History of the United States Final Exam

Jesus Colon

(1901 - 1974). journalist on experience of Puerto Rican migrants to NYC. Published over 400 essays or "Cronicas" on the day to day life. "A Puerto Rican in NY" (1961) was 1st English language memoir by a Puerto Rican writer. Credited with inspiring "Nuyorican Literary Movement" of 1960s/70s (Piri Thomas, Esmerelda Santiago)

Jackie Robinson

(1947 Brooklyn Dodgers - National League) first black player to be integrated into professional national american baseball team.

Larry Doby

(1948 Cleveland Indians - American league) first black player to be integrated onto american league baseball team.

Bill Russell

(1950s-1960s) 1st Afro-American NBA superstar. Played for Boston Celtics. Symbol of resistance against racism. Defined modern defense. Became first black coach in NBA (for Celtics and seattle.) Spoke out about racial inequality. Had bad relations with press/public of boston (called names, subjected to humiliations, sports writers wrote about him with ignorance) Challenges he and other black players faced on road included being denied meals, rooms, accommodations. This made him angry, resistant/resilient; supported figures like Muhammad Ali. Called Boston a 'flea market' of racism.

Salt of the Earth

(1954). Independent film sponsored by Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter workers, which was expelled from larger labor federation for associating with Communist Party USA. Written/Directed by filmmakers "blacklisted" by Hollywood Studios (Herbert Biberman, Michael Wilson, Paul Jarrico). Film based on actual Mine strike within the Empire Zinc Copmany in New Mexico. Film featured real strike organizers such as Juan Chacon, Clinton Jencks "El Palomino". Only 5 trained actors in the film including Rosaura Revuelta.

Popularity of James Dean

(Rebel Without a Cause 1955) and East of Eden and Giant was vivid sign of youth culture in the 1950s. Became icon of unfocused rebelliousness of American youth in his time.

The Suburban Nation

1/3 of nation's population lived in suburbs by 1960. Result not only of increased affluence but of important innovations in home building, made single-family houses affordable.

Postwar Electronic Research

1940s-50s saw new developments in electronic technology. TV technology that made it possible to broadcast programming over large areas. Late 50s: scientists developed color TVs. First became widely available in early 60s. Integrated Circuits Invented, made it possible to create complex electronic devices requiring complicated circuitry. Helped advance development of the computer.

Technology of Bombs, Rockets, and Missiles post WWII

1952: US detonates first hydrogen bomb. Development of Nuclear fusion (joining together of lighter atomic elements with heavier ones) Hydrogen bomb gave impetus to US/Soviet effort to develop unmanned rockets and missiles capable of carrying the new weapons (not suitable for delivery by airplanes) to their targets. US benefited from emigration of some of the German scientists who had helped develop rocketry for Germany during WWII. ICBMs. longer-range missiles that were capable of traveling through space/across oceans/continents to reach distant targets: Intercontinental ballistic Missiles.

The poverty line in post wwII america/poor groups

1960 more than 1/5 of American families continued to live below poverty line. This was reduced dramatically (before, it was 1/3) however, many millions more lived just above the official poverty line, but with incomes that gave them little comfort/no security. Most of the poor experienced poverty intermittently and temporarily, but 20% were people for whom poverty was a continuous, often inescapable reality, which included half the nation's elderly, and proportion of blacks/Hispanics. Native Americans were the single poorest group in country.

"War on Poverty"

1960-1975. Poverty was focus of public policy under administrations of John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Democratic Congress, Civil Rights, Activism. Felt they were in a good position to address this question of poverty and begin to reduce it once and for all. Led to new redistributive process of govt and of giving to those in need.

City of Hope (film)

1991. 7th film of John Sayles. Set in fictional city of Hudson City, NJ. Symbol of urban US in late 20th century. Explored social issues of the 1970s-80s. Among challenges it tackled were Urban decay; physical settings, result of substantial disinvestment in upkeep. Industrial Disinvestment; as factories leave urban centers. Social malaise; decline in ethics, rise in corruption, failure/erosion of institutions (political, corporate, personal). Multiple stories reflect themes of times (Son nicky's pain of criminal past, his father the corrupt builder, the black City councilman race/ethics issues, the Divorced mother, college professor). City of Hope - 1970s-80s social issues. Also tackled the "Deinstitutionalization" of the mentally ill, shifting perception of homosexuals (1950s repression: questions of national security, called a Mental disorder, broad discrimination, 1960s stonewall rebellion/1970s gay pride movements) a New urban menace and perceptions of racialized urban violence. Black/brown youths "taking over the streets". the Shifting portrait of the poor, Racialized 'underclass' and Ethnic/race competition for control of city hall.

