The baby-boomer years after WWII were prosperous in many ways including all the technological advances made in such a short period of time. For example, the Arms Race_ allowed us to constantly search for better technology and become more aware of outer space and how useful it is. Since we were looking for more advanced technology, we were able to create Sputnik_ which then led to more space travel and eventually landed Americans on the moon. Another positive aspect of the baby-boomer years was the introduction of Rock n' Roll_ music. Artists like Elvis Presley appealed to both black and white teens, providing for one thing that the two groups had in common. Rock n' Roll music was the epitome of Beatnik_ subculture, it rejected the traditional rules of society by exploiting drugs, sex, and racial unity. The popularity of televisions_ was also prosperous during this time period because most families owned a television and would watch soap operas like I Love Lucy that influenced the empowerment of women through the main character, Lucille Ball. Lastly, Levittowns were mass-produced housing in the suburbs that could be made quickly in order to provide housing for returning war veterans.
The baby-boomer years after WWII were also a frightening time period because many Americans feared that we would be influenced into radical change. After WWII Europe no longer had a government. The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences_ between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin were set up to discuss the post-war reorganization of Europe which, of course brought on tension because of the political differences in the nations. When Roosevelt died in 1945 and Churchill was overthrown, Stalin was left with the most power and pushed European countries into communism. Many Americans feared that the U.S. would soon become a communist country as well. To ease the worry of his people, President Truman created a document for containment_ and when European countries started to fall under communism, Truman turned to the Marshall Plan_. He thought that the Marshall Plan would slow the spread of communism in Europe but the Iron Curtain_ separated Europe into two parts: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and Warsaw. The Western European nations were under NATO and the Eastern European nations joined the Warsaw Pact, China later fell under communism. During this time period, it was social suicide for an American to admit that they believed in communism so when Hollywood stars were accused of being communist they were put on a black list and would lose their fame in Hollywood. Many famous politicians and stars were victims of McCarthyism_ and because of the strong impact that Hollywood had on the general public's opinion, all stars were violated of their rights and publicly promised that they were not communist. Since the U.S. and the Soviets had never agreed on one government for Korea, it was split into the North and South with a border line right at the 38th parallel_. North of the 38th parallel was Soviet occupied and the South was Anerican occupied. The Soviets were not content with sharing the nation so they invaded the South to start the Korean War_ that eventually ended in 54,000 killed Americans. When Stalin tried to take over the South, the United Nations and Republic of Korea forced them back to their boundary and McArthur even pushed back so far that the North was almost completely controlled. China then stepped in to help their fellow communist nation and the UN troops started to withdrawal. The war soon reached a stalemate at the 38th parallel so a cease-fire was called and North Korea and South Korea became two separate countries. For my personal perspective, I asked my grandmother about the Beatnik culture and Rock n' Roll when she was a kid. She told me that she was not a Beatnik teen and she didn't listen to Rock n' Roll until later on because she was afraid of what her parents would do if she was caught rebelling. She mentioned, "My mother would never allow me to be a Beatnik, it would've embarrassed the whole family because back then they didn't care about individual opinions. What they said was right and that's final."
The baby-boomer years after WWII were also a frightening time period because many Americans feared that we would be influenced into radical change. After WWII Europe no longer had a government. The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences_ between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin were set up to discuss the post-war reorganization of Europe which, of course brought on tension because of the political differences in the nations. When Roosevelt died in 1945 and Churchill was overthrown, Stalin was left with the most power and pushed European countries into communism. Many Americans feared that the U.S. would soon become a communist country as well. To ease the worry of his people, President Truman created a document for containment_ and when European countries started to fall under communism, Truman turned to the Marshall Plan_. He thought that the Marshall Plan would slow the spread of communism in Europe but the Iron Curtain_ separated Europe into two parts: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and Warsaw. The Western European nations were under NATO and the Eastern European nations joined the Warsaw Pact, China later fell under communism. During this time period, it was social suicide for an American to admit that they believed in communism so when Hollywood stars were accused of being communist they were put on a black list and would lose their fame in Hollywood. Many famous politicians and stars were victims of McCarthyism_ and because of the strong impact that Hollywood had on the general public's opinion, all stars were violated of their rights and publicly promised that they were not communist. Since the U.S. and the Soviets had never agreed on one government for Korea, it was split into the North and South with a border line right at the 38th parallel_. North of the 38th parallel was Soviet occupied and the South was Anerican occupied. The Soviets were not content with sharing the nation so they invaded the South to start the Korean War_ that eventually ended in 54,000 killed Americans. When Stalin tried to take over the South, the United Nations and Republic of Korea forced them back to their boundary and McArthur even pushed back so far that the North was almost completely controlled. China then stepped in to help their fellow communist nation and the UN troops started to withdrawal. The war soon reached a stalemate at the 38th parallel so a cease-fire was called and North Korea and South Korea became two separate countries. For my personal perspective, I asked my grandmother about the Beatnik culture and Rock n' Roll when she was a kid. She told me that she was not a Beatnik teen and she didn't listen to Rock n' Roll until later on because she was afraid of what her parents would do if she was caught rebelling. She mentioned, "My mother would never allow me to be a Beatnik, it would've embarrassed the whole family because back then they didn't care about individual opinions. What they said was right and that's final."
Arms Race: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk
Rock n' Roll: http://www.ushistory.org
Sputnik: http://history.nasa.gov
Beatnik: https.wikispaces.com
Television: http://ushistory.org
Yalta and Potsdam Conferences: http://www.bbc.co.uk
Containment: https://www.boundless.com
Marshall Plan: https://history.state.gov
Iron Curtain: http://www.historyplace.com
McCarthyism: https://www.princeton.edu
38th parallel: http://www.britannica.com
Korean War: http://ushistory.com
Rock n' Roll: http://www.ushistory.org
Sputnik: http://history.nasa.gov
Beatnik: https.wikispaces.com
Television: http://ushistory.org
Yalta and Potsdam Conferences: http://www.bbc.co.uk
Containment: https://www.boundless.com
Marshall Plan: https://history.state.gov
Iron Curtain: http://www.historyplace.com
McCarthyism: https://www.princeton.edu
38th parallel: http://www.britannica.com
Korean War: http://ushistory.com