HAS 206 Lecture - Week Six: Post-World War II Period (1946 - 1963)

Overview

• Time Period: 1946 - November 22, 1963
• Main Topics: Early Cold War, Early Civil Rights, JFK's Assassination
• Context: Follows the Great Depression (1929-1945) and WWII

Post-WWII America

Economic Context

• Depression and War Effects: High unemployment, rationing, limited economic mobility
• Post-War Demand: Increase in consumerism; people eager to buy after rationing

Consumerism

• Definition: Spending for material satisfaction, new lifestyles, and less frugality
• Key Factors:
  • Credit availability (e.g., Diners Club credit card)
  • Toys and accessories (e.g., Barbie and its products)
  • Automobile industry (e.g., General Motors' yearly new car models, tiered brands like Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Chevrolet)

Suburbanization

• Post-war migration to suburbs
• Drivers:
  • Availability of new homes (Levitt towns)
  • GI Bill funding for veterans
  • The idea of homeownership as part of the American dream
  • White Flight: Migration of white Americans to suburbs, reducing city tax revenues and changing city demographics

Cultural Shifts

• Rebellious Youth Culture:
  • Influences from movies (Marlon Brando, James Dean) and music (Elvis Presley)
  • Emergence of motorcycle culture and youthful individualism
• Television:
  • Became affordable, popular, and democratized entertainment
  • Competed with the movie industry

Early Cold War

Internationalism and Nuclear Monopoly

• Atomic Monopoly: US aims to keep nuclear technology exclusive
• International Institutions: Establishment of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund
  • UN General Assembly and Security Council
  • Permanent members of the Security Council: USA, UK, France, China, Russia

Preview of Upcoming Topics

• The Truman Doctrine
• President Eisenhower's policies

End of Lecture Notes