19501950’’ss

Trends, People and Trends, People and IdeasIdeas

After World War IIAfter World War II

Many housing shortages when the Many housing shortages when the GIGI’’s returned homes returned home

GI Bill of RightsGI Bill of Rights United States changed from war-time United States changed from war-time

to peace-time economyto peace-time economy The Cold War increased defense The Cold War increased defense

spending and unemployment rates spending and unemployment rates were very lowwere very low

How were housing shortages How were housing shortages dealt with?dealt with?

Many started moving to the suburbs in Many started moving to the suburbs in the late 1940the late 1940’’s and the early 1950s and the early 1950’’ss

SuburbiaSuburbia is considered to be is considered to be inexpensive homes in small residential inexpensive homes in small residential communities near the cities; many communities near the cities; many veterans and their families moved inveterans and their families moved in

Levittown-New York City (Long Island)Levittown-New York City (Long Island)

Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman U.S. president from 1945-1952; U.S. president from 1945-1952; DemocratDemocrat Truman supported civil rights for African-Truman supported civil rights for African-

AmericansAmericans 1947; Jackie Robinson broke color barrier in 1947; Jackie Robinson broke color barrier in

baseball 1948-Military de-segregatedbaseball 1948-Military de-segregated Fair Deal: TrumanFair Deal: Truman’’s plan for economic/social s plan for economic/social

reformsreforms Dixiecrats: Southern democrats against civil rights Dixiecrats: Southern democrats against civil rights

for Blacksfor Blacks

Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. Eisenhower Former military Former military

generalgeneral ““IkeIke”” Dealt with civil rights Dealt with civil rights

issuesissues Against government Against government

involvement in school involvement in school de-segregationde-segregation

1953-1961; 1953-1961; RepublicanRepublican

Trends, People and Ideas Trends, People and Ideas of the 1950of the 1950’’ss

Decade ofDecade of ConformityConformity

Many people wanted to be the sameMany people wanted to be the same Many wanted to imitate the life Many wanted to imitate the life

portrayed on televisionportrayed on television Consumerism was also big Consumerism was also big (shopping (shopping

malls)malls) Businessmen became very commonBusinessmen became very common Many had good-paying jobs and Many had good-paying jobs and

prosperityprosperity

Growth of Automobile Growth of Automobile IndustryIndustry Gas was not rationed; many used the Gas was not rationed; many used the

automobiles more than everautomobiles more than ever The Interstate Highway System was The Interstate Highway System was

constructed due to high volume of constructed due to high volume of traffic and a way to evacuate quickly traffic and a way to evacuate quickly in case of nuclear attackin case of nuclear attack

Highways connected the suburbs to Highways connected the suburbs to the inner cities; many shopping malls the inner cities; many shopping malls sprung up in the suburbssprung up in the suburbs

Baby BoomBaby Boom

1946-19641946-1964 The highest birthrate in U.S. historyThe highest birthrate in U.S. history Many children born due to reuniting of Many children born due to reuniting of

families after WW II, medical advances families after WW II, medical advances (polio vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk), and (polio vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk), and people could afford to have many people could afford to have many children; “children; “American Dream”American Dream”

See See ““Baby BoomBaby Boom”” video video

Role of the MotherRole of the Mother

Many women became stay at Many women became stay at home mothers in the 1950home mothers in the 1950’’ss

Television glorified the role of the Television glorified the role of the mothermother

““Leave it To BeaverLeave it To Beaver”” ““Ozzie and HarrietOzzie and Harriet””

19501950’’s Incomes Income

By mid 1950By mid 1950’’s, nearly 60 percent s, nearly 60 percent of all Americans were middle-of all Americans were middle-classclass

Many people were able to buy Many people were able to buy new products with creditnew products with credit

Advertising was very important in Advertising was very important in the 50the 50’’ss

Pop Culture of the 1950Pop Culture of the 1950’’ss The 1950The 1950’’s was the s was the ““Golden Age of Golden Age of

TelevisionTelevision”” By 1960, 90 percent of all American By 1960, 90 percent of all American

families owned a televisionfamilies owned a television Many complained because there was Many complained because there was

too much violence on televisiontoo much violence on television

Television shows of the 50Television shows of the 50’’ss

Situation comedies Situation comedies were very popularwere very popular

The focus was on The focus was on white, suburban white, suburban AmericaAmerica

Roles were often Roles were often stereotypesstereotypes

African-Americans African-Americans were rarely shownwere rarely shown

See Clip of See Clip of ““Leave it Leave it to Beaverto Beaver””

Popular Television ShowsPopular Television Shows

““Leave it to BeaverLeave it to Beaver”” ““I Love LucyI Love Lucy”” ““GunsmokeGunsmoke”” ““The HoneymoonersThe Honeymooners”” ““Ozzie and HarrietOzzie and Harriet”” ““American BandstandAmerican Bandstand”” ““The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show””

American BandstandAmerican Bandstand

““I Love LucyI Love Lucy””-see clip-see clip

Drive-In Theatres Were Very Drive-In Theatres Were Very Popular in the 1950Popular in the 1950’’ss

Pop Culture ContinuedPop Culture Continued

The movie industry suffered The movie industry suffered because of widespread use of because of widespread use of televisiontelevision

Beat Writers: criticized Beat Writers: criticized conformity and materialism of conformity and materialism of mainstream culturemainstream culture

The Birth of The Birth of ““Rock and RollRock and Roll””

19541954 Elvis Presley was Elvis Presley was

the biggest starthe biggest star Some thought Some thought

that rock-n-roll that rock-n-roll was a sign of was a sign of rebellionrebellion

See clip-Elvis on See clip-Elvis on Ed Sullivan ShowEd Sullivan Show

Minorities in the 1950Minorities in the 1950’’ss

Some did not have a prosperous Some did not have a prosperous lifestylelifestyle

Fewer jobs in the city; many left to Fewer jobs in the city; many left to live in povertylive in poverty

African-American, Native-Americans African-American, Native-Americans and Mexican-Americans faced much and Mexican-Americans faced much discriminationdiscrimination