The US from WWII onwards & origins ethnic diversity

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• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Americanisation

• After WWII, the American influence in Europe increases by, among other things, the Marshall Plan.
  

• Consequence: Cultural change in Europe with an American flavour
  

Prosperous USA

• WWII: America in prosperity -> war production created jobs, economic freedom.
  
• 1945: Europe in ruins-
  > envy of Americans.                            

• US Soldiers brought many luxury products with them: e.g. cigarettes, chocolate, chewing gum, cola.

The American dream

• Consumer society:
  

       buying luxury goods such as         
       refrigerators, barbecues,

       dishwashers,  televisions, etc.

• Babyboom -> wave of births

• From 1945 onwards: “Suburbs”
  

Youth culture

• Young people got more money and leisure time -> youth culture
  
• Differentiation through clothing, music, dating, etc. !
  
• Music: rock 'n roll, Elvis Presley
  Film: Marilyn Monroe, James Dean

Is the American Way within reach to everyone?

Ethnic diversity

In the US, there is great ethnic diversity: many people from different backgrounds live there.
Most Americans are white, but there is a large black minority.

Slavery

19th century:
Slavery still existed in the southern states of the United States.
However, the new President Lincoln wanted to abolish slavery in ALL states.

American Civil War

The northern states win the American Civil War (1861 - 1865).

Slavery is abolished in all American states in 1865.

White extremism

Many white Americans felt their "way of life" was threatened by the black community.

Ku Klux Klan
Founded in 1865. Secret organisation of whites in the South that terrorised the black population & activists for black civil rights

A group of Ku Klux Klan members burning a cross in Knoxville, Tennessee. September 4, 1948.

The white suits, the pointy hats and a burning cross were the Klan’s trademarks.

The KKK feels very connected to the racial theories of the Nazis.

Here two children of KKK members bring the nazi salute.

The Confederate flag was the flag of the southern (slave) states during the American Civil War. Today it stands as a symbol of white supremism in the USA.

Ku Klux is afgeleid van het Griekse woord kuklos wat kring (hier in de zin van club) betekent. De zes oprichters waren allen van Schotse afkomst, net als de meerderheid van de blanke bewoners van Pulaski waar de KKK begon. Daarom rondden ze de naam van hun club af met clan wat familie en broederband betekent. Om de naam meer kracht en scandeereffect te geven, werd nadien beslist om de beginletters te uniformeren en om het woord op te splitsen in drie delen, telkens van slechts één lettergreep. Noem het Kuklux en niemand wil begrijpen wat het betekent, zei James Crowe, een van de medeoprichters, volgens de auteur Wyn Craig Wade. De opzettelijk griezelige naam deed denken aan het rammelen van botten, vond John Lester, een andere medeoprichter.

Economic and social inequality

• In the South, blacks could only work for whites
  
• Many blacks went to the north and ended up in ghettos.
  
• Wages were poor and they had little security.

In the southern states, (Jim Crow) laws were enacted to separate the white and black populations.

Segregation

'Separated but equal'
Everything was separate: schools, restaurants, buses, trains and even water.

 

Segregation

Separate but equal:

Discrimination based on colour or race was prohibited in the USA, however a state could offer segregated facilities as long as they were equal.

What strikes you about this image?

Explain in your own words what the term segregation means

What is discrimination, according to you?

 racism vs discrimination

• Discrimination is unequal treatment based on characteristics that are not relevant. For example, one can also treat someone unequally (discriminate) on the basis of age, gender or sexual preference.

• Racisme is the theory that suggests the superiority of a certain race (or ethnic group). ...
  

You can fight as a soldier during WWI, but you can't drink from the same tap...

You can fight as a soldier during WWII,

but not yet have the right to vote.

Explain in your own words, using examples, how ethnic diversity affected American society until WWII.