1950s: President 1950s: President Eisenhower’s Modern Eisenhower’s Modern RepublicanismRepublicanism

To what extent did the decade of the To what extent did the decade of the 1950’s deserve its reputation as an 1950’s deserve its reputation as an age of political, social, and cultural age of political, social, and cultural conformity? conformity?

Frustration with the stalemate in Korea & the Red Scare Frustration with the stalemate in Korea & the Red Scare led to a Republican presidential takeover in the 1952led to a Republican presidential takeover in the 1952

WW2 hero Dwight Eisenhower provided an antidote for WW2 hero Dwight Eisenhower provided an antidote for “K“K11CC22”” VP Richard Nixon attacked communism & corruption VP Richard Nixon attacked communism & corruption Eisenhower vowed to go to Korea & personally end the warEisenhower vowed to go to Korea & personally end the war

Eisenhower’s Modern Eisenhower’s Modern RepublicanismRepublicanism

Korean War Gov’t Corruption

Communism

Once elected, Ike did go to Korea, overturned the U.N. battle plan, & threatened China with nuclear war to get an armistice signed in 1953

Eisenhower labeled his politics “Eisenhower labeled his politics “Modern RepublicanismModern Republicanism”:”: ““Ike” believed in conservative gov’t spending & a balanced Ike” believed in conservative gov’t spending & a balanced

budget but he had no desire to end New Deal programsbudget but he had no desire to end New Deal programs The affluent, postwar “good life” at home was dependent The affluent, postwar “good life” at home was dependent

upon a strong Cold War foreign policyupon a strong Cold War foreign policy

Eisenhower’s Modern Eisenhower’s Modern RepublicanismRepublicanism

“I’m conservative when it comes to money and liberal when it comes to human beings”

In his 8 years as president, Ike had a modest domestic In his 8 years as president, Ike had a modest domestic record:record: Instead of ending New Deal programs, Eisenhower added to Instead of ending New Deal programs, Eisenhower added to

social security & minimum wagesocial security & minimum wage Used FDR’s Federal Housing Admin to help finance building Used FDR’s Federal Housing Admin to help finance building

& purchasing of suburban homes& purchasing of suburban homes Created the Depts of Health, Education, & WelfareCreated the Depts of Health, Education, & Welfare

Eisenhower’s Modern RepublicanismEisenhower’s Modern RepublicanismDuring the Eisenhower era, the U.S. economy avoided spiraling inflation & brought

middle-class prosperity to more Americans

Interstate Highway SystemInterstate Highway System:: Highway Act of 1956 created 41,000 miles of divided Highway Act of 1956 created 41,000 miles of divided

highway to connect major U.S. citieshighway to connect major U.S. cities These highways helped promote national defense, interstate These highways helped promote national defense, interstate

trade, & vacation travel trade, & vacation travel All funds were raised exclusively through gas, tire, & car All funds were raised exclusively through gas, tire, & car

taxestaxes

Eisenhower’s Modern RepublicanismEisenhower’s Modern Republicanism

Regarding McCarthyism, Ike provided McCarthy “just Regarding McCarthyism, Ike provided McCarthy “just enough rope to hang himself” in 1954enough rope to hang himself” in 1954 In the televised “Army hearings,” the nation saw McCarthy’s In the televised “Army hearings,” the nation saw McCarthy’s

style & fact-less attacksstyle & fact-less attacks The Senate censured McCarthy & his “communist” attacks The Senate censured McCarthy & his “communist” attacks

quickly died quickly died The Republicans in The Republicans in PowerPower

“I am not going to get into a [peeing] contest with a skunk”

“Have you no decency, Mr. McCarthy?”

Postwar Postwar American American Society Society

The postwar boom was caused byThe postwar boom was caused by A desire for consumer goods (suppressed in the 1930s A desire for consumer goods (suppressed in the 1930s &&

40s) 40s) Gov’t spending during Cold WarGov’t spending during Cold War Baby boom & movement to the suburbs increased the Baby boom & movement to the suburbs increased the

demand for consumer goodsdemand for consumer goods But, this affluence led to a shift from individualism to But, this affluence led to a shift from individualism to

conformity conformity

An Affluent SocietyAn Affluent SocietyThe Marshall Plan

The Korean War

Cars with automatic

transmissions

Filter cigarettes TVs

Refrigerators

Hi-fi record playersThe American economy grew from crippling

depression to the highest standard of living in all of world history in just 1 generation

$64,000 Question$64,000 Question 21 Questions21 Questions BonanzaBonanza The Untouchables The Untouchables I Love LucyI Love Lucy 1950s TV networks 1950s TV networks

TV in the 1950sTV in the 1950s

“I Love Lucy” “The Milton Berle Show”

TV replaced radio & magazines as the primary conveyer of American consumer culture

Birthrate, 1940-1970Birthrate, 1940-1970

The late 1940s & 1950s experienced the “baby boom”

