American History

1
American History Literature since 1945

• The U.S. and World Power

2
The US and World Power

• Who were the main powers in WWII?
• Allies Great Britain, US, Soviet Union
• Axis Germany and Japan
• Allies won. BUT
• SU GB were greatly weakened

3
US and World Power

• US did not enter war until Dec. 7, 1941
• US emerged from WWII in excellent economic shape
• This new power shaped American culture for
  remainder of 20th century.

4
US Manufacturing

• During WWII, US industry expanded greatly.
• With 3 million men away, women African
  Americans filled many key manufacturing roles.

5
Manufacturing Cultural Changes

• After the war, many did not want to go back to
  housework and second-class status.

6
World Power Containment

• Korean police action
• Growth of USSR
• Perception of USSR as socialist state opposed to
  Western capitalism

7
The Cold War

• The USSR and the Iron Curtain
• Communist governments formed in Eastern Europe
• Communists took control of China--1949

8
US Society 1950s Early 60s

• Stable Conformity
• Materialistic standard of living
• G.I. Billwhite males college
• Technical professional jobs
• Higher incomes demographic expansion helped
  create the new suburbs.

9
Americans in the Suburbs

10
CHANGE The Election of JKF

11
CHANGEThe Sixties

• Conformity vs. Individuality
• Tradition vs. Innovation
• Stability vs. Disruption
• The Sixties really began November 22, 1963

12
The SixtiesWomens Rights

13
The SixtiesCivil Rights

14
The Sixties--Vietnam

15
US70s, 80s beyond

• 1970ssettling down
• 1980scall for traditional values
• Pursuit of wealth
• 1990sdown sized work force
• Quick, specific military interventions
• 21st century
• US, EU, no USSR
• September 11, 2001

16
Literary Developments

• Following turbulent culture, literature
  experienced much change.
• Lit. between 1945 1960 THE representative
  American short story
• Cultural conformity homogenization

17
Literary Developments

• 1960s The Death of the Novel
• The nonfiction novel
• Discarding the conventions of fiction
• MOST DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT
• Success of African American women writers in 70s
  80s

18
Diversity

• Not a melting pot, but a collage
• Our contemporary culture provides the greatest
  variety of literary expression available at any
  one time.