USA (1955-92) CONFORMITY AND CHALLENGE

DURING THE WAR: ECONOMY - America controlled the economy to control international exchanges , and to set up the International Bank for Reconstruction amd Development (supposed to help reconstruct war-destroyed areas). DURING THE WAR: RELATIONS - Creation of the UN impacted political relationships between the US and other countries (trading, international peace and security, friendly relations, promoting social progress). DURING THE WAR: ROOSEVELT - Jewish lives just thrown away ruthlessly due to Roosevelt's reluctancy to take steps that may have saved thousands of lives. DURING THE WAR: SEGREGATION - Created evident divides - formation of soldiers by race, discrimination against black people trying to find jobs, privitisation of soldiers. Women actively utilised in the workplace but not allowed on policy making bodies. Overwhelming atmosphere of patriotism but larger number of pacifists and conscientous objectors (43,000 refusing to fight). 1950'S AMERICAN DREAM - Extreme patriotism, white, suburban families, less/limited poverty, traditional values, stable job, home/car ownership, freedom or further equality, Christianity, continuing to develop and improve, ownership of luxuries (such as TV's) - disposable income. 1950'S AMERICAN DREAM - Eisenhower elected as President in 1952 (released 40 'spots' for his campaign, presenting himself as a plain-speaking man in touch with the people, focused on the Korean war, corruption in government and the high cost of living). He attacked President Truman's failure to end the Korean war, and the corruption during his administration and continuing communist insurrection in Europe. 1950'S AMERICAN DREAM - Voters expected Eisenhower to sort these problems out and work for peace (which he did accomplish), he brought the US great prosperity in his first term and was very popular; re-elected again in 1956. Opening of Disneyland (1955) brought 1000 members of the press to cover it, it had a railroad built through it, 15,000 specifically invited guests by Walt Disney, sold as a family event. LEVVITOWNS - Made house building efficient, teams of people for each house to be built, and had better reputations than pre-fabricated houses. Wide range of colour choices, only $9000 (which included an equipped kitchen, fireplace, attic, washing machine, living room etc). Schools, supermarkets, department stores, shoe stores, recreation centres for leisure hours - community feel. LEVVITOWNS - Aimed at middle-class white families, increased roles and employment in the suburbs. Very few houses had been built for a decade and a half due to the Depression and then the war. Baby-boom generation brought high population levels, demand for family homes. Gov agencies insured up to 95% of the value of the house (so easy for builders to borrow money to buy low cost homes), and they guaranteed mortgages on terms that made it almost easy to buy as it is to rent. HOMES - By 1960, 3/5 of families owned their own homes. Lots of migration, particularly African-American people moving up North, as life was harder for them in Southern states. HOUSING PROBLEMS - For black Americans: getting mortgages, house segregation, hard to get jobs in ghettos and cities because of people moving to suburbs, school catchments reflect housing segregation, schools funded through property tax, high rents for black tenants and squalid accomodation due to overcrowding. IMPACT OF GHETTOS - Teenagers dropping school and joining gangs because of school catchment areas, limited facilities in ghetto houses, very low employment so men on street corners trying to find day work, rise of ghettos caused by racial attitudes but also created more racial issues, rising numbers of white people supporting housing segregation.