Chapter 14

Post War 50’s Turbulent 60’s

What factors made ROCK AND ROLL wildly popular in the 1950’s? Why did so many adults consider this form of music shocking and dangerous?

Describe Eisenhower’s DOMESTIC agenda (include examples of conservative, liberal and activist policies).

Explain how the lives of minorities were different from white middle class Americans during the 1950’s

Essays – Ch 14

• Return to a Peacetime Economy • • • After WW2, 2+million men returned to try to find jobs Unlike earlier wars, the US did not see a “dip” in the economy after this war. The economy took off The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (G-I Bill) boosted the economy by providing funds for vets to go to school, buy homes, open businesses • The economy did see some growing pains • • • Increased prices because of increased demand Labor unrest (wanted higher wages & share of profits) Gov’t take-over of coal industry to avert a devastating strike • Republicans will try to pass laws to limit power of unions (closed shops and right-to-work laws)

Truman and Eisenhower

• • Truman (a democrat) wanted to continue FDR’s programs

TRUMAN’S AGENDA

• • • • • • Expand Social Security benefits Raise Minimum Wage Public Housing (closing slums) Full employment program thru government programs National Health Care Long range planning for the environment and public works

Truman’s Programs

• • • • As election approached, most believed Truman would lose Democratic Party was split over various issues Thomas Dewey (republican) was very popular Truman took his record on the road, traveling to multiple states to show what he had done and tell the people what he hoped to accomplish • Surprisingly, Truman defeated Dewey (bad polls)

Election of 1948

• Truman pushed for economic change • • • • Minimum wage increase (.75/hour) Increase in Social Security benefits (>75%) Extended SS benefits to millions more National Housing Act – low income housing built • Wanted, but did not get • • • National Health Care Aid for Schools and Farms Civil Rights Legislation

The Fair Deal

• • Ike more “middle of the road” on policies Balanced conservatism with activism • • • • Ended government rent and price controls Pro-business policies (what’s good for GM is good for America) Cut federal spending (schools and housing) Ended NEW DEAL programs (TVA & RFC) • • Built infrastructure (Federal Highway Act) - $25B over 10 years Extended Social Security to even more people

Eisenhower’s Years “Dynamic Conservatism”

• • The 1950’s was a decade of INCREDIBLE PROSPERITY With more disposable income than ever, Americans began buying more than ever – standard of living rises • • • GROWTH OF SUBURBIA – rows and rows of home built outside of the city - “the suburbs” - mass migration BABY BOOM –huge spike in babies born • • Put off having kids during WW2 and Korean War Family life celebrated in media, government CHANGING WORKPLACE • White collar jobs – suit and tie type of jobs – outnumber blue collar jobs for the first time • • Multination corporations – investments world wise – materials/operations Franchises – a person owns/operates business of a larger chain

American Abundance

• • Electronics/Aviation • • • Transistor – tiny electronic generator –

allowed for small electronics like radios

Computers – military use at first – huge by today’s standards Aviation – plastics/metals made planes lighter and stronger. That meant they could go faster and further - jets Medical Breakthrough • • • Cancer/heart treatments improved Tuberculosis treatment/cure Polio treatment/cure (Jonas Salk created vaccine/Sabin improved)

Scientific Advances

• • • TELEVISION – Live TV – family friendly/idealic life • Comedies, variety shows, westerns, game shows Hollywood Adapts – attendance drops dramatically • • Tried many gimmicks – 3’D, contests, etc Epics – BIG movies that TV couldn’t compete with Radio – as TV developed, radio evolved • • • Music News/weather Radio could get to people in their cars

The New Mass Media

• • Every generation tries to distinguish themselves from their parents • 1 st generation with disposable income that could be reached over radio, TV and movies – fads, fashions, hit music ROCK ‘n’ ROLL (

based on African America rhythm and blues

) • Loud/heavy beat – music appealed to young people • • • • Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and ELVIS PRESLEY Lyrics and moves made parents/older generation very nervous Rock ‘n’ Roll united teens in defiance GENERATION GAP – cultural divide between parents & children

