US History of the 1960s Dave Richards Office: Netzer 225 Phone: 436-3326 Hours: By Appointment Email: [email protected]
Jan 01, 2016
US History of the 1960sDave RichardsOffice: Netzer 225Phone: 436-3326Hours: By AppointmentEmail: [email protected]
Day OneSyllabusOverviewLecture: The 1950s- Seeds of the
Sixties
America in the 1950sThe EconomyWealth and Poverty in a land of plentyRumblings of DiscontentConsensus and Conformity in the
SuburbsSigns of things to come
Levittown, New York
Levittown
Levittown
Levittown
1950s Economy
1950s EconomyConsumer oriented
1950s EconomyConsumer orientedRising real income across class lines
1950s EconomyConsumer orientedRising real income across class linesEasy credit availability
1950s EconomyConsumer orientedRising real income across class linesEasy credit availabilityBusiness consolidation
1950s EconomyConsumer orientedRising real income across class linesEasy credit availabilityBusiness consolidationDecline in unskilled jobs and rise in
white-collar employment
1950s EconomyConsumer orientedRising real income across class linesEasy credit availabilityBusiness consolidationDecline in unskilled jobs and rise in white-
collar employment Increase in government defense spending
Inequality of WealthTop ½ of 1% controlled 19% of wealth in
1949 Increased to 25% by 1956Top 1% controlled 33% of the wealth-
1960Bottom 20% controlled less than .005%!40 million Americans (22%) lived below
the poverty level in 1960!
Levittown
A Nation on the Move
Diner
MacDonalds
I Remember Mama
The Life of Riley
Father Knows Best
Leave it to Beaver
Donna Reed Show
Ozzie and Harriet
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Bill Haley and the Comets
Marlon Brando
Brando- On the Waterfront
James Dean
The Beats
Alan Ginsberg