Howl

Allen Ginsberg's dark, bitter poem decries "robot apartments, invincible suburbs, skeleton treasuries, blind capitals, and demonic industries" of modern life.

Clinton Jencks "El Palomino"

Anglo leader of strike jailed for 16 months. Starred in "Salt of the Earth".

Segregated Suburbs

Another factor motivating white Americans to move to suburbs was race. Most suburbs restricted to white inhabitants, because relatively few blacks could afford to live in them, because formal and informal barriers kept even prosperous blacks out of all but a few. In era when black population of most cities was rapidly growing, many white families fled to suburbs to escape integration of urban neighborhoods/schools.

"Salt of the Earth" reflects several issues of the 1950s

Anti-communism (public hearings of US House of Representatives (HUAC) and Senate (McCarthyism). The struggle between Capital and Labor (1947 Taft-Hartley Act: anti-union). The questioning of traditional roles of men and women. Ethnic/racial anxieties (what defines an American).

Beats

Big part of youth culture post WWII. Most derisive critics of bureaucracy, and of middle-class society generally were a group of young poets/writers/artists. Disapproving critics called them "beatniks". They wrote harsh critiques of sterility/conformity of American life, meaninglessness of American politics, and the banality of popular culture.

American's experienced golden age in 50s and early 60s was largely result of two developments

Booming national prosperity which altered the social/economic/physical landscape of the US, and the continuing struggle against communism that created considerable anxiety but also encouraged Americans to look more approvingly at their own society.

Keynesian Welfare State Accepted

By 1950s, the business leaders had acquired different social/political outlook from their Republican predecessors from the 1920s. Nation's leading business executives and financiers had reconciled themselves to broad outlines of this state that the New Deal had launched. Some corporate leaders came to see these welfare benefits (universal benefits, citizens rights) it as something that benefited them by helping maintain social order, Increasing mass purchasing power, Stabilizing labor relations.

1950s saw black bands and singers grow in popularity among both black/white audiences, including stars like

Chuck Berry, Little Richard, BB King, Chubby Checker, the Temptations, and others. Many recorded by black producer Berry Gordy, founder/presiden of Motown Records in Detroit. Never rivaled Presley in their popularity among white youths, but did develop significant multiracial audiences.

CSO

Community Service Organization, organization of mexican-american and mexican activists in the mexican barrios of the southwest, notably in LA.

Supreme Court decision in case of Brown v Board of Education

Court rejected its own 1896 Plessy v Ferguson decision, which had ruled 'separate but equal' constitutional. The Brown decision declared the segregation of public schools on basis of race "unconstitutional". Justices argued that school segregation inflicted damage on those it affected, regardless of relative quality of separate schools. Ruled that communities must work to desegregate their schools, but set no timetable, left decisions up to lower courts.

Economic Growth post WWII

Despite problems of postwar reconversion, an economic expansion began that would continue only with brief interruptions for almost the next 20 years. Grew because of government spending (public funding of schools, housing, vets benefits, welfare, etc) and suburban expansion (baby boom increased consumer demand and expanded economic growth, increased housing and auto and road-building industries. consumers had increased purchasing power).

Army-McCarthy Hearings

During first year of Eisenhower administration, McCarthy continued to operate with impunity (exempt from punishment). But in Jan 1954, he attacked Secretary of Army Robert Stevens and armed services in general. At this point, administration and influential members of Congress organized special investigation of the charges. Among first congressional hearings to be nationally televised. Watching McCarthy bully witnesses, hurl groundless/cruel accusations, and evading issues. Most of public began to see him as villain/buffoon. Senate voted to condemn him for conduct. The red Scare didn't die with McCarthy, but intensity soon declined.

The Decline of McCarthyism

Eisenhower administration did little in first years in office to discourage anticommunist furor in nation, but by 1954 the crusade was beginning to produce popular opposition signaled by political demise of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

The Survival of the Welfare State post WWII

Eisenhower took few new initiatives in domestic policy, HOWEVER he resisted conservative pressure to dismantle those welfare policies of the New Deal that had survived assaults of war years and after. He agreed to extend Social Security system to additional people and Unemployment compensation. Approved an increase to the minimum hourly wage.

John Foster Dulles

Eisenhower's secretary of state. Dominant figure in administration's foreign policy (aside from Eisenhower himself). Aristocratic corporate lawyer with stern moral revulsion to communism. Denounced containment policies of Truman years as excessively passive. Argued that US should pursue active program of "liberation" which would lead to a "rollback" of communist expansion. Once in power, had to defer to more moderate views of Eisenhower. Most prominent of his innovations was policy of 'mass relation'

Why did Americans want to move to the suburbs?

