THE PROSPEROUS '50's
The 1950's are routinely remembered as an extremely prosperous decade for American society. In fact the post-World War II between 1945 and 1960 saw near unprecedented economic growth, certainly on a par with the Gilded Age between 1870 and 1900, however the distribution of wealth was more equal in the 1950's. For example, a larger American middle class had emerged by the end of the decade. However, are historians correct in identifying the 1950's as a period of prosperity and progress?
Yes, the 1950's were a period of progress and prosperity .
The American economy grew exponentially while unemployment and inflation remained low.
Between 1945 and 1960, the gross national product of the USA had more than doubled from $200 billion to $500 billion. By the end of the 1950's, the median American household's purchasing power had increased by 30%. Unemployment remained low and by the mid-1950's it was as low as 4.5%. Moreover, a mild recession in 1954, as well as a more serious one in 1958, meant that inflation remained low despite the rapid economic growth.
The reasons for this growth were:
One of the consequences of this growth was a baby boom. About 4 million babies were born each year in the 1950's and by 1960, there were 77 million baby boomers.
Between 1945 and 1960, the gross national product of the USA had more than doubled from $200 billion to $500 billion. By the end of the 1950's, the median American household's purchasing power had increased by 30%. Unemployment remained low and by the mid-1950's it was as low as 4.5%. Moreover, a mild recession in 1954, as well as a more serious one in 1958, meant that inflation remained low despite the rapid economic growth.
The reasons for this growth were:
- The American G.I. Bill provided financial assistance for WWII veterans to gain a college education. The result of this were an enlarged pool of highly skilled and educated workers whom American businesses would pay high wages to
- Factory workers during World War II had invested their money in war bonds and saved wisely. Even though many women found themselves out of a job after soldiers returned home in 1945 and 1946, their savings meant there was more money spent on things like consumer goods which boosted business and fueled the economy
- American goods were in demand, especially in Europe which was still recovering from World War II. At the same time, potential competitors to American companies were few and far between because of the effects of World War II
- Cheap oil was readily available, thanks to increased domestic production
- The Eisenhower administration managed to successfully balance the federal budget, even producing a surplus by 1960
One of the consequences of this growth was a baby boom. About 4 million babies were born each year in the 1950's and by 1960, there were 77 million baby boomers.
There were infrastructure developments that had a dramatic improvement on peoples' lives.
In 1956, President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act which gave $25 billion to build an interstate highway system. This law was a huge boost to the automobile industry, previously under-developed regions of the USA (such as the southwest) and interstate commerce. As many Americans could also afford to buy cars, cities grew bigger and many middle class Americans chose to live in suburbs such as Levittown, New York, where housing and space were more plentiful.
In 1956, President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act which gave $25 billion to build an interstate highway system. This law was a huge boost to the automobile industry, previously under-developed regions of the USA (such as the southwest) and interstate commerce. As many Americans could also afford to buy cars, cities grew bigger and many middle class Americans chose to live in suburbs such as Levittown, New York, where housing and space were more plentiful.
Consumer goods were more readily available.
As Americans became more prosperous and were able to buy bigger houses in the suburbs, they were also able to purchase consumer goods, for example washing machines, which made their lives more convenient. Additionally, by 1960, almost 9 out of 10 American households owned a television set.
There were some
civil rights
advancements for African-Americans.
Under Eisenhower, the desegregation of the military that had begun under Truman continued. In 1955 and 1956, the African-American community in Montgomery, Alabama forced local bus companies to desegregate their buses following a boycott. In 1957, nine African-America students were successful in enrolling in the Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas (even if they had to be escorted to school by members of the 101st Airborne Division under the orders of Eisenhower). The latter two victories were instrumental in fine-tuning the non-violent tactics that were to be so successful in the 1960's.
However, the greatest civil rights triumph was the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown vs. Board of Education, which led to desegregation in education, led to events such as the one caused by the 'Little Rock Nine' and was significant in helping to end all segregation. In many ways, the great advances of the 1960's would not have been possible without the foundations that were laid in the 1950's.
However, the greatest civil rights triumph was the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown vs. Board of Education, which led to desegregation in education, led to events such as the one caused by the 'Little Rock Nine' and was significant in helping to end all segregation. In many ways, the great advances of the 1960's would not have been possible without the foundations that were laid in the 1950's.
1950's culture- TV, Hollywood and Rock n' Roll.
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No, the 1950's were not as great as some have claimed.
Not all sections of society shared in the economic growth.
25% of the population still lived in poverty throughout the 1950's (the poverty line was then defined as an annual income of under $3000 for a family of four). Most affected were minorities such as African-Americans (both in northern cities and in the deep south), Hispanics in the southwest and rural whites in Appalachia. Because of the sprawling nature of many American cities and the emergence of suburbs, many wealthier Americans were unaware of the large scale of the poverty in the 'other America'.
