America 3.1 Post-War American Society and Economy

Question 1

Why did many Americans have luxury goods? How many households had a TV, car, telephone and washing machine? (AM 3.1)

Answer 1

• Affordable and in high demand.

- 9/10 had TV, 8/10 had phone and car, 7/10 had a washer.

Question 2

What persuaded people to buy more? (AM 3.1)

Answer 2

• Advertising, ‘buy now pay later’ schemes.

- Large shopping malls in cities and towns.

Question 3

In 1952 how much of their goods was America exporting? How much did the population rise in the ‘baby boom’? (AM 3.1)

Answer 3

• 65% of goods exported.

- 40% increase in population.

Question 4

What three things did Truman do as part of his fair deal? Which two things were blocked by republicans and southern politicians? (AM 3.1)

Answer 4

• Raised minimum wage from 40 to 75 cents. Cleared slums to build homes. GI Bill gave 4bn to 9m veterans.
• National Health Insurance blocked by republicans, attempts to improve African-American rights blocked by the south.

Question 5

How were women treated after the war? (AM 3.1)

Answer 5

• Discriminated against in business.

- Many believed that ‘a woman’s place was in the home’.

Question 6

What were issues still around when Eisenhower became president in 1952? (AM 3.1)

Answer 6

• Vast areas, mainly in the south, desperately poor.
• No national health service.
• Elderly didn’t benefit from the boom.

Question 7

What changes did teenagers lives have in the 1950s? Who were icons of teenage rebellion? (AM 3.1)

Answer 7

• Didn’t need a job, could go to college.
• Spent 10-15 a week, compared to 1-2 in 40s.
• James Dean and Marlon Brando.

Question 8

Who was Rock and Roll popular with? How was it viewed, and what percent of Americans watched Elvis’s televised performance in 1956? (AM 3.1)

Answer 8

• Teenagers.
• Viewed as dangerous, associated with teen crime.
• 82% of Americans.

Question 9

Why was fear of Communism growing? (AM 3.1)

Answer 9

• Soviets were a nuclear communist superpower.
• Eastern Europe under Soviet influence.
• China became communist in the late 1940s.

Question 10

Who was accused of spying for the Soviets? Who was executed for it in 1953? (AM 3.1)

Answer 10

• Government worker Alger Hiss.

- Ethel and Julius Rosenberg.

Question 11

Why did McCarthy become popular? What happened to his critics? Why did he lose popularity? (AM 3.1)

Answer 11

• Claimed to have a list of 200 communists in government.
• Critics accused of communism and sacked.
• Accused 45 army officers with no evidence.

Question 12

What did HUAC and the Loyalty Programme do? Did they work? (AM 3.1)

Answer 12

• HUAC searched for communists in government, workplaces, media and the movie industry.
• Loyalty Programme allowed FBI to investigate and fire government ‘security risks’.
• Millions investigated, none found guilty, but lost their jobs.