The rapid growth of suburbs altered American life:The rapid growth of suburbs altered American life: ““Blue” & “white collar” workers lived in the same Blue” & “white collar” workers lived in the same

neighborhoodsneighborhoods Suburbs depended upon cars, grocery stores, & shopping Suburbs depended upon cars, grocery stores, & shopping

malls malls Suburbs allowed for the nuclear-family, not the extended Suburbs allowed for the nuclear-family, not the extended

familyfamily ““White-flight” to the suburbs left behind largely black urban White-flight” to the suburbs left behind largely black urban

corescores

Life in the SuburbsLife in the Suburbs

A Suburban Case Study: Levittown, A Suburban Case Study: Levittown, New YorkNew York

Begin in 1947 with 4,000 rental homes to veteransGrew to 17,000 sold homes in 1951

Southdale Shopping Center, Minnesota—the 1st enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall

The rapid growth of suburbs led toThe rapid growth of suburbs led to Increased church membership; Religious preference became Increased church membership; Religious preference became

the primary identifying feature of the suburbs the primary identifying feature of the suburbs Public schools grew & a college education was a goal for Public schools grew & a college education was a goal for

middle class childrenmiddle class childrenAreas of Greatest Areas of Greatest GrowthGrowth

Juvenile Delinquency Movies of the 1950s

The music of the early 50s was dominated by doo-wopThe music of the early 50s was dominated by doo-wop But, rock n’ roll quickly struck a chord with young But, rock n’ roll quickly struck a chord with young

listeners:listeners: Black artists: Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, & Black artists: Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, &

Little RichardLittle Richard White artists: Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, & White artists: Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, &

Elvis Presley Elvis Presley

The Music of the 1950s The Music of the 1950s

Some criticized suburban culture:Some criticized suburban culture: William Whyte’s William Whyte’s Organized ManOrganized Man & David Riesman’s & David Riesman’s Lonely Lonely

CrowdCrowd criticized American conformity to social pressures criticized American conformity to social pressures Jack Kerouac & the Beats (Jack Kerouac & the Beats (BeatniksBeatniks) emerged as a new ) emerged as a new

counter-culture by refusing to conform to 1950s culture counter-culture by refusing to conform to 1950s culture

Critics of the Consumer SocietyCritics of the Consumer Society

Gave rise to counter-culture reactionaries of 1960s

Inspired by Zen Buddhist state of inner grace called “beatitude”

Find imagesFind images

Beat Artists (Beatniks)“City Lights” in San Francisco was a hotbed for Beat artists

MarMar

Abstract Expressionism Jackson PollockMark Rothko

Eisenhower Eisenhower Wages the Wages the Cold WarCold War

Ike was unusually well-prepared to be a Cold War Ike was unusually well-prepared to be a Cold War presidentpresident

Ike’s foreign policy goals were to:Ike’s foreign policy goals were to: Take a strong stand against Communism by using “Take a strong stand against Communism by using “massive massive

retaliationretaliation”” withwith nuclearnuclear weapons & covert CIA operationsweapons & covert CIA operations To reduce defense spending & relax Cold War tensionsTo reduce defense spending & relax Cold War tensions

Eisenhower & the Cold WarEisenhower & the Cold War

Pragmatic & well organized

WW2 military experience in

Europe & Asia

Chose hard-liner John Foster Dulles to be Sec of State

Excellent diplomat & politician

Eisenhower wanted “Eisenhower wanted “more bang for the buckmore bang for the buck”:”: Nuclear weapons & long-range delivery missiles were Nuclear weapons & long-range delivery missiles were

cheaper than conventional armed forcescheaper than conventional armed forces ““Massive retaliationMassive retaliation” strategy made using nuclear weapons ” strategy made using nuclear weapons

unlikelyunlikely But massive retaliation offered no intermediate course of But massive retaliation offered no intermediate course of

action if diplomacy failed action if diplomacy failed

Massive RetaliationMassive Retaliation“Massive retaliation” meant targeting

civilian targets rather than military ones

Ike relied heavily on “brinksmanship” in which he used veiled threats of

nuclear war to accomplish his goals

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)

What are the stakes of war? Massive Retaliation?

Mutual Assured Destruction?

In 1954, Eisenhower used a hard-line approach to stop In 1954, Eisenhower used a hard-line approach to stop Chinese expansion in Asia:Chinese expansion in Asia: Chinese attempts to take over islands near Taiwan led Chinese attempts to take over islands near Taiwan led

Eisenhower to threaten nuclear war if China did not stopEisenhower to threaten nuclear war if China did not stop Eisenhower hoped this pressure would drive a wedge Eisenhower hoped this pressure would drive a wedge

between the USSR & communist China between the USSR & communist China

Massive RetaliationMassive RetaliationChinese did not know if Ike was bluffing so China backed off this territorial expansion

…and the refusal of the USSR to aid China added a rift between Russia & China by the end of the 1950s

