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1950's - Coggle Diagram
1950's
The Affluent Society
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Thanks to New Deal Programs unemployment was at a very low rate. The SEC resulted in a low inflation rate (the corrupt stock market bigwigs can't cause the same inflation as in the 1920s).
Direct effect of GI Bill was millions of college graduates. College graduates make more on average, this causes the tax revenue to increase (more money for infrastructure).
Rise of M.I.C.
America is heavily invested in R&D in electronics for military application (think sonar, radar, etc). We wanted to be at the forefront of military technology, prepared for the next war.
Since the military wanted to be able to train year-round, troops were sent to the South (added bonus: forts already existed = easy planning)
Unlike after previous wars, America didn't 'break down' the military after WW2, instead we invested into it.
6% of the global population lived in the US, but used 75% of the technology (cars, tvs, radio, etc), and a third of the worlds energy supply.
Baby Boom
Largest spike in births in American history, they survived due to the advent of the vaccine (see: polio vaccine)
With children dying less, families were starting to have an average of 2-3 kids. Even though this was less than previously, they weren't dying anymore.. so that's still a lot of mouths to feed.
One major reason why there's a spike in pregnancy is the lack of easy access to birth control. (Societal pressures about sex v procreation probably/might have had an effect as well)
These kids were growing up in suburbs, leading many Baby Boomers to view this period as "the good ole days"
After coming back from WW2, there was a massive spike in marriages. 97% women married and 95% men married.
Age of Ambivalence
Conformity/Hegemony
In reaction to the Communist-Atheist connection, people started going to church. It didn't matter what religion, as long as you had a faith. Enter "One Nation Under God" in the pledge of alleigance.
Immigrants who came to the US in the 1900's now had grandchildren who were born and raised in America. This led to a loss of identifying with their cultural roots, instead they saw themselves as American.
Suburbs, nuclear/single family homes, etc. Very uniform and what many think of as "the good old days"
Despite a post war economy boom (prosperity on the surface), the reality of the 1950's is chaos.
Threat of nuclear attack, segregation, and the Red Scare.
To top it all off, it was primarily the white population that benefited during the 1950's. Even more so in the South, where Blacks and POC were still treated as lesser people.
Eisenhower
Personality
Earned the rank of General in WW2 and was known as "The General Who Hated War". He signed hundreds upon hundreds of death certificates of soldiers (was painfully aware of the cost of war).
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Pragmatic: "Walk softly and carry a big stick". He was sensible and calm, but was NOT afraid to put his foot down.
Presidency
"What's good for GM is good for the country". Eisenhower was pro-business (economically conservative). 9 people in his admin worked for GM, one was Chairman of the Plumber's Union.
The Highway Act of 1956: The beginning of the interstate and highway system. This good for the economy: build it and people will come (also think about how many businesses you see on the road). Good for military: Cut travel time between East and West coasts from 2 months to 4 days-ish.
Eisenhower was opposed to integrating the military, but when Brown v Board of Education went through the Supreme Court and was in favor of integrating schools, Eisenhower sent in the military to enforce the Supreme Court decision.
Overseas Containment
Iran: Had been controlled Britain and Russia, once they left Iran held elections. Their democratically elected leader decided to nationalized oil in Iran. This would make it harder to negotiate costs (exploitative deal potential is limited). So the CIA supports the Shah of Iran. Russia is also a "concern" in American eyes towards Iran (not in reality, they're historic enemies).
Cuba: The Cuban Revolution was a Populist revolution. They overthrew the government America had established rapport with and Fidel Castro was elected. America's reaction was to cut ties with Cuba (this pushed Cuba into Communist arms).
Egypt: The Suez Canal was built by the French in Egyptian territory. The Egyptian President Nassir claimed that land as national territory, Britian and France retaliated with military. They wanted the Canal and middle eastern oil. Once they left, America "filled the void".
Vietnam
Eisenhower, a great military mind, knew that we couldn't just send troops over to Vietnam and expect to win in jungle warfare. So, he sent in military advisors to help strategize and support (money and aid) to anti-communists in South Vietnam.
America was concerned that N. Vietnam would get support from China to overtake S. Vietnam. America is "obligated" to help the anit-communists. (It's all about Containment.. no other significant strategic value to Vietnam)
Previously known as French Indo-China. There was a revolt against the French (the French didn't do well against them: ambushes, sneak attacks, native people knew the land, etc.). The French leave Vietnam.
China: America in an attempt to Contain, tries to pit China against Russia. Taiwan had already declared independence from China, so we helped enable them.