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Transcript

Economic Boom - Post WWII

Events Right After WWII

What Happened After WWII?

Space Race

- Race to outer space & the Moon

- Tech Revolution

Cold War between U.S. and Soviet Union

- Arms Race

- Red Scare!

Computer Age

- The Internet

- Personal computers

- Hand-held devices

Economic Boom

- Marriages --> Baby Boom

- Cars --> Suburbs --> American Dream?

- T.V. --> Culture & Consumerism

WWII Ends --> Men Come Home

- Women & Minorities displaced in Job Market

Post-WWII Economic Boom

Economic Boom

Men returning from the war benefited from the "G.I." bill.

G.I. Bill

- Scholarships to go to College

- Guaranteed Loans

- Home Loans

- Business Loans

- Farm Loans

Marriage Rates Skyrocket

Marriage Rates Skyrocket!!!

Baby Boomers

Baby Boom

76 million babies were born between 1945 and 1964

- Double the normal amount

- Known as Baby Boomers!

Massive Movement to the Suburbs

After WWII, millions of Americans got married and moved to the suburbs for a better carefree life

With more money and free time, people spend money on consumer goods...

  • cars
  • T.V.s
  • appliances

and, entertainment...

  • movies
  • music
  • dining
  • travel

Consumerism

Rises

Car Culture

Cars brought independence and a way to show one's individual style & personality

Car Culture

Massive Movement to the Suburbs

The Suburbs

Affordable cars made it possible for millions of middle-class Americans to move to the suburbs. Not everyone could afford a car or to move to the suburbs...

Drive-in's were all the craze!!!

Drive-in fast food & Drive in Movies

were popular ways to spend time after WWII...

Drive-in's

Shopping Malls

Shopping

Malls

The explosion of population in the suburbs led to the birth of shopping malls, which had everything residents needed in one convienent place.

Shopping malls were designed with ample parking to accomodate the suburban car culture.

Interstate Highway System

The Interstate Highway System began construction in 1956 to support the growing number of cars being produced and purchased in the United States

Interstate

Highways

Pros

Improved highways made travel from the suburbs to the city centres easier and quicker

Cons

In many cities, new highways cut through neighborhoods, most were those in which poor and minorities lived

Roadside Motels &

Diners

With the increase in the number of cars and money for travel, the number of roadside motels and diners grew tremendously starting in the 1950s. This growth continues today!

Roadside

Motels

T.V. & Media

T.V.

&

Media

T.V. and media in the 1950s and 1960s were filled with shows that idealized the "American Dream", filled Americans with fear of Communist infiltration, and pushed Americans toward a culture of consumerism

T.V. Programs 1950

T.V. Programs

T.V. programs depicted the idealized version of a white middle-class American life.

Programs stayed away from political issues and social issues such as racial discrimination and civil rights.

Women were usually portrayed as the happy mother and homemaker.

T.V. played a role in shaping the view of women's role during this time.

Advertisements

T.V. advertisements played a central role in the economic boom after WWII led to a consumer culture

Advertisement

Consumer spending after WWII was more than just indulging in the newest cars and appliances. It was considered to be "patriotic" and contributing to the American way of life!

Politics & Propaganda

T.V. and film added to the hysteria surrounding the Red Scare, which was a fear that the U.S. would become communist or be attacked by the Soviet Union at any time.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the realities and atrocities of war were seen as the Vietnam war was televised. This led to negative public sentiment about the U.S. involvement in the war.

Other social issues, such as racial discrimination and equal rights movements were given more attention and were televised on the national news.

Politics

&

Propaganda

Space Race

The "Space Race" between the U.S. and the Soviet Union led to many technological advances that are still impacting our society today.

Two areas which saw the greatest advances as a result of the Space Race are computers and medicine.

Many other inventions that impact our lives today also came out of the Space Race

Space Race

Communication

&

Medicine

To the Moon!

To the Moon

One of the most symboic events of the Cold War and the Space Race was President John F. Kennedy's "We choose to go to the Moon" speech, in which he vowed that the United States would put a man on the Moon within a decade. It was a race against the Soviet Union to in an attempt to demonstrate the United State's superiority power and scientific intellect. The United States would prevail and land a man on the Moon on July 16, 1969. This race would lead to many technological advances, which impact our lives even to this day

The "Computer Age"

Computer Age

Computers were invented well before the space race began, but the technologies developed during this time led to the computer age as we know it now.

  • Satellites
  • GPS navigation systems
  • The computer mouse
  • Wireless technology
  • The Internet

Medical Advances

Medicine

The Space Race led to over 230 medical advances such as:

  • Infrared ear thermometers
  • LASIK eye surgery
  • Hearing implants
  • Artificial limbs
  • Invisible braces
  • Scratch-resistant lenses
  • Space blankets
  • Robotic surgery
  • Artificial heart
  • Medical imaging (MRI / CT Scan)

https://spinoff.nasa.gov/pdf/HM_bro_web.pdf

Other Inventions from the Space Race

NASA

Inventions

  • Water filters
  • Velcro
  • Hand-held vacuum cleaners
  • Solar cells
  • Wireless headsets/ear buds
  • Cell phone cameras
  • Air purifiers
  • Baby formula
  • Memory foam
  • Insulation
  • Portable computers
  • LEDs
  • Running shoes

Arms Race & Nuclear Power

Arms Race

&

Nuclear Power

The development of nuclear energy in the 1940s led to the creation of nuclear weapons and eventually the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Nuclear energy was also used to generate "clean" energy in the form of electricity. A single nuclear reactor can power up to 750,000 homes without emitting any carbon dioxide greenhouse gas. However, nuclear waste is created and must be closely monitored because it is very toxic. Additionally, when nuclear reactors fail, they cause extreme environmental problems, including death of humans and animals near the reactor.

Today, there are over 450 nuclear power plants around the world.

Rock n' Roll & The Rise of The Counterculture

Rock-n-Roll

&

Counter-Culture

While rock n' roll began in the 1950s, in the 1960s it gave birth to counterculture movements that challenged traditional ways of thinking about, civil rights, human sexuality, women's rights, government authority, and the so called "American Dream"

At the same time, the "Free Speech" movement in which many college students protested against imperialistic and racist actions by the government.

The "Civil Rights" movement was also partially inspired and supported by the shift in culture created by rock n' roll. counterculture which fought against oppressive government power and actions.

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