In 1956, Egyptian leader Nasser nationalized the Suez In 1956, Egyptian leader Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal:Canal:

EnglandEngland && FranceFrance invadedinvaded Egypt to take back the canal Egypt to take back the canal but the USSR opposed this interventionbut the USSR opposed this intervention

Eisenhower did not want the USSREisenhower did not want the USSR toto attackattack soso hehe threatened Russia with nuclear warthreatened Russia with nuclear war

England, France, & the USSR left Egypt & the U.S. became England, France, & the USSR left Egypt & the U.S. became the leader in Middle Eastthe leader in Middle East

Massive RetaliationMassive Retaliation

“If those fellows start something, we may have to hit ‘em—and, if necessary,

with everything in the bucket”

The Suez Crisis revealed the vulnerability of the Middle The Suez Crisis revealed the vulnerability of the Middle East to Communism & Ike responded:East to Communism & Ike responded: InIn 1957,1957, thethe EisenhowerEisenhower DoctrineDoctrine recommended U.S. recommended U.S.

armed force to protect the Middle East from Communist armed force to protect the Middle East from Communist aggression aggression

In 1957, Ike sent the military to Lebanon to halt Communism In 1957, Ike sent the military to Lebanon to halt Communism & install a pro-Western gov’t & install a pro-Western gov’t

Eisenhower DoctrineEisenhower DoctrineLike the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America, the United States emerged as a police power

in a new part of the world

Ike’s administration used covert CIA acts to expand U.S. Ike’s administration used covert CIA acts to expand U.S. control:control: In 1953, the CIA overthrew Mohammed Mossadegh in Iran In 1953, the CIA overthrew Mohammed Mossadegh in Iran

in favor of a U.S.-friendly shahin favor of a U.S.-friendly shah In 1954, the CIA overthrew a leftist regime in Guatemala In 1954, the CIA overthrew a leftist regime in Guatemala In 1959, the CIA took a hard-line against new Cuban In 1959, the CIA took a hard-line against new Cuban

dictator Fidel Castro after his coupdictator Fidel Castro after his coup

Covert ActionsCovert Actions

These interventions led to anti-American hostilities in the Middle East & Latin America

“The end justifies the means”

The “space race” intensified the Cold War between USA The “space race” intensified the Cold War between USA & USSR& USSR In 1957, the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik led to In 1957, the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik led to

fears that the USSR was leading the race to create fears that the USSR was leading the race to create intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)

The U.S. sped up it plans to buildThe U.S. sped up it plans to build ICBMsICBMs && IRBMIRBM submarinessubmarines

The Effects of SputnikThe Effects of Sputnik

Khrushchev used Sputnik to put the U.S. on the defensive: “We will bury you. Your

grandchildren will live under Communism.”

Sputnik Sputnik ledled to fears that America was growing soft & to fears that America was growing soft & was losing its competitive edge & work ethic was losing its competitive edge & work ethic

The U.S. gov’t responded with:The U.S. gov’t responded with: National Aeronautics & Space AdministrationNational Aeronautics & Space Administration in 1958 in 1958 National Defense Education ActNational Defense Education Act was created to promote was created to promote

math, science, & technology educationmath, science, & technology education

The Effects of SputnikThe Effects of Sputnik

The advanced placement (AP) program is a byproduct of the NDEA!

Sputnik in 1957Sputnik in 1957The Original Seven—Mercury AstronautsAlan Shepard was the 1st American in space

Ike tried to end the nuclear arms race as both sides Ike tried to end the nuclear arms race as both sides tested hydrogen bombs & ICBMstested hydrogen bombs & ICBMs In 1953, Eisenhower called for disarmament & presented his In 1953, Eisenhower called for disarmament & presented his

“Atoms for Peace” plan to the United Nations“Atoms for Peace” plan to the United Nations In 1955, Khrushchev rejected Eisenhower’s “open skies” In 1955, Khrushchev rejected Eisenhower’s “open skies”

plan for weapons disarmament plan for weapons disarmament

Waging PeaceWaging Peace

In his farewell address in 1960, Eisenhower warned In his farewell address in 1960, Eisenhower warned against the against the Military-Industrial ComplexMilitary-Industrial Complex:: The massive military spending that The massive military spending that

dominate domestic & dominate domestic & foreign politicsforeign politics

Military-Industrial ComplexMilitary-Industrial ComplexThis military-industrial complex is part of the reason for the Soviet demise in the late 1980s

& end of the Cold War in 1991

ConclusionsConclusions::Restoring Restoring National National ConfidenceConfidence

By 1960, the American people were more optimistic than By 1960, the American people were more optimistic than in 1950in 1950 Americans were no longer afraid of a return of another Americans were no longer afraid of a return of another

Great DepressionGreat Depression Anxiety over the Cold War continued but was not as severeAnxiety over the Cold War continued but was not as severe But, American values & race relations were areas of But, American values & race relations were areas of

concernconcern

Conclusions Conclusions