25% of the population still lived in poverty throughout the 1950's (the poverty line was then defined as an annual income of under $3000 for a family of four). Most affected were minorities such as African-Americans (both in northern cities and in the deep south), Hispanics in the southwest and rural whites in Appalachia. Because of the sprawling nature of many American cities and the emergence of suburbs, many wealthier Americans were unaware of the large scale of the poverty in the 'other America'.
In contrast to the fiscal responsibility of the Eisenhower administration, private debt increased as consumerism took hold.
While many Americans had no choice but to live frugally during the Great Depression of the 1930's and the war rationing of the 1940's, the economic boom of the 1950's changed American spending patterns. Whereas older Americans had been content to save and reuse, a new generation viewed income and goods as more disposable. There were some who began to criticize the emerging materialism and consumerism of the era.
Despite only representing 6% of the global population, Americans consumed one third of all the world's goods and services as the lines between 'need' and 'want' blurred. Fueling massive consumer spending was the availability of credit and proliferation of advertising- by 1963, $13 billion was spend on advertising. In the long-term, some economists questioned the sustainability of an economy that relied so much on consumer spending, especially in combination with the accumulation of debt (private debt doubled during the 1950's). They were right to worry- the 2008 financial crisis was caused in part by the collapse of consumer spending and spiraling private debt.
Despite only representing 6% of the global population, Americans consumed one third of all the world's goods and services as the lines between 'need' and 'want' blurred. Fueling massive consumer spending was the availability of credit and proliferation of advertising- by 1963, $13 billion was spend on advertising. In the long-term, some economists questioned the sustainability of an economy that relied so much on consumer spending, especially in combination with the accumulation of debt (private debt doubled during the 1950's). They were right to worry- the 2008 financial crisis was caused in part by the collapse of consumer spending and spiraling private debt.
The culture of the suburbs was stale.
As the 1950's progressed, there was a growing number of people who criticized the uniformity of the new suburbs. Houses and streets were often the same in order for them to built quickly. To these critics, especially the counter-cultural 'beatniks' such as writers Allen Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac, this homogeneity was especially hypocritical during the Cold War era, when many Americans criticized the Soviet Union for much the same thing.
The culture of the suburbs was not great for a lot women either. After spending the war years working, many women were unemployed by the 1950's. Although many books and magazines urged women to embrace their roles as wives and mothers, many felt confined and trapped by life in suburbia. Consequently, there was an emerging backlash against this designated role in society (as articulated in books such as the 'feminine mystique') which led to the emergence of the feminist movement in the 1960's.
As the 1950's progressed, there was a growing number of people who criticized the uniformity of the new suburbs. Houses and streets were often the same in order for them to built quickly. To these critics, especially the counter-cultural 'beatniks' such as writers Allen Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac, this homogeneity was especially hypocritical during the Cold War era, when many Americans criticized the Soviet Union for much the same thing.
The culture of the suburbs was not great for a lot women either. After spending the war years working, many women were unemployed by the 1950's. Although many books and magazines urged women to embrace their roles as wives and mothers, many felt confined and trapped by life in suburbia. Consequently, there was an emerging backlash against this designated role in society (as articulated in books such as the 'feminine mystique') which led to the emergence of the feminist movement in the 1960's.
Levels of discrimination towards minority were still very high.
African-Americans living in the deep south still had to endure the injustice and cruelty of Jim Crow . African-Americans who had the left the south during the Great Migration still faced hardship and discrimination in cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Millions of Mexican-American laborers worked in terrible conditions as 'braceros' (migrant farming workers) in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas. In 1954, Eisenhower ordered 'Operation Wetback' which forcibly deported illegal Mexican immigrants (many of whom had family who were legally resident in the US). One of the biggest criticism of this initiative was the manner in which the deportations were carried out. Many deportees were beaten and some abandoned in the sweltering heat of the Mexican desert without the opportunity to contact family members living in the US or claim their belongings. Native Americans also suffered; in 1953, the Eisenhower government cut off all special services with the intention of forcing tribes off ancestral lands so that white developers could build there.
African-Americans living in the deep south still had to endure the injustice and cruelty of Jim Crow . African-Americans who had the left the south during the Great Migration still faced hardship and discrimination in cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Millions of Mexican-American laborers worked in terrible conditions as 'braceros' (migrant farming workers) in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas. In 1954, Eisenhower ordered 'Operation Wetback' which forcibly deported illegal Mexican immigrants (many of whom had family who were legally resident in the US). One of the biggest criticism of this initiative was the manner in which the deportations were carried out. Many deportees were beaten and some abandoned in the sweltering heat of the Mexican desert without the opportunity to contact family members living in the US or claim their belongings. Native Americans also suffered; in 1953, the Eisenhower government cut off all special services with the intention of forcing tribes off ancestral lands so that white developers could build there.
The
Red Scare
created a culture of fear and paranoia within American society.
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