inspired by the civil rights activism.

Economic Growth: Period of extraordinary growth continued throughout the early 1960s with consistent annual rates around 5%.

As younger generations growing up in prosperity came of age, they had different perspectives on America's potential compared to previous generations.

Legislative Changes: The burgeoning rights revolution in conjunction with strong economic growth fostered expectations for social improvement and consumption.

The culmination of high expectations produced a distinctive American ethos:

• Military Mindset: Heightened during engagement in Vietnam which stemmed from belief in capability and dominance.

• Optimism in Policy Making: Initiatives like the War on Poverty illustrated a belief that poverty could be eradicated through governmental efforts rooted in optimism.

Post-1960s, several events led to a significant shift in the American psyche:

• Vietnam War Loss: First perceived humiliating defeat.

• Government Transparency: Scandals like Watergate bred distrust in government entities.

• Economic Turmoil: The 1973 oil embargo and subsequent recession marked an economic downturn.

• Cynicism towards Authority: Emerged, evidenced by growing skepticism of politicians and experts; the realignment of public opinion began to take shape.

Conservative movements arose in response to liberal policies:

• Groups emerged to critique cultural shifts associated with youth activism and changes in social norms, revealing underlying societal tensions.

• Statements from politicians like George Wallace signify the populist backlash against elites.

Despite the visible decline of explicit grand expectations, underlying sentiments persist:

• Today’s discontent can be traced back to these unfulfilled aspirations.

• Reflection on reality versus expectations informs contemporary societal challenges, particularly in how people perceive their economic mobility and opportunities.

The ongoing challenge in American society reflects a reluctance to accept limitations, manifesting through repeated cycles of optimism and resultant