1. Impact of
WWII &
Cold War
8-7.1—Compare the social & economic impact of World War II & the
Cold War on S.C. with its impact on the rest of the U.S. including the
increases in high birth rate; the emergence of the consumer culture; the
expanding suburbanization, highway construction, tourism, & economic
development; the continuing growth of the military bases & nuclear
power facilities; & the increases in educational opportunities.

2. Returning Home
• GI Bill: veterans get an
education, start new
businesses, boost SC
economy in the process
• Improved economy
• Baby boom
• Demand & growing families
led to the development of
the consumer culture
• Growth of suburbs
US Post War Boom (13:12)

3. Improvements in Education
• Growing families, need to attract
industry, & Cold War competition
with the USSR caused states & local
governments to improve education
• In SC- school year extended to 9
months & through 12th grade
• A system of technical college was
created to attract economic
investments in SC
• It supplied training for the work
force to meet industry needs

4. Post War SC
Tourism
• Early 20th century, wealthy
Northerners were attacked to
places like Aiken & Camden for
temperate outdoor pastimes:
– Horse racing
– Bought up former plantations for
hunting reserves & relaxing
vacations
• Some large plantation parcels
remained undeveloped so that
they could later become parks &
preserves for research,
recreation, & tourism
• EX: Brookgreen Gardens &
Huntington State Park

5. On-The-Go Tourism
• Automobiles & highway expansions
accelerated the development of SC tourism
• Motels & fast-food restaurants followed hwys
• Resorts gave people a place to go
• Air conditioning resulted in greater tourism in
the summer months
• Charleston & Myrtle Beach became popular
tourist spots

6. Greatest Generation & Baby Boom Generation
• looking for places to retire & enjoy their
golden years
• SC’s mild climate & moderate housing costs
• Their love of playing golf
• Resorts such as Hilton Head Island answer
this demand
• Development of these sea
islands, however, can threaten existing
historic communities
– SC continues the tradition of actively preserving
the cultural heritage of the regions

7. Cold War & After Impact
• Military spending spawned industries that
provided jobs
• Savannah River Nuclear Plant built to provide
weapon grade plutonium & still provides jobs
today
• Result of Cold War spending & war on terrorism,
SC military bases continue to play an important
role in the economy
• Fighting in the Middle East resulted in a n
increase of dependence on training facilities &
staging areas in SC (Fort Jackson, Parris Island,
Shaw Air force Base, Port of Charleston)