The 1940’s were one of the most important decades for the development of business. WWII brought America out of the Great Depression and put millions of Americans back to work. The demand for guns and other necessities for war and the rush of businesses to meet that demand revolutionized the American economy. This is the decade where companies such as Ford, General Motors established themselves. The success of the 1940s followed them into the next decade and onward.
Education in the 1940s
In the 1940' there was a significant change in the primary and secondary schools with more standardization, organization, and foundation. Higher education put more emphasis on sciences, humanity curriculum, government and industry. After WW II many veterans needed education and the GI bill was passed, which paid for 53% of the all college students tuition, which gave many an education who would have never been able to afford it. The international relationsand foreign studieswere also improved . There was also a court case that ruled against religion in public schools. Due to many underfunded black schools, in 1954 segregated schools were abolished. Due to embarrassment of teachers, sex education movies were created. In 1949 the first baby-boomer kids start kindergarten. In 1953 the federal money for education has doubled since 1929 (Truman). Bachelor and law degrees are available to women at Harvard.
Fashion in the 1940s
The Fashion was greatly affected by World War II and the Great Depression in the beginning of the 1940's. America did not want to spend lots of money on fashion, so wool, cotton, linen, rayon, silk, and nylon would have made fashionable attire, but were diverted to the war effort for uniforms, parachutes, and other supplies. Three quarters of a yard was the maximum fabric allowed to be used to make a dress. Most people only bought clothes that they needed. Since women could not wear silk stockings, they wore bobby socks with penny-loafers or saddle shoes and skirts. Since they could not wear many accessories, they chose many different styles of hats. After the war the African American and Mexican American men stopped wearing single-breasted jackets and plain-front, straight-legged pants and wore the sleek zoot suit. It had a long jacket with wide padded shoulders and baggy pants with narrow cuffs and was worn with a hat, long key chain and shoes with thick soles. This style was worn by "gangs" in Los Angeles and white people were so afraid so that there were "zoot suit riots".
Film and Theatre in the 1940s
Film and Theatre in the 1940s were significantly affected by the two largest tragedies of the times: the Great Depression and World War II. In the 1940s the Great Depression ended with the beginning of World War II. This time of turmoil affected film and theatre greatly. During the war, war films (which made up 5% of the movies of the times) with an emphasis on defeating fascism and Nazism became very popular, but also playful romps were produced by leading studios in great measure. On Broadway, musicals such as Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and Brigadoon were well-received, but the overall popularity of the theatre was decreasing. Even though African Americans fought in the war for America, they were still segregated against and mocked in movies where they were seen as ridiculous comedic figures. In general, film and theatre became negative after the war, but the new depressing form of entertainment drew in large audiences.
Food and Drink of the 1940s
Inside many homes, the use of electrical appliances, such as gas stoves, was increasing. During this time, the preparation of prepackaged food was becoming immensely popular. The food industry was growing in size rapidly, and this decade saw an expansion of mass-produced, branded food. The A&P Grocery Company was a big name because of its invention of the concept of grocery chains. Regional grocery chains (and national soon afterwards) quickly opened up to compete with the A&P Grocery Company. An other major event of the food industry at this time was America's first exposure to fast food: diners and hot dog stands.
Print Culture of the 1940s
World War II was the biggest media attraction during this decade. Reporters and photographers all tried very hard to bring pictures and stories of soldiers and their battles to the American public., They were so dedicated that 37 of them died while trying to gain a story.
Besides the news, reading materials for younger people rose. Comic books/strips became very popular to the younger generation.
-Highlights; educational reading for children
-Seventeen; advice to young women
But “Pulps” began to disappear (inexpensive fiction magazines), it lost its writers to book publishers and comic books.
Sports and Games of the 1940s
Sports and games in the 1940s were greatly disrupted by World War II. Many great athletes such as UnitedState’s heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, baseballs Joe Dimaggio and Ted Williams and many other athletes served in the war. Due to the war, there was quite a shortage in money for sports. Since rubber went towards the war, baseballs were very soggy. Wood was also at a low supply, putting baseball bats and bowling pins at a shortage. Still, even with all of this, sports were encouraged to continue.
By 1943, baseball became greatly affected. Half of baseballs players enlisted in the army. Teams were forced to use players of older age and even, in one case, a one armed outfielder named Pete Gray. In 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first black professional baseball player.
