Fifties - economics and politics

I. I like Ike!

     A. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower (aka. "Ike") was a hero of WWII.

     B. He ran for president and won big.

II. In his policies, Ike started "dynamic conservativism" = liberal with people, conservative with money.

     A. Politically, he was tough.

1. He took a tough stand against communism. Ie. "massive retaliation."
2. He was slow to act on the civil rights movement.

     B. Economically, he was pro-business.

1. Ex.: The Taft-Hartley Act passed. It outlawed workplaces that MADE you join a labor union.
2. It also banned "featherbedding" where unions limited how much work could be done.

III. The economy flourished in the 50's.

     A. Production went way up.

     B. Energy was cheap.

     C. "R and D" took off.

     D. Changes took place...

1. Suburbs grew in the "white-flight." Ie. "Levittown"
2. Downtowns became business-only areas.
3. The "Sunbelt" of the South grew while the "Rustbelt" and "Frostbelt" shrunk.
4. Harvard prof. John Kenneth Galbraith wrote The Affluent Society. It questioned whether the economic good times were truly for the good of all.