Enormous importance postwar Americans placed on family life after 5 years of war. Suburbs provided families with larger homes than they could find/afford in the cities, made it easier to raise larger numbers of children. Provided privacy/sense of security from noise/dangers of urban living. Offered space for new consumer goods. Race was motivator; most suburbs restricted to whites because few blacks could afford them, plus formal/informal barriers.

Rosaura Revuelta

Famous Mexican film star/dancer. Deported during filming of "Salt of the Earth"

American West experienced most dramatic changes as result of new economic growth post WWII because

Government-Induced Growth. As during WWII, much growth of West was result of federal spending and investment on dams, power stations, highways, military contracts that continued to flow disproportionately to factories in California and Texas, many built with government funds during the war. Also, the growing number of automobiles created new demands for petroleum, which contributed to growth of oil fields in Texas/Colorado and to metropolitan centers serving them: Houston, Dallas, Denver. State Govts. In West invested in their universities These centers of research attracted technology-intensive industries to the region. Climate also contributed to growth in West because they attracted migrants from the East because of warm, dry climates. Growth of LA's new businesses and populations.

Ghettoes

Growth of these neighborhoods owed to vast migration of blacks out of countryside into industrial cities. blacks more likely to live in poverty because of persistence of patterns of discrimination denying them opportunities.

Two key committees within congress at forefront of stirring up pot of exploitation of anti-communist anxieties

HUAC (targeted hollywood, aclu, new deal) and the Senate Subcommittee on Investigation of Government Operations (headed by Senator Joseph McCarthy, targeted state department)

Losers of the urban economy

If you were not able to develop the sectors of technology, higher education, finance, government, science, and health services, and even more if you were not able to multiply/integrate various sectors, then you did not do well in this period. Losers did not make transformation into modern times. Loser cities, like Detroit michigan, gary Indiana, Newark NJ. Their economy is underperforming, not set up for 21st century, in trouble. Great bulk of cities that were vibrant during period of WWII and mid part of 20th century are now loser cities today. Could not make the leap in preparation for modern times.

Postwar Computer Technology

In 50s, began to perform commercial functions for first time First significant computer of 50s is Universal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC) UNIVAC's TV debut became critical breakthrough in public awareness of computer technology

Post WWII Space Program

In beginning, US space program was by-product of rivalry with Soviet Union. Sputnik led to Federal policy encouraging/funding efforts to improve scientific education in schools, create more research laboratories to speed development of America's own exploration of outer space. new agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Creation of the Apollo program to land men on the moon

"Military-Industrial Complex"

In farewell address in Jan 1961, Eisenhower warned of unwarranted influence of this complex. His caution, both domestically and internationally, stood in contrast to attitudes of his successors (who argued that US must act more boldly and aggressively on behalf of its goals at home and abroad.)

Declining Opportunities for Unskilled Workers in cities post WWII

Inner cities filled with poor minority residents at same time that unskilled industrial jobs were diminishing. Employers moving factories/mills from old industrial cities to new locations in rural areas/smaller cities/abroad, where cost of labor was lower. Even in remaining factories, automation reduced number of unskilled jobs. Economic opportunities that had helped earlier immigrant groups to rise up from poverty were unavailable to many post WWII migrants. Racial discrimination in hiring, education, housing doomed members of these communities, continuing and increasing poverty.

Travel, Outdoor Recreation, and Environmentalism post WWII

It wasn't till postwar years that vacation travel became truly widespread among middle-income Americans. Construction of interstate highway system and the increasing affluence of workers contributed to the growth of travel. Urge to travel was also expression of some of the same impulses that produced the suburbs; desire to escape the crowding and stress of densely populated areas and find a place where it was possible to experience the natural world. Visible in National Parks surge in attendance in 50s. Clear in early 50s with fight to preserve Echo Park: federal govts Bureau of Reclamation proposed building a dam. American environmental movement was roused from its slumber. Had impact of arousing opposition to Echo Valley dam from many areas of the country, including the rebirth of the Sierra Club.

"Brinksmanship"

John Foster Dulles' policy of "massive retaliation" reflected his inclination for tense confrontations, an approach he once defined as this phrase, pushing the Soviet Union to the brink of war in order to exact concessions.

Prosperity in the post WWII 50s

Large groups of Americans remained outside the circle of abundance, and shared neither in the affluence of the middle class nor in many of its values.

Organized Society and its Detractors post WWII

Large-scale organizations and bureaucracies increased influence over American life. White collar workers outnumbered blue collar laborers for first time, increasing proportion of them worked in corporate settings with rigid hierarchical structures. Industrial workers also confronted large bureaucracies both in workplace and in their own unions. Reflected in the book 'the organization man'. Novelists expressed misgivings about impersonality of modern society. Argued that the traditional "inner-directed man" who judged himself on basis of his own values and esteem of his family was giving way to a new "other-directed man" more concerned with winning approval of larger organization/community.

