The American Dream in the Fifties

The American Dream in the FiftiesThe OrganizationChanges in BusinessMore white collar jobsConglomerates Franchises Social Conformity No creativity or rebellion The Organization Man

Suburban LifestyleRepresented American Dream

Baby BoomLargest generation in history (1947-1960) Changes in childcare and advertisements

Automobile CultureCar Ownership Interstate Highway System

White FlightBusinesses move to suburbs Leaves cities Black, Brown, and BrokeIncreasedSuburban growth Noise, Pollution, Traffic JamsVacation and TravelGap between rich and poor

Decreased Public transportation Railroad use

Consumerism UnboundPlanned Obsolescence Goods designed to be replacedEx: New car models each year

Credit Cards Emerge

Keeping up with the Joneses

Popular Culture of the 1950sNew Era of Mass MediaMass MediaCommunication that reaches large audiencesRise of Television FCC regulated television broadcastsGolden Age of Television changes cultureCriticismsStereotypes of women and minoritiesOnly portrays ideal, white America

New Era of Mass MediaRadio and MoviesRadio covers more local issuesMovies use 3-D and wide screens to compete with TV

Subculture EmergesThe Beat MovementCentered on non-conformity Very little structure on artistic works

Rock N RollArtists usually black, listeners white

Parents objected

African Americans had separate stationsHound Dog by Elvis Presley: originally by Willie Mae Thornton

The Other AmericaThe Urban PoorBy 1962, 1 in every 4 Americans below the poverty lineInner citiesStricken by poverty, especially minority groupsWhite flightSuburbs largely unaware of povertyUrban Renewal National Housing ActFamilies displaced

Was the American Dream actually accomplished?