Basketball, on the other hand, was not affected as much as baseball was. The majority of the players in the NBA were 6 feet tall and taller. Because of this, they were unable to join in the army. This made basketball a much more popular sport at the time.
Music of the 1940s - the beginning of Self-expressionism
Music was also affected by events of the times and racial borders were blurred. Black musicians were highly successful on the swing-jazz circuit and blues and bebop were the "new" kind of music. Later in the 40s, blues became electrified and were transformed into R&B. Musicians, such as the trumpet player Miles Davis were very popular for their long solos featuring individual instruments. These long solos became a signature for music in the 40s as they displayed expressionism of oneself through the arts which was common after the difficult times of the war and the Great Depression. Through these events, music in America changed, African American musicians were given a chance, and a new age of expressionism began.
Watch Miles Davis play one of his famous solos:
"They Way We Lived" in the 1940s
At the end of the Great Depression, many American’s lived in poverty. Some people grew their own “victory” gardens to supply their own food and save money.
American’s lived sparingly even with all the money gained from the new jobs created after the Depression.
The average age of marriage decreased and couples would rush to get married before soldiers went of to World War II. When the soldiers came back, the couples would move off into the suburbs and begin increasing their family size, thus the baby boom.
In the mid 40’s the economy was prospering, and recreational activities, such as movies and vacationing, were more common, as were luxuries such as cars and electrical appliances.
After WWII, the fear of communists increased, people started building cement bomb shelters in their backyard.
Government and Politics
During the 1940s, the public wholeheartedly supported the war against Hitler and Mussolini. They were enraged by the crimes that Germany, Italy, and Japan were committing. Young men volunteered for military service by the millions sometimes leaving their college education and their whole lives behind. Women helped out in the front lines as nurses. The public whole-heartedly supported President Roosevelt and later President Truman in their war efforts. However that could change at anytime. The unprecedented powers of the president at that time could rouse the public’s wrath especially in an age of dictators. Government and Politics during this time period was trying to keep the support of the public. This greatly influenced President Truman's decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Truman was afraid that if the conflict went on any longer he would lose public support because of increasing military deaths and the increasing cost. To avoid that, he made the decision to intimidate the Japanese into submission. His strategy worked, and the Japanese surrendered. This was the Government and Politics of that era.
Law and Justice
During the 1940s was when America was having conflicts with many other countries. There were many changes now in society and government due to Roosevelt's efforts to fight the Great Depression with his New Deal program. Also, at this time, America was dealing with the crimes of the Holocaust. America could not let the crimes of the Nazis go on unpunished therefore we had to make ourselves involved in the international legislative conflict. Another conflict arising was the Cold War. The Soviet Union was spreading their ideas. America viewed these ideas as wrong and so we indirectly spread our ideas of democracy and fighting the communist law in places such as Central America and Eastern Europe.
Religion
Church membership instantaneously increased from 43% before WWII, to 55% by 1950. A poll in 1947 even revealed the fact that religious leaders were held in greater esteem than political figures to the public. After the immense destructive power seen in WWII, people felt the need for charity and humility all the more.
By this time, Protestantism emerged as the largest faith in the United States. The Methodist Church, the largest Protestant body, actually operated 77 colleges and universities, 70 hospitals and 10 seminaries. Catholicism and Judaism had slowly infested itself in urban life, while Protestantism moved to the rural areas; previously to WWII, it had been completely the opposite.
Though anti-semitism was still around and had manifested itself into anti-communism, religion itself was becoming more liberal. Because of the spread/travel of religion to different areas of the country, many of the ethnical aspects were diverging from religion itself and some religions were adopting other religions' followings. But overall, going to church became an important part of life for the suburban resident because of the sense of community it gave, protection against being suspected as a communist-sympathizer, and the major shield of conformity it provided for them.
Harry S. Truman
~"I don't give a damn what history thinks of me. I know what I did and that's enough for me."
Senator in 1934, Judge of the Jackson County Court, Military Captain, The 33rd president
Interests/Hobbies:
Reading
History
Spending time with the family
Music/Playing Piano
Education:
I graduated from Independence High School in 1901.
Friends:
Lieutenant Jim Pendergast
Thomas J. ("Tom") Pendergast
Mike Pendergast
Bennett Champ Clark
Sports:
Golfing
Swimming
Horse-riding
During my stint as president, the political, social and economic factors and challenges that I had to deal with (at home) included:
Political
the US granted political independence to the Philippines in 1946, but kept the right to station ships and planes on Philippine territory at Subic Bay and Clark Air Base.