Booming corporations were reluctant to allow strikes (would interfere with their operations) which contributed to post WWII growth because

Leaders of large businesses made important concessions to the most important labor unions because these labor unions were now so large and entrenched that they couldn't be easily suppressed/intimidated). By mid 50s, factory wages in all industries had risen substantially.

Martin Luther King

Man chosen to lead boycott movement once it launched. Local Baptist pastor. Son of prominent Atlanta minister. Powerful orator, gifted leader. Approach to black protest was based on doctrine of nonviolent resistance to injustice even in face of direct attack. Produced approach to racial struggle that captured moral high ground for his supporters. Leader of SCLC, an interracial group he founded shortly after the boycott. He was most influential/widely admired black leader in US. Popular movement he represented spread thru south and the country.

Juan Chacon

Mexican-American union leader, welder/miner. Starred in "Salt of the Earth".

"The Other America"

Michael Harrington in 1962, socialist writer published this celebrated book. Chronicled continuing existence of poverty in the US.

William Levitt

Most famous of suburban developers. Came to symbolize new suburban growth with his use of mass-production techniques to construct large developments of houses, each selling for under $10,000.

"mass retaliation"

Most prominent of Dulles' (Eisenhower's secretary of state) innovations. policy announced early in 1954 in which US would respond to communist threats to its allies not by using conventional forces in local conflicts but rather by relying on "the deterrent of massive retaliatory power" (meaning nuclear weapons). But the real force behind this policy was economics; with pressure growing for reduction in US military spending, an increasing reliance on atomic weapons seemed to promise "more bang for the buck"

Federal Highway Act of 1956

One of most significant legislative accomplishments of Eisenhower administration. Authorized $25billion for 10 year project that built over 40,000 miles of interstate highways. Largest public works project in American history. Funded through highway "trust fund" whose revenues would come from new taxes on purchase of automobiles, fuel, trucks, and tires.

The Rise of the Civil Rights Movement

Open battle began in 1950s against racial segregation and discrimination. One of the longest and most difficult social struggles of the century. White Americans ultimately played important role in the civil rights movement, but pressure from blacks themselves was crucial element in raising issue of race to prominence.

Growth of inner city ghettoes post WWII

Over 3 million black men/women moved from south to northern cities between 1940-1960 to Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, New York and other east/midwest industrial cities. Experienced major expansion of their black populations because whites were simultaneously leaving the cities. Similar migrations from Mexico/Puerto Rico expanded poor Hispanic neighborhoods in many American cities. Mex workers crossed border into Texas/Cali and swelled already substantial Latino communities of cities like San Antonio, Houston, San Diego, and LA.

Trends the 1950s Revisited

Post WWII Anti-communism anxiety, capital/labor struggle, the roles of men and women, and ethnic/race civil rights.

Rock n Roll's Black Origins

Presley's music, like that of many early white rock musicians drew from black rhythm/blues traditions. Presley, Buddy Holly, Bill Haley (Rock Around the Clock used in film Blackboard jungle) were closely connected to African American musical traditions.

Post WWII Medical Breakthroughs

Progress in development of medical science occurred during and after WWII. New antibacterial drugs capable of fighting infections that had been untreatable. Penicillin. Immunization vaccines, most notably the Salk Vaccine against Polio. As result of these and many other medical advances, both infant mortality and death rate among young children declined significantly. Average life expectancy rose.

Government spending stimulated post WWII growth through in the 50s through

Public funding of schools, Housing, Veterans' benefits, Welfare, Interstate highways, The Military. Economic growth peaked during first half of 50s when military spending was highest due to Korean war

"The Other America"

Raised public awareness and thus helped decline of poverty in 60s-70s. written by Michael Harrington (1962) (social worker, activist, political/social democrat) Influential book on social policy/poverty. Captured imagination of policy leaders and people in America. Chronicled the persistence of poverty in our wealthy society. Looked at it in systematic way: poverty was invisible, exists in isolated areas/ghettos/countrysides. Many areas cut off from economic mainstream. Idea that poverty is invisible, affects elderly (older, less productive, can't continue to work), children (born into it through no fault of their own), the politically powerless (don't vote, not recognized, political leadership has little to gain by advocating on poors' behalf). Very effective in raising public consciousness. Got JFK's attention. During period of 60s, some of Harrington's ideas influenced Kennedy's policies, which then influenced Johnson's policies; they began to make effort to put poverty on the map (with some success, some resentment).

