Ch.15 The Golden Age of America

The Golden Age of America: Post-WWII Transition

• Following World War II, Americans were eager to move forward.
• Men returned to factory jobs, resulting in women returning home.
• Factories resumed production of common goods like cars and playground equipment.

Prosperity and Growth in the 1950s

• The war ended the Great Depression, leading to increased spending.
• The 1950s signified prosperity and new opportunities.
• The "baby boom" occurred as soldiers returned home and started families.
• Increased families spurred a need for more housing, resulting in the rapid growth of neighborhoods.
• Suburbs became a popular living choice for families.

Automobile Culture

• The car industry rebounded after wartime slowdowns.
• Modern cars were mass-produced, and owning a car became a symbol of status.
• American culture centered around automobiles due to the rise of drive-in movies and drive-thru diners.
• Road trip vacations became very popular.
• Road systems were improved to accommodate more motorists.
• US Route 66, established in 1926, spanned 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California.
• This route was significant for migrants during the 1930s Dust Bowl era

Cultural Shifts

• "Rock and roll" music replaced big band music.
• Elvis Presley and other stars gained large followings.
• Popular songs included "Hound Dog" and "All Shook Up."

Television and Entertainment

• Television became popular in the 1950s after its late 1940s debut.
• Radio’s popularity was overtaken by television.
• Families gathered to watch TV shows.
• Popular shows included "Leave it to Beaver", "Davy Crockett", "I Love Lucy", "Gunsmoke", and "The Lone Ranger."
• Roy Rogers and Dale Evans starred in over 100 movies.
• The 1950s marked the golden age for television and the US.
• In general, there was strong family life, prosperity, and moral standards.
• Epic movies like Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments, both of which starred Charlton Heston, drew big crowds.
• Musicals such as Singin' in the Rain and Oklahoma became popular.

Fashion and Leisure

• 1950s clothing styles reflected the era's culture.
• Fashion was relatively modest.
• Teenage girls wore rolled-up blue jeans with bobby socks and saddle shoes.
• “Poodle" skirts were popular, worn with crinoline slips, fitted tops, curled ponytails, bobby socks, and saddle shoes.
• Children played stickball with toy guns and Radio Flyer wagons.
• Boys wore coonskin hats and emulated Davy Crockett.
• Girls played with hula hoops and Barbie Dolls.
• Children spent long summer days outdoors due to the lack of home entertainment systems.

The Cold War and the Second Red Scare

• The Cold War created tension and anxiety.
• Americans feared communist influence as communism spread.
• Soviet acquisition of the atomic bomb heightened worry and suspicion.
• A second Red Scare emerged amid fears of American scientists acting as spies.
• The Soviet Union had spies in America, including communist sympathizers.
• Thousands of Americans were registered members of the Communist Party.
• Many people became communists during the Great Depression, wondering whether this would have been beneficial.
• Most US communists in the '30s lost interest or became opposed after the war and Depression ended.
• The Red Scare led to investigation of entertainment industry professionals.
• Accused communists were "blacklisted" and unable to work.
• Senator Joseph McCarthy fueled the Red Scare.
• McCarthy accused anyone who angered him of being a communist, regardless of facts.
• A sympathizer is someone who backs an idea or organization.
• McCarthy's accusations against the military marked the beginning of the end of the Red Scare.
• McCarthy's televised investigation of the military horrified Americans.
• It became clear that McCarthy made up accusations, and that it was a personal vendetta.
• People were offended by attacks against war heroes.
• By the mid-1950s, people were tired of the Red Scare.
• Obsession with finding communists calmed down, while the general public had concerns of communist plots and spying.

Social Issues

• African Americans lacked the rights and freedoms of white Americans despite the end of slavery.
• Segregation caused black Americans to attend different schools, use separate facilities, and sit in certain theater seats.
• Segregation angered Americans of all races.
• The 1950s were a time of prosperity and happiness, but the country still faced several key issues such as the Cold War and segregation.
• Senator Joseph McCarthy falsely accused people of being communists during the 1950s' Red Scare.

Explore America's Golden Age after World War II: factory transitions, the booming economy, the baby boom, suburban growth, and the rise of automobile culture. Discover how these factors shaped a new era of prosperity and opportunity.