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ObjectiveStudent will be able to analyze post WWII society America by completing a paragraph summary.

Class Discussion

• Based on what you know about the 1950,s from watching classic TV shows and old movies, reading books, or talking to people who lived during the decade, think of adjectives that describe what you think the fifties were like. Why did you choose the adjectives you did?

Preview to the 1950’sChallenges to 1950’s Optimism

§ Cold war§ Racial tension§ Decaying of the inner cities§ Red Scare§ McCarthyism

Social Unrest§ Brown v. Board of Ed 1954 –segregation

in public schools unconstitutional§ Montgomery Bus

§ Whites in the South reacted violently to these civil rights events

§ Women lost jobs to returning veterans and became housewives

The Eisenhower Era Begins

The Eisenhower Era Begins A. 1952 