8.14 Society in Transition

Population Shifts and Migration

After WWII, Americans moved to suburbs aided by GI Bill mortgages and highway construction, while the Sun Belt (South and West) grew due to defense industries and air conditioning. Rural-to-urban migration continued, and immigration patterns shifted after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, ending national-origin quotas and increasing immigration from Asia and Latin America.

Environmental and Consumer Movements

Rising affluence sparked concern over pollution and resource use. Rachel Carson's *Silent Spring* exposed pesticide dangers, fueling environmentalism; the first Earth Day (1970) and creation of the EPA followed. Consumer advocates like Ralph Nader pushed for safety regulations, exemplified by his critique of the auto industry in *Unsafe at Any Speed*.

Cultural and Demographic Change

The counterculture of the 1960s rejected mainstream values through music, communal living, and protest against the Vietnam War. Baby Boomers reshaped culture and consumption patterns. Meanwhile, women entered the workforce in growing numbers, and debates over gender roles, family structure, and traditional values intensified amid rising divorce rates and shifting social norms.

Key terms

Sun Belt

Southern and western U.S. regions that grew rapidly after WWII due to defense industries and air conditioning.

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

Ended national-origin quotas, increasing immigration from Asia and Latin America.

Silent Spring

Rachel Carson's 1962 book exposing pesticide dangers, sparking the modern environmental movement.

Ralph Nader

Consumer advocate who exposed auto industry safety issues in Unsafe at Any Speed, prompting regulation.

Counterculture

1960s movement rejecting mainstream values, embracing alternative lifestyles, music, and anti-war protest.

Try an AP-style question

The Watergate scandal led to…

1. Nixon's resignation in 1974
2. Ford's impeachment
3. Nixon's reelection in 1976
4. the end of the Vietnam War