The Truman Doctrine made the US the anticommunist police abroad and at home
22 amendment: a president can only serve for two full four-year terms or ten years in office
Over my veto, Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act (Labor Management Relations Act)
I passed Selective Service Act so all 18-25 year old males have to register for military service
1948, I am reelected as president
1951, Nevada became the 36th state
Social
The baby boom began, with birthrates up 20% from 1946 and 74% of couples had their first child in their first year of marriage.
Women workers, especially autoworkers, staged protests when massive numbers of females were laid-off as the male veterans of the war returned to their jobs.
The cost of living increased, followed by inflation rates.
For the first time since the Reconstruction, African-Americans voted in the 1946 Mississippi Democratic primary.
I established the President's Committee on Civil Rights.
The charter for the Ku Klux Klan was withdrawn.
Six million people experienced housing shortages
Infant death and maternal mortality rates dropped because of antibiotics and immunizations.
African-Americans were invited to the presidential inauguration and to stay in the same hotels as whites for the first time.
A contraceptive pill for women was developed.
Economic
1945, I introduced the "Fair Deal" to congress. The program promised full employment, a raise in the minimum wages, an extension of Social Security, national health insurance, federal aid in education and governement-sponsered housing for the poor.
1945, I replaced the War Labor Board with the Wage Stabilization Board to try and calm the labor unrest in the population.
With the Employment Act of 1946, the Council of Economic Advisers had to make an annual economic report to the nation.
1946, I created the Office of Economic Stabilization in order to handle the changing economy.
1949, The Fair Labor Standards Act was put into position in order to raise the minimum wage from forty cents to seventy-five cents an hour.
During my stint as president, the political, social and economic factors and challenges that I had to deal with (abroad) included:
Political
My ignorance of international affairs caused me to make errors in foreign policy in my first year.
I confronted the decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan. Dropping the bombs on Hiroshima was my decision and I waswidely criticized for it.
The Potsdam Declaration by the United States, Great Britain, and China requested Japan to surrender after the United States had dropped two nuclear bombs on, flew bombers over, and invaded Japan. Japan did not accept and America dropped yet another bomb on Japan, taking 110,000 lives.
Social
Nazism - I fought the Nazi belief in Europe that there was such a thing as a superior race. I worked to reestablish democracy back in Europe and defeat the Nazis.
Communism and Cold War - After the end of WWII, the US and the Soviet Union were the two superpowers left in the world. Democracy vs. communism. There was tension because these two countries had very different ideas of how the social system of a country should be established and run.
Many former colonies throughout the world fought for their independence from many European powers such as Britain. Many of these countries, such as India, were influenced into becoming a democracy.
Economic
Because of World War II, we gained allies and many foreign connections.
Looking back at my presidential career, I had to wear several "hats." Wearing these different "hats," these were my most significant achievements and failures:
Commander-in-Chief
As Commander in Chief, I faced many challenges, such as the choice of whether to defend the independence of South Korea or not. I described South Korea as a "police action" which was later used against me at the beginning of the war in Vietnam. As I tried to defend the independence of South Korea, I used various military strategies. The military was very small and weak at this time though, and as a result the U.S. militia barely stopped North Korea from invading, but it was successful as they did not invade. The American public did not understand military tactics and they thus thought I was not handling the situation correctly. Thus, the Korean war was a representation of my greatest successes and failures as Commander in Chief.
Chief Executive
Though I am not considered the first modern president, I was the first to organize my administration of high office as chief executive, turning our energies toward presidential problems. I also expanded the Executive Office as Chief Executive.
Chief Diplomat
At the conclusion of WWII, there were many negotiations that needed to be carried out, many treaties that needed to be signed, and many punishments that needed to be finalized. I handled this all. I helped establish the United Nations which would establish international law so another disaster such as WWII would not occur. I also signed the Marshall Plan, also known as the “European Recovery Program”, which helped rebuild Europe. I effectively handled my role as Chief Diplomat and peacefully ended WWII.
