CW - Creating a New Society: Culture and Society During the Cold War (Lesson)

Creating a New Society: Culture and Society During the Cold War

Science and Technology

For first time in history, "pure theoretical" science and "practical" technology ("applied science") effectively joined together on a massive scale during WWII.

  • British scientists developed radar to detect enemy aircraft.
  • Jet aircraft developed by Germany.
  • Electronic computers further developed; had barely come into existence before 1939.
  • Manhattan Project: Atomic bomb most spectacular result of scientific research during the war; the project is overseen by J. Robert Oppenheimer.

"Big Science" became a new model for science after WWII:

      • Combined theoretical work with sophisticated engineering in a large, often huge organization.
      • U.S. emerged as a leader in Big Science after WWII.
      • Science is not demobilized after WWII either in the U.S. or the USSR.
      • A large portion of all postwar scientific research went for "defense" (25%).
      • "Brain Drain": the U.S. attracted many of Europe's best scientists during the 1950s and 1960s—seen as the American Challenge.
      • Some Europeans feared Europe was falling behind the U.S. in science, technology, and most dynamic industrial sectors of the late 20th century.
      • Yet, revitalized Europe pooled resources on Big Science projects - Concorde supersonic passenger airliner and peaceful uses of atomic energy.

Photograph of sputnik

Massive growth of the scientific community:

      • Four times as many scientists in Europe and North America in 1975 as in 1945.
      • Highly specialized modern scientists and technologists worked as members of a team, which completely changed the work and lifestyle of modern scientists.
      • James Watson and Francis Crick win Nobel Prize in 1962 for discovering the structure of DNA.

Space Race (part of Cold War competition to achieve technological superiority):

      • 1957, USSR launched Sputnik (pictured, right), an orbiting satellite using long-range rockets.
      • U.S. fearful Soviets could now launch a nuclear missile into space and then down to the U.S.
      • This resulted in the development of ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles).
      • The U.S. countered with the creation of NASA and vastly increased educational funding for science.
      • In 1961, the Soviets sent the world's first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, into orbit.
      • President John F. Kennedy responded by increasing funds for space.
      • In 1969, the U.S. Apollo Program put the first man on the moon; 4 more moon landings followed by 1972.

 

Society

Change in class structure and social reform:

      • The rise of the middle class largely result from increased access to higher education.
      • European society became more mobile and democratic
      • The new middle class, based largely on specialized skills and high levels of education, is more open, democratic, and insecure than the old propertied middle class.
      • Changes in the structure of the middle class was influential in the trend toward a less rigid class structures.
      • The industrial working class ceased to expand while job opportunities for white-collar and service employees grew rapidly.
      • European governments reduced class tensions by further expanding social security reforms: health care, family allowances, maternity grants, public housing.

Causes for change in the rise of the middle class:

      • The rapid industrial and technological expansion created in large corporations and gov't agencies lead to a powerful demand for technologists and managers.
      • The old propertied middle class lost control of many family-owned businesses.
      • Top managers and ranking civil servants represented a model for the new middle class of salaried specialists; well-paid and highly trained.
      • They passed on the opportunity for advanced education for their children.

Structure of lower classes also became more flexible and open:

      • Mass exodus from farms and countryside.
      • This resulted in a drastic decline in one of Europe's most traditional and least mobile groups.

Photograph of 1950's West German woman and refrigerator.Consumerism worked to level Western society:

      • Sparked by the rising standard of living which in turn gave more people disposable income.
      • The European automobile industry expanded phenomenally.
      • "Gadget revolution" like the U.S., Europeans bought washing machines, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, dishwashers, radios, TVs, and stereos.
      • Purchasing is greatly facilitated by installment purchasing.
      • Increased social welfare resulted in more disposable income and less need to save for old age.
      • Leisure and recreation became big business as workers worked fewer hours: Soccer matches, horse races, movies, TV, commercialized hobbies.
      • Increased attendance at cultural events: concerts and exhibitions.
      • The travel industry mushroomed most dramatically.
      • Before WWII, travel was for pleasure or relaxation and largely for aristocracy.
      • Paid vacations are required by law in most countries.

 

 

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