America in the 1950sAmerica in the 1950s Overview: Major themesOverview: Major themes1.1. Fear of communism at homeFear of communism at home2.2. A weary population seeks stability & A weary population seeks stability &

a chance at the “American Dream”a chance at the “American Dream”3.3. An era of conformityAn era of conformity4.4. The impact of the automobileThe impact of the automobile5.5. Rock ‘N Roll and TVRock ‘N Roll and TV

The 2The 2ndnd Red ScareRed Scare Fear of communism: the Red Scare (1950s)Fear of communism: the Red Scare (1950s)

House Committee on Un-American Activities House Committee on Un-American Activities (“HUAC”) (“HUAC”) and the and the “Hollywood 10”:“Hollywood 10”:

1.1.1947 launched investigation of movie 1947 launched investigation of movie industryindustry(was Hollywood making movies with subtle (was Hollywood making movies with subtle communist propaganda to “brainwash” the communist propaganda to “brainwash” the public?)public?)3.3.HUAC identified 10 people who might be HUAC identified 10 people who might be involved…they refused to answer q’s… sent involved…they refused to answer q’s… sent to prison for failure to cooperateto prison for failure to cooperate

"Are you "Are you nownow or have you or have you everever been a been a member of the Communist Party?"member of the Communist Party?"

Some of the Hollywood 10

Supporters of the Hollywood 10

As a result…As a result… A number of people working in the A number of people working in the

entertainment industry were entertainment industry were “blacklisted”…“blacklisted”…

Their names were on a mythical list that Their names were on a mythical list that made them “lepers”…no one would hire made them “lepers”…no one would hire them…some made a modest living them…some made a modest living working under an alias…some working under an alias…some committed suicide…committed suicide…

David Merrill was Hollywood’s hottest director in the early 1950s…

Joe McCarthyJoe McCarthy

Senator from Wisconsin…up for re-election Senator from Wisconsin…up for re-election and looking for a cause to make a reputationand looking for a cause to make a reputation

Speaking at a ladies luncheon, he announced:Speaking at a ladies luncheon, he announced:““I have the names of 205 known I have the names of 205 known

communists working in the U.S. Gov’t.”communists working in the U.S. Gov’t.”

The speech attracted a lot of publicity and The speech attracted a lot of publicity and McCarthy had his “cause”McCarthy had his “cause”

““McCarthyism” = “witch McCarthyism” = “witch hunts”hunts”

What made McCarthy a What made McCarthy a phenomenon were his tactics…phenomenon were his tactics…crude, rude, an obnoxious bully crude, rude, an obnoxious bully who rarely had any hard evidence, who rarely had any hard evidence, only accusationsonly accusations

Simply being suspected of Simply being suspected of having a having a tietie to communism could be enough to communism could be enough to destroy a life or a career….to destroy a life or a career….

McCarthy’s downfallMcCarthy’s downfall Claimed the U.S. Army had known Claimed the U.S. Army had known

communists working from withincommunists working from within Congressional investigation & Congressional investigation &

hearings (“hearings (“Army-McCarthy HearingsArmy-McCarthy Hearings”) ”) were televised (1954)were televised (1954)

American public witnessed his bullying American public witnessed his bullying of witnesses & public support of witnesses & public support plummetedplummeted

Famed reporter Edward R. Murrow and Famed reporter Edward R. Murrow and CBS stood up to McCarthy…CBS stood up to McCarthy…

Good Night and Good Luck

Warner Independent Pictures (2005)

1950s America1950s America So…in this Cold War climate of So…in this Cold War climate of

fear and suspicion, what did daily fear and suspicion, what did daily life look like for the average guy life look like for the average guy and his family?and his family?

Core Values and GoalsCore Values and Goals Americans weary of struggle: Americans weary of struggle: the the

Great DepressionGreat Depression of the 1930s… of the 1930s… Followed by a horrible Followed by a horrible world warworld war…… Followed by a Followed by a new fear of a new fear of a

communistcommunist takeovertakeover or even worse, or even worse, nuclear holocaustnuclear holocaust

Many had a dream…Many had a dream… Get marriedGet married Start a familyStart a family Get a good, steady job with a big company…get Get a good, steady job with a big company…get

promoted…retire after 30 years promoted…retire after 30 years Own a homeOwn a home Raise the kids away from the cityRaise the kids away from the city Have some stability in lifeHave some stability in life

In short: live In short: live the “American Dream”the “American Dream”

AAmmeerriiccaann DDrreeaamm: Family: Family

Returning GI’s got married and Returning GI’s got married and started having kids: started having kids: the Baby the Baby BoomersBoomers

(born between (born between 1946-621946-62))

AAmmeerriiccaann DDrreeaamm: Home : Home OwnershipOwnership Serviceman’s Readjustment Act Serviceman’s Readjustment Act ((“G.I. “G.I.

Bill”) Bill”) – passed by Congress 1946– passed by Congress 1946 2 important features:2 important features:

1.1. US gov’t. paid for college tuitionUS gov’t. paid for college tuition2.2. Federally guaranteed low interest Federally guaranteed low interest

loans enabled young families to buy loans enabled young families to buy homes and start businesseshomes and start businesses

Significance? Expanding middle classSignificance? Expanding middle class

AAmmeerriiccaann DDrreeaamm: Home : Home OwnershipOwnership

Severe housing shortageSevere housing shortage

William Levitt used William Levitt used efficient, assembly-line efficient, assembly-line methods to mass-produce methods to mass-produce houseshouses

Levitt- Levitt- father of modern father of modern American suburbiaAmerican suburbia

AAmmeerriiccaann DDrreeaamm: Home : Home OwnershipOwnership

Americans moved to Americans moved to the suburbsthe suburbs New highwaysNew highways Affordable carsAffordable cars Affordable gasolineAffordable gasoline

85% of 13 million 85% of 13 million homes built in homes built in 1950’s built in 1950’s built in suburbssuburbs

Levittown, Levittown, N.YN.Y..

In the ‘burbs…like Levittown, a In the ‘burbs…like Levittown, a family could pursue the American family could pursue the American

DreamDream

Living the American

Dream

The “Nuclear The “Nuclear Family”Family” Dad was the breadwinnerDad was the breadwinner

Hoped to get a job with a solid Hoped to get a job with a solid corporation and advance up the corporation and advance up the corporate ladder…corporate ladder…

Mom’s role: the 3 B’s – Brownies, Mom’s role: the 3 B’s – Brownies, Babies, & BedsBabies, & Beds

Stay at home…raise the kids…do the Stay at home…raise the kids…do the cooking, cleaning, etc. cooking, cleaning, etc.

The kidsThe kids Innocent…honest…naïveInnocent…honest…naïve

And TV portrayed the And TV portrayed the idealideal American American family like the Cleavers:family like the Cleavers:

An Automobile An Automobile CultureCulture

Pent up demand for cars (not many Pent up demand for cars (not many available in the 1940s because of WWII!)available in the 1940s because of WWII!)

More powerMore power Some with power steeringSome with power steering New styling (fins are stylish???) and colors!New styling (fins are stylish???) and colors!

New “Roadside” Industries New “Roadside” Industries bornborn

Fast food...Fast food...

More effects of the car More effects of the car culture:culture:

Americans didn’t have to live in the Americans didn’t have to live in the noisy, crowded, cities…noisy, crowded, cities…

The explosive growth of the suburbsThe explosive growth of the suburbs

Levitt’s success was copied by others Levitt’s success was copied by others (still done today?)(still done today?)

End of Part I Powerpoint