Important social development of the immediate postwar era was

Rapid extension of a middle-class lifestyle/outlook to an expanding portion of the population. Economic abundance and American character made Americans a people of plenty in the post WWII 50s. Consumer culture and the suburbs.

Great economic expansion in postwar years' effect on poverty

Reduced poverty dramatically but didn't eliminate it.

Post WWII Anti-Communism Anxiety response to

Response to real tensions (what was to be done with formerly sovereign states that were occupied during WWII. Erosion of former alliance with soviet union and struggle over territorial gains in Europe and in other areas of the world. Proliferation of nuclear arms, development of atomic bomb by soviet union after US. Russians find out about the secrets of how to make the bomb; leads to concerns that there were commie sympathizers within US political agencies who may have shared secret information with the soviet union), ALSO exploitation of public anxiety by conservative political forces (thought to be exploitation of fears to retaliate against their opponents/organizations they saw as threatening.)

The Consumer Culture

Result of increased prosperity, greater variety/availability of products, and adeptness of advertisers in creating demand. Also result of growth of consumer credit through development of credit cards, revolving charge accounts, and easy-payment plans. Prosperity fueled consumer crazes like the automobile, new products like dishwashers. Because consumer goods were marketed and advertised nationally, the 50s was notable for rapid spread of great national consumer crazes (hula hoop, mickey house club).

Senate Subcommittee on Investigation of Government Operations

Sen. Joe McCarthy's Committee. Targeted State Department

Causes of the Civil Rights Movement

Several factors contributed to rise of black protest in these years: 1. The legacy of WWII (Millions of black men/women served in military and derived from the experience a broader view of the world and their place in it). 2. Growth of urban black middle class (began flourishing after the war). 3. Leaders of black urban communities (Ministers, educators, professionals, students at black colleges/universities). 4. TV and other forms of pop culture also played role in rising consciousness of racism (postwar blacks had constant/vivid reminders of how the white majority lived, conveyed activities of demonstrators to national audience).

Little Rock's Central High School

Southern governors, mayors, local school boards, and nongovernmental pressure groups, including hundreds of White Citizens' Councils all worked to obstruct desegregation. Eisenhower administration not eager to join battle over segregation, but in 1957, faced case of direct state defiance of federal authority and felt compelled to act. Angry white mob tried to stop implementation by blockading entrances to school. Governor Orval Faubus refused to stop obstruction. Pres. Eisenhower responded by sending Federal troops to ensure that the court orders would be obeyed.

Unions post WWII

Success in unions also bred stagnation and corruption in some union bureaucracies.

Post WWII was the age of

The Atomic Age. Reality of Atomic weapons: used in Japan, held over head of people of world.

The Organization Man

The debilitating impact of bureaucratic life on the individual became central theme of popular and scholarly debate. William H. Whyte Jr. produced this widely discussed book in 1956. It attempted to describe the special mentality of the worker in a large bureaucratic setting. Self-reliance, he claimed, was losing place to conformity/ability to get along and work as a team.

The forces of booming national prosperity and anti-communism after WWII created a widespread sense of national purpose/self-satisfaction, but

These forces blinded many Americans to serious problems plaguing large groups of the population after WWII.

Political Mobilization of Northern Blacks

They were now a substantial voting bloc within the Democratic Party. Politicians from northern industrial states couldn't ignore their views, which helped mobilize white politicians from northern states.

How did TV accentuate Social Conflict?

Those unable to share in affluence of era could, thru TV, acquire vivid picture of how rest of society lived. At same time that TV was celebrating white middle class, also contributing to sense of alienation and powerlessness among groups excluded from world it portrayed. TV news conveyed with power the social upheavals that gradually spread beginning in late 50s.

Poverty Declines Over this period between 1960-1975. Why?

War on poverty during this time. There was HEIGHTENED PUBLIC AWARENESS (harrington's 'the other america') MAJOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (medicare, medicaid, aid to families with dependent children, creation of legal aid societies helping the poor advocate in the courts, in city hall, etc. Making them aware that they were eligible for particular anti-poverty benefits, active lobbying by social workers at local level for people's benefits, welfare agencies, legal aid lawyers) Number of PEOPLE RECEIVING federal/cash ASSISTANCE began to GROW, therefore RATES OF POVERTY began to come DOWN. And as rates of poverty began to come down, people became more POLITICALLY ACTIVE. Their level of INVISIBILITY began to DECLINE.

Senate Subcommittee on Investigation of Government Operations

Within senate, had this committee to investigate this issue. Head of this committee was senator Joseph Mccarthy.

