History-Cold War in US Part II

Aim: America in the 1950s: Politics, Cold War at Home & Suburbanization

1. KQ: Who was Dwight Eisenhower?
2. What are some examples of the conservatism of his presidency?
3. Why was conservatism valued in those years?

1. War Hero ⇒ immensely popular
2. Architect of D-Day invasion
3. Calm/serene leader
4. Courted by both parties in 1945
5. 1951 – declares candidacy as Republican
6. Vice President Nixon ⇒ attacking Alger Hiss in 1946 for treason
7. K1C2 = campaign slogan against Adlai Stevenson
-Victory and end to Korean War
-Communism and corruption must be ended

2. Eisenhower’s Governing:
-Moderate Republican: cabinet included corporate leaders
-Conservative economic ideas ⇒laissez-faire, keep government out of economy
-Pro-business ⇒ submerged Land Act
$40 billion worth of land opened to oil drilling
-Cabinet included corporate CEOs. Close to GM
-Appointments to FTC sympathetic to corporate/big business interests

Eisenhower also supported some “liberal” programs:
-Expanded social security
-Expanded unemployment benefits
-Increased minimum wage
-National Defense Education Act (1957) ⇒ Sputnik reaction
Goal: to improve science programs
-Reluctant to initiate tax cuts

Critiques of Eisenhower:
1. Economic growth = 2,5% (stagnant, too little)
2. Failure to address civil rights questions
(Exception = Little Rock, 1957)



Aim:
1) Suburbanization
2) Consumerism
3) Postwar Cultural Shirts

Suburbanization: move out of cities to surrounding areas, in search of better quality of life
-4 room homes, plot of ground
-By 1960: 25% of Americans lived in suburbs
-Marriage doubled= need for living space, raising children: Baby Boom
-Grilling space
-Government encouraged home building and purchase VA and FHA: provided loans
-Highway ACT (1956)
-1950-1960: 11 million homes built in suburbs
18 million people moved to suburbs

Consumerism: when individuals are considered economically as consumers.
-Mass consumption: home appliances, cars, TVs, lawnmowers, fridge, knives, grills, clothing, electronics, radios, durable appliances (washing machine), supermarket groceries, conspicuous consumption.
-Advertising encourages consumption to demonstrate social mobility and represent an “American Dream” come true
-Family vacations