Heimlich's History: Post-1945 Economy and Migration

Overview

• Unit 8 of AP US History
• Focus: Economy after 1945 and Migration Patterns

Learning Objectives

• Explain the causes of economic growth after WWII.
• Explain the causes and effects of migrations of various American groups after 1945.

Economic Growth Post-1945

• 1950s Economic Boom
  • Increased productivity (continuation from WWII).
  • Massive federal spending on infrastructure.
  • Interstate Highway System.
• GI Bill (1944)
  • Provided WWII veterans opportunities for higher education.
  • Low-interest loans for home buying and business startups.

Baby Boom

• Phenomenon from 1945-1960
  • Over 50 million people added to the U.S. population.
  • Increased demand for housing and construction.

Suburbanization

• Advent of Automobiles
  • Enabled suburban living.
• White Middle-Class Movement
  • Migration from cities to suburbs.
  • Minorities and the impoverished often left behind in cities.
• Levittown
  • Conceived by William J. Levitt.
  • Mass-produced, low-cost homes.
  • Symbolized suburban growth.
  • Interstate Highway Act (1956) facilitated commuting.

Migration to the Sun Belt

• Movement South and West
  • Attraction to warmer climates.
  • Facilitated by the highway system.
• Economic and Political Effects
  • Movement of defense industry jobs to the Sun Belt.
  • Shift of political power from Northeast/Midwest to South/West.
• Cold War Influence
  • Defense spending boosts Sun Belt economies.

Conclusion

• Understanding these shifts is crucial for success in AP US History.
• Review resources are available for further study.

Focus on these key points to better grasp the economic and migratory changes in post-World War II America for your exams.