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Eisenhower's America: 1950s Society, Culture, and Economy Overview

Explore the societal, cultural, and economic landscape of the 1950s in America under Eisenhower's leadership. From businesslike cabinets to modern Republicanism, this era saw a focus on balancing budgets, extending social security, and consolidating welfare agencies. The Interstate Highway Act of 1956 transformed transportation with the construction of 42,000 miles of highways, boosting the economy. The era was marked by steady economic growth, consumerism, conformity, and the rise of television, advertising, and corporate dominance. Women's roles evolved with the baby boom and suburbanization. Social critics like David Riesman and John Kenneth Galbraith challenged societal norms. Immerse yourself in this fascinating era of post-war America.

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Eisenhower's America: 1950s Society, Culture, and Economy Overview

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Society in the 1950s

  2. Eisenhower at Home • Businesslike cabinet • Modern Republicanism • Balance budget • Extend social security • Cut federal health care and education • Consolidate government welfare agencies

  3. Eisenhower at Home • Interstate • 1956 Highway Act authorizes construction of 42,000 miles linking major cities (now 47,000) • Largest highway system • Largest public works project until 2011 • Took attention from public transportation in cities

  4. Eisenhower at Home Steady growth in economy Little inflation Small surpluses/deficits Per-capita income triples from 1945-1960 Mid 1950s average income was 2x that of 1920s Highest standard of living in the world

  5. Culture • Conformity • Consumerism • Television • By 1961 55 million TV sets • 3 networks • Comedies, westerns, quiz shows, sports • Common (white, middle class) culture

  6. Culture • Advertising • Name brands • Shopping • Credit Cards • Fast Food • Franchising

  7. Culture • Books/Records • More reading than ever despite TV • Paperback phenomenon (1 million/day) • LP’s and 45’s • Rock ‘n’ roll stolen by Elvis Presley

  8. Culture • Corporatocracy • Conglomerates dominate • More white-collar than blue-collar jobs • Teamwork/conformity • The Organization Man (1956) • Unions • AFL and CIO merge • more power • more middle-class • more conservative • Conformity = Suburbs, new car, good schools, Disneyland

  9. Women’s Roles • Baby Boom • Larger families and younger marriages • 50 million babies between 1945 and 1960 (1940 pop. - 132,164,569) • ‘Burbs • Levittown • Dr. Spock • Baby and Child Care

  10. Social Critics • David Riesman - Sociologist • “inner directed” individuals vs. “other-directed” conformists • John Kenneth Galbraith - Economist • Wealthy Americans fail to address need for social spending for the common good • J.D. Salinger • The Catcher in the Rye • Joseph Heller • Catch-22 • Beatniks

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