Tuesday, March 24th Notes

I.  Truman and Civil Rights

            -Truman supported the fight against racial discrimination more than any previous

            President.  He supported:

                   *Civil Rights Committee Report calling for federal legislation against   

         Lynchings

II.  Dixiecrats

            -Truman’s support for civil rights causes many Southern white Democrats to leave the party and Strom Thurmondstarted the Dixiecrat Party in 1948.

            -Despite people leaving the party, Truman still supported civil rights

                     *however Congress did not pass any Civil Rights legislation

 

III.  A. Philip Randolph Threatens

            -A. Philip Randolph threatens to organize protests against segregation in the military.

 

I.  Truman’s Justice Department Defends Fair Deal

            -Trumans JD, appeared in court to support litigants contesting gov.-backed public school segregation and “restrictive covenants” in real estate

                   *Began to rethink policy of “separate but equal”

 

II.  Jackie Robinson and Sports

            -Many people seemed to view change as progress

            -In sports like baseball, having broken the color line, Major League Baseball did little to protect black players from protests, insults, spikes, and etc.

                  *not allowed to share same benefits as rest of the team; segregated

 

 

I. Rise of the Suburbs

            - Levittown , New York set the pace for the development of mass produced homes in suburban developments

            -the gov. offered an extensive set of programs to help buyers purchase homes

                     *Federal Housing Administration (FHA) helped leaders extend credit to developers

            A. Gov. Help

                        -FHA gaurenteed low down payment loans to buyers

                        -veterans used GI Bill to obtain financing to buy a home

                        -Congress made interest pardon

            B. Suburban Homes

                        -promised greater privacy and more amenities that the cities

                        -was cheaper than apartment in the cities

                        -thought to be good places to raise children

                        -helped start baby boom

            C.  Housing Policies help Segregation

                        -gov. and private housing policies helped to structure and then maintain segregation patters

 

II.  Can’t Live Without a Car

-Suburban living centered around the automobile

            *most families were single car families and women were stuck at home (this bred boredom and conformity)

                        *child care facilities were rare in the suburbs

                        *there were few older people in the suburbs

            -Suburban living fell into a broad pattern of “separate spheres”

                        *work and politics for men, housing and child raising for women

 

III. Dr. Spock

            -lacking mothers and grandmothers, suburban housewives turned to Dr. Benjamin Spock and his book Baby and Child Care.  

                        * books on advice on raising teenagers generated concern over juvenile delinquency

                        *pressure on housewives to raise good children who would not turn into delinquents

                        *women who sought careers outside the house risked a lot of negative comments

 

III. Popular TV in 1950’s

            -Pop. TV shows like Leave it to Beaver suggested that men/fathers could and should be involved in the family more

 

I.  Women Work Force

            -still, more women were joining workforce

                        *more married women were taking jobs in the clerical and service sector

                        *most of this employment was in clear, gender segregated areas: nurses, telephone operators, secretaries, elementary school teachers

                        *pay was lower, labor unions not as active, chances of advancement were more limited than in male sectors of the work force

 

I. Eisenhower

            -Republican Dwight Eisenhower wins election in 1952

            Republicans held a 1 vote edge in the senate and an 8 edge in the House of Rep.

 

II.  Ending the War

            -July 27^th, 1953 both sides signed a truce and established a Special Commission of Neutral Nations to work on prisoner of war issues

            -formal peace treaty was not, and has not been signed

            -the 38^th parallel still divides Korea

 

 

I. American Cold War Activities

            -Massive retaliation- a military/defense strategy that received the right to use weapons of U.S. choosing (nukes) at a time and place of U.S. choosing

            -Southeast Treaty Organization (SEATO) was neutral defense agreement with Australia , France , Great Britain , New Zealand , Pakistan , Phillipines, and Thailand

            -Central Traty Organization (CENTO) formed in 1959 linked Pakistan , Iran , Turkey , and Britain