By late 50s, growing restlessness bubbling beneath surface of American society

Would make 60s one of most turbulent/divisive eras of 20th century. Expanding the Liberal State. Hope for vigorous new leadership. Those who yearned for more active government in late 50s, and accused Eisenhower administration of allowing nation to 'drift'. Embodiment of these liberal hopes was JFK and Lyndon Johnson; serving in whitehouse through most of 60s.

Eisenhower's Fiscal Conservatism

appointed to his cabinet wealthy corporate lawyers and business executives like Charles Wilson (pres of GM) who said "what's good for our country was good for GM". Eisenhower encouraged private enterprise, and supported private rather than public development of natural resources. Lowered federal support for farm prices, removed last limited wage and price controls maintained by the Truman administration, opposed creation of new social service programs like national health insurance, strove constantly to reduce federal expenditures and balance the budget.

The phenomenon of juvenile delinquency post WWII

attracted public attention in both politics and pop culture. Dire warnings surfaced about growing criminality of American youth. 1955 film Blackboard Jungle, frightening depiction of crime/violence in city schools. Scholarly studies, presidential commissions, journalistic exposes all contributed to sense of alarm about spread of delinquency. Although in fact, this didn't dramatically increase in the 50s. Many young people wore clothes/hairstyles that mimicked images of juvenile criminal gangs. Culture of alienation that the beats had represented had counterparts even in ordinary middle-class behavior (Teen rebelliousness toward parents, fascination with fast cars/motorcycles, Increasing sexual activity assisted by greater availability of birth control devices, James Dean)

Rapid suburban expansion

baby boom meant increase in suburban populations, which helped stimulate growth in several important sectors of the economy, including auto, housing, construction of roads.

Rock drew from sources

black origins, black rhythm & blues traditions, from country western music, from gospel music, even from jazz.

Describe America's economy in 50s and early 60s

booming economic growth that made 1920s pale in comparison. Better-balanced and more widely distributed prosperity than 20s. However, wasn't as universal as some Americans liked to believe.

Threat of nuclear war in 1950s

created high anxiety in international relations in the 1950s. Also encouraged both superpowers to edge away from direct confrontations. Attention of both US and Soviet Union began to turn instead to rapidly escalating instability in the 3rd world.

Winners of the urban economy

even for winners, rewards of growth have been uneven. Cities that DID win were able to transform their economies to have sectors of growth that were vibrant. winners were cities able to transform their economies to adapt to modern times, have sectors of growth that were vibrant in technology (segway to modern manufacturing, computer, software, engineering), science (medicine), education (universities feeding local industries with trained people) finance (turn local banks to powerhouses drawing on national capital, use capital as investment in broad range of technologies) government (built on tiers of govt, harness economy, provide jobs) health services (link hospitals to higher education)

Post WWII Economy (1950s - 1970s) was a time of

expansion/full employment. Sectors of activity included: consumer spending (baby boom costs, housing, cars, medical care like the salk polio vaccine, longer lifespans) business expansion (manufacturing cars, construction of housing, consumer goods to put appliances in the houses, education, technology, medicine.) and public spending (the GI Bill stimulus, the highway program, military spending, also with economy back on track, people begin to buy, also because they have a reason to buy (children).

rise of "two tiered" urban economy

from 1970s to present. the creation of the haves and have-nots. Much of wealth went to top 20% of households, and bottom 20% became poorer. Rewards of growth unevenly distributed. From the time of deindustrialization up until today, as the economy has transformed and many cities dropped out of significant relevance to the global economy, there have been winners and losers.

Elvis Presley

greatest early rock star, became symbol of youthful determination to push at borders of conventional/acceptable. Sultry good looks, self-conscious effort to dress in vaguely rebellious style or urban gangs. Open sexuality of his music/public performances. All of this made him popular among young Americans in 50s. First great hit "Heartbreak Hotel" established him as national phenomenon in 56, and remained powerful figure until death in 1977.

Growing Popularity of Television post WWII

impact was largely social/cultural. Quickly became perhaps most powerful medium of mass communication in history. Commercial TV began only shortly after WWII. Growth was rapid, more people had TVs than refrigerators. Like radio, TV was driven by advertising. The need to attract advertisers determined most programming decisions. Corporate sponsors played direct role in determining the content of programs. For example, some daytime serials (known as "soap operas" because their sponsors were almost always companies making household goods for women) were written/produced by Proctor & Gamble and other companies. TV advertising helped create vast market for new fashions and products. TV entertainment programming, almost all controlled by 3 national networks and their corporate sponsors, replaced movies/radio as principal source of diversion for American families. Much programming of 50s-early 60s created common image of American life. Image predominantly white, middle class, suburban.