New Music and Poetry

• • THE BEAT GENERATION • Poets, writers, and artists criticized American culture for its sterility, conformity and emptiness • Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” – about his adventures crossing America laid the foundation for the cultural revolution that followed in the 1960’s AFRICAN AMERICAN ENTERTAINERS • • • • Most were shut out early in the 1950’s music/TV/movie industries Nat King Cole “crossed over” into popular music – paved the way Music was a little better – Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Ray Charles Girl groups like the Shirelles, and the Ronetts • African American music will influence music for the next generation- the Beattles

New Music and Poetry

• • • • 1 in 5 Americans were living in poverty (

POVERTY LINE

) Minorities more likely to be poor than caucasians Rural and Urban families hit by poverty DECLINE OF THE INNER CITIES • • • Migration to the “suburbs” left the inner cities without tax income Inner cities decayed – became slums – Urban Renewal – efforts by city governments to eliminate poverty • • Built high-rise low-income apartments Crowded projects created environment where violence grew

Poverty amid Prosperity

• • • •

African Americans

• 3 million migrated north to escape violence and poverty • North still had discrimination – earned 51% of salary

Hispanics

• Many “braceros” stayed after war • Worked long/hard hours for very low pay

Native Americans

• Poorest ethnic group in America • “Termination policy” – US Government program that ended all recognition of tribal rights – subject to same laws and encouraged N.A. to relocate out of the reservations • Program was a terrible failure – poverty & early death

Appalachia

• Mechanization left many without jobs – 1.5 million will leave for cities • Fewer doctors in mountains – fewer schools left young with little hope

Poverty and Prosperity

• • • • • • Most middle class Americans could ignore poverty & racism Juvenile Delinquency harder to ignore because it hit home • Antisocial or criminal behavior of young people Some blamed media’s influence Others blamed busy parents, rising divorce rates or lack of religion Still others said youth were rebellion against society in general (no hope for themselves or their futures – Cold War fears) Schools were seen as possible solutions • • • Baby boomers were entering schools at record numbers New schools/programs for children created in many communities Focus on math and science (sputnik)

Juvenile Delinquency

• • • • Born out of the rebellious 1950’s, the 1960’s will be a generation of youth who rebel against more than just their parents - they rebel against the culture as a whole

SOME SOUGHT TO REFORM OTHERS FOUGHT TO TRANSFORM

(reject it entirely)

HIPPIE CULTURE

• • Rejected “middle class values” – wanted to build a Utopia •

Freer, closer to nature, full of love, tolerance and cooperation

IMPACT of ERA

– while movement will die out, impact lives on • • • • Counter Culture Music, clothing Drug culture Concept of “following your bliss” - wanting to be happy

The 1960’s Counter Culture

• COUNTERCULTURE – youth against mainstream culture • • • “Hippies” promoted peace, love and freedom Experimented with new clothing styles, music, and freer attitudes towards sex and drugs “Generation Gap” that began in the 50’s grew even bigger • STYLE: Frivolous and free, • Men – long hair, jeans, beards (rejection of corporate world) • • Women – long free hair, jeans, non-conforming (rejection of women of 50’s) Clothing aligned with “working class” or “natural” styles

Time of Change

• • • • The 60’s generation demanded more freedom on how they lived “Sexual Revolution” – separate sex from marriage, family Communal living, multiple partners. living together Sex was more openly discussed in media (books, magazines, music, TV, movies) • Permanently changed culture in the US

Sexual Revolution

• • • • • • Drug use/experimentation will become widespread among the 60’s hippies Marijuana, hallucinogens (LSD, mushrooms) use rose dramatically Music, art, lifestyles reflected this change Belief was that drugs enhanced/expanded the experience of life But, drug overdoses were common & often deadly Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix all died from drugs

Drug Scene

• • • • • • Music was/is a reflection of the culture – 1960’s showed this FOLK – protest songs, songs of oppression, labor BRITISH INVASION – Beattles, Rolling Stones PSYCHODELIC ROCK – fueled by drugs WOODSTOCK – 1969 – 400,000 at weekend concert • 60’s generation viewed at greatest concert/time ever • Older generation viewed with disgust (rejected morals and values) ALTAMONT – 1969 – CA • • • • 300,000 at concert, promoters did not provide adequate security Rolling Stones hired own security, the Hell’s Angels biker gang Violence broke out when a biker beat a man to death This became the unofficial end of the 1960’s Hippie Generation

Music Scene