Ceremonial Head of State
My job as Ceremonial Head of State was most importantly to be able to connect with the American people, since ultimately, the American people provide the source of power to a president. One of the most significant achievements in this category was not significant because of the message within this appearance but because of what trend it had started. I made the first televised presidential address. In this address, I asked Americans to cut back on grains in order to aid the suffering European countries after World War II. I knew that if I did not provide food aid, my administrations Marshall Plan would not go through.
This 'food program' did not last very long, but my televised presidential address was the first, and would continue on, and still continues now. I created a new, easier, and faster way to fulfill my duties as a Ceremonial Head of State, simply through a televised broadcast.
Manager of the Economy
As manager of the economy, I helped the struggling economies of Germany, Japan, and France. In deciding how much to help each of these economies, I was able to make a balance between our powerful economy and the weaker but improving economies of these foreign nations that were upset during the war.
Party Leader
As party leader, I wished to keep the values of the Democratic Party diverse, seeing as how Roosevelt had already brought new meaning to the word 'Democrat.' I pushed for many liberal programs, such as the Fair Deal, where I stated that "every segment of our population, and every individual, has a right to expect from his government a fair deal." The Democratic Party came to tolerate more and more liberal ideas because of my leadership.
National Leader
Especially compared to the preceding president Roosevelt, I was not seen as a very good national leader. However, I had to face many controversial issues, where I had to make drastic decisions. One of those was the atomic bombing of Japan. US citizens had different views on these topics, so from the time of my second election, I became less and less popular. Still, I did not cause a great hatred against anti-communism. Therefore my role as a leader of America was fulfilled, but not with all the possible fame and glory.
Favorite Quote About Me by a Famous Historian:
"I don’t think any president has had as significant a re-evaluation as Truman." ~Columbia University historian, Alan Brinkley.
Positive Political Cartoon
Negative Political Cartoon
MYP Unit Question: How can contributions of one person affect the direction of an entire nation?
Guiding Question: How did culture and the role of the president shape post-WWII America?
After World War II, the economy was booming. Many Americans were able to get themselves out of the 'slump' created by the depression, because of the many jobs coming from the supply and demand of military weapons during WWII. Due to this economic success for America as a country, the way of life changed dramatically. The culture evolved as a result of the modernization and new excess of money, while President Truman was able to focus on different issues in the American society because the economy was no longer a problem to be dealt with. With a new president at hand and a new culture on the rise, post-WWII looked very optimistic.
Post-WWII America was significantly different from the decades before because of a drastic shift in culture. After the fear of war, couples began marrying earlier, and having children as soon as the men came back from war, and thus creating the baby boomers. Families were more inclined to spend for luxuries such as expensive cars and vacations; these practices generated new American traditions. Food started to become mass-produced in grocery chains, paving a way for future generations of on-the-go families. Teaching science, government and industry became the core principles in the educational system. Steps were taken to provide for an education free of religious and racial influence, and with the new foreign studies, international relations grew. WWII also brought a big audience to printed materials because of the demand for photographs and stories of the soldiers. A great fear of communism also arose from this period, causing the nation to be on a vigil watch for years to come. The popularity of films (especially ones related to war) increased. In fashion, people learned to use materials sparingly and set trends based on these techniques of saving that have lasted to this day. Basketball, jazz and r&b gained popularity also, along with a place for African-Americans in the music industry. The new culture that was emerging at this time helped America become one of the most fast-paced and modern countries of the world, securing America's place as the world power. The immense cultural transformations of the 1940s would leave their impact on post-WWII America.
President Truman also played a large role in shaping post WWII America. Truman guided America through the end of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, and the Korean War. His administration's foreign policy established the basic principles that have appeared in all his successors' foreign policies. Starting with the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Truman established America as a superpower and as the policeman of the world. President Truman also helped the struggling economies of many countries that were affected by the war such as Britain, Germany, France, and Japan. America agreed to loan these countries billions of dollars. In return, these countries used that money to buy goods from the United States to rebuild their country. As a result, America's economy boomed. Even while helping all of these foreign economies, Truman was able to still maintain a balance by keeping a strong stable economy in the United States.
Thus, the contributions of President Truman helped shape post-WWII America, through his policies that jump-started America’s economy and his establishment of the foreign policy still in existance today. America's culture itself helped create post-WWII America as well, as new ideas -and therefore a new culture- assisted the nation with recovery from the Great Depression and World War II. Eventually, this is how post-WWII America took shape.
To see the chain of events of the next decade in American History,click here!
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