Rock n' Roll

important cultural development of early 50s was birth of this type of music. important star was elvis presley. notably drew from black rhythm & blues traditions and origins, like chuck berry and BB king.

Jimmy Hoffa

in 1957 powerful Teamsters Union became subject of congressional investigation when its president, David Beck was charged with misappropriation of union funds. Beck stepped down and was replaced with this man. Government investigators pursued him for nearly a decade before winning a conviction against him in 1967.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

least experienced politician to serve in White house in 20th century. Also among most popular and politically successful presidents of the postwar era. In US, pursued essentially moderate policies. Abroad, continued and even intensified American commitments to oppose communism. Also brought measure of restraint. Staffed his Republican administration with members from the business community.

Closed shop

means everyone who works in company HAS to join union. banend by the labor management act (taft-hartley act)

In Post WWII, Sharecroppers/tenant farmers (mostly black) continued living below/at subsistence levels throughout rural south because

mechanization of cotton picking, development of synthetic fibers that reduced demand for cotton.

Post WWII explosion of science and technology included

medical breakthroughs (antibacterial drugs, penicillin, salk vaccine against polio) and pesticides (DDT against malaria) Postwar Electronic research (TV, integrated circuits to make computer) which led to Postwar Computer Technology (UNIVAC, and IBM) and Bombs, rockets, and missiles (nuclear fusion, ICBMs or intercontinental ballistic missiles) and the space program (sputnik, apollo)

As prospering white families moved from cities to suburbs...

more inner-city neighborhoods became repositories for poor "ghettoes" from which there wasn't an easy escape.

Medicare

one of the major Assistance Programs during the war on poverty. Health Insurance for elderly. passed in 1965. 3% tax (Hospital/doctor/meds)

Aid to family with dependent children

one of the major assistance programs during the war on poverty.

Medicaid

one of the major assistance programs during the war on poverty. (Health insurance for the poor) (mothers and children). Developed in 1965. split 50-50 between federal and state govt ($300 billion in 2008, debate today in congress over way to reduce it. There is no dedicated tax for it, so it competes with other programs for money from govt.)

House Committee on Un-American Activities

or HUAC. targeted aclu, new deal, hollywood.

1947 Labor Management Act

otherwise known as the Taft-Hartley Act, named after Senator Robert Taft/Congressman Fred Hartley. This policy in light of wave of industrial action in years after WWII (major strikes in coal, steel, auto, electronic industries over wages, benefits, and power in years after war). This act banned "closed shop" and supported the "right to work" anti-union state laws, which meant that state laws made it possible for people to work at a unionized company without being part of a union. it also effectively weakened workers ability to control workplace. Also, this act gave president power to stop strike actions (if it goes against interest of national security or safety, Pres can order workers to return to work. If they don't, they will be subject to criminal charges.) This act was a withdrawal of rights that labor had been given during the FDR period.

DDT

pesticide/chemical developed during science/technology explosion post WWII to protect humans from insect-carried diseases like typhus and malaria

Jack Kerouac

produced popular document of the Beat Generation in his novel "On The Road" (1957) an account of cross-country automobile trip that depicts the rootless iconoclastic lifestyle of Kerouac and friends.

Rapid rise of Rock owed great deal to innovations in

radio/tv programming. by 50s, radio stations no longer felt obligated to present mostly live programming, especially once TV took over many entertainment functions radio had once performed. Instead, many radio stations devoted themselves almost entirely to playing recorded music. Early in 50s, new breed of radio announcers known as "disk jockeys" began creating programming aimed specifically at young fans of rock music.

During the war on poverty, the Number of people receiving federal/cash assistance began to grow, therefore

rates of poverty began to come down. And as rates of poverty began to come down, people became more politically active. Their level of invisibility began to decline.

The Sierra Club

reborn in response to Echo Park dam building controversy. Part of America's post WWII renewed interest in travel, environmentalism, and national parks. Controversy helped elevate new, aggressive leader, David Brower. Eventually transformed the club into the nation's leading environmental organization. By mid 50s, large coalition of environmentalists, naturalists, and wilderness vacationers had mobilized in opposition to the dam. Important spur to the dawning environmental consciousness that would became so important a decade/more later.

Joseph McCarthy

republican senator from wisconsin. Headed the senate subcommittee on investigation of government operations. Used this committee as weapon to go after New Dealers in the government and to go after people within state department who he thought were sympathetic to the Russians. Operated through innuendo, making false charges. Very effective for a short time in smashing opponents. Assault on civil liberties embodied by him because of his position on Senate.

Amos Millburn

singer of the song 'Atomic baby'. One of the real founders of rhythm and blues.

