Chapter 16 1945-1950’s

GI Bill• This helped former soldiers (veterans) from

WWII to go to college.• GI = Government Issue• It also helped them buy homes and start

businesses.• The real name for this bill is called the

Servicemen’s Readjustment Act.

Truman’s Fair Deal• President Truman won re-election in 1948.• He began to push his “Fair Deal” thru Congress.• This called for the following:

1. Minimum wage to 75 cents per hour.2. Add 10 million people to Social Security.3. Provide housing to the poor.

Dwight Eisenhower• He was a former military general and elected

President in 1952.• He viewed business growth as vital to the

nation.• He cut government jobs and supported tax

reductions.• In 1956 the Federal Highway Act was passed

which created the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System.

Proposed plan in 1955

Baby Boom• From 1945 until 1960 65 million babies were born.• This was because of all the troops coming home from WWII.• At one point, a new baby was being born in America every 7

seconds.• It was the “American Culture” of the time to get married and

have children. • This new lifestyle was pushed in magazines and television

shows of the 1950’s.• It was very popular for women to stay home and let the

husbands work.

Births per 1,000 in US

Polio• This is a disease that can cause paralysis and even

death.• In 1952, 58,000 new cases were reported.• Huge public fear of catching polio• Jonas Salk invented a cure for this disease and by

1960, Polio was almost gone.• The miraculous “sugar cube” is what helped give

the vaccine to children.

Rushing a polio stricken girl to the hospital (1948)

Patients in iron lung during 1952 epidemic

Rock ‘n’ Roll• This got it’s start in the 1950’s with teenagers.

Many parents did not like this music and called in “sinful”.

• Elvis Presley helped push rock n roll to new levels in the 1950’s. He quickly gained the title of King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

• Elvis got his start in Memphis at Sun Records. • His producer was Sam Phillips.

AppalachiaSlide 7 of 8

• This is a term used to describe the mountain area from Alabama to New York.

• Appalachia passes thru Eastern Tennessee.• Many people were out of work when the coal mines

shut down.• Many people dropped out of school to work in the

mines. Thus, not having a good education to fall back on.

• Appalachia is still one of the poorest areas of our country.

• See picture on page 586.

EntertainmentSlide 8 of 8

TV Shows Movies SingersHopalong Cassidy Ben Hur Elvis PresleyThe Lone Ranger Jail House Rock Jerry LewisHowdy Doody Ten Commandments Johnny CashEd Sullivan Show Diary of Anne Frank Buddy HollyFlash Gordon