"right to work" anti-union state laws

supported in labor management act (taft-hartley act). Means that state laws make it possible for people to work at a unionized company without being part of the union. this was a way of weakening workers ability to control workplace

white middle class Americans in 1950s believed

that the world of economic growth, personal affluence, and cultural homogeneity was the world virtually all Americans knew. Believed their values and assumptions were ones that most other Americans shared. Such beliefs were false.

Evidence of restless culture of youth post WWII

the 'beats' criticism of middle lass coeity and bureaucracy, and phenomenon of public attention dedicated to Juvenile Delinquency. The beats were the most visible evidence of a widespread restiveness among young Americans in the 50s. Youths in 50s never staged widespread/bitter rebellions like those in 60s, but their restlessness was visible

Forces that mobilized many white Americans to support the movement once it began

the cold war (made racial injustice an embarrassment to Americans trying to present their nation as a model) and the political mobilization of northern blacks (forced northern politicians to take their views into account because they now made up a large voting bloc within democratic party) and also Labor unions with substantial black memberships also played an important part in supporting (and funding) the movement.

Ethnic/Race Civil Rights

the fourth trend of 1950s. On one hand, you have conservative reactionary trends/policies (mccarthyism, huac, anticommunism) which puts restraints on people. On other hand, there are also inspiring moments where basic civil rights of minorities and women are expanded. This helps lay groundwork for explosion of rights in 60s. In 50s, most far-reaching efforts involved black communities in the south and in major gov/cultural institutions. Late 1940s: coming out of war with heightened sense of racial justice; (Integration of BASEBALL and the ARMED SERVICES was huge advance in consciousness for country) then in the 50s, brown vs. board of ed ruled for desegregation of public schools. montgomery bus boycott segregated public buses.

Capital/Labor Struggle

the second trend the 1950s revisited. Involved the effort of business interests with the representation of conservative political forces to weaken size/influence of labor unions. Major policy that came out of this trend was labor management act of 47, (the taft-hartley act).

Shifting Roles of Men/Women

the third trend of post WWII 1950s America. There were shifting expectations. It was a time of transition in middle-class households, because typically in history, focus is on upper and middle class white women, partly because the evidence is there to right these histories. For mexican-american women, they maintain picket lines when taft-Hartley act mandates that the striking men in the film must go back to work or face arrest.

Radio and tv were important to recording industry because

they encouraged rapidly increasing sale of records in mid-late 50s especially in inexpensive/popular 45rpm format (small disks that contained one song on each side). Also important: jukeboxes (Played individual songs on 45s). Proliferated in places where youth congregated. Sales of records increased. Payola.

Active lobbying by social workers helped in war on poverty because

they lobbied at local level, helped advocate in war on poverty for poor people's benefits), welfare agencies, legal aid lawyers.

Persistent Poverty

this "hard-core" poverty rebuked popular assumption that "rising tide lifts all boats". Poverty that the growing prosperity of the postwar era seemed to hardly affect. Poverty "impervious to hope" as Harrington said.

Rural Poverty

those on the margins of the affluent society were many rural Americans. Farmers receiving less percentage of the national income. this decline reflected the shrinking farm population, and also reflected declining farm prices. Because of enormous surpluses in basic staples, prices fell despite national income as a whole rising. black sharecroppers/tenant farmers and mexican/asian migrant farmworkers in west/southwest also lived in desperate poverty. Rural areas without commercial agriculture (like appalachia, where decline of coal economy reduced one significant source of support for region) lived in poverty. cut off from market economy.

The Suburban Family

traditional Gender Norms Reinforced because for professional men who worked in city at distance from their homes, suburban life generally meant rigid division between their working/personal worlds. For middle-class women, this meant increased isolation from the workplace. husbands considered it demeaning for their wives to be employed, and prevailing ideas about motherhood advised women to stay home with the children. Some women had to balance these pressures against other contradictory ones because as expectations of material comfort rose, many middle-class families needed second income to maintain standard of living they desired. As result: number of married women working outside the home actually increased in postwar years.

Margaret Rose

trying to expand the field of women's history to an understudy group. Had to study/interpret new studies of information. Covered issue of Mexican-American women involved with community service organization in the 50s the Southwest. Reflected in "Salt of Earth" film. Apply domestic skills to community organizing effort. Broader political awakening within barrio communities, efforts to mobilize the vote in LA for representation on City Councils, mayors office, school districts.

HUAC

within house of reps, they had this committee... house committee on un-American activities (HUAC). Originally created to look into issues of KKK and Nazism, but it began to look at issues around communism. Used its investigative power to investigate spread of communism in real way, and to target political opponents, using fear of communism to smash people and discredit/demonize them. Went after Hollywood figures who they considered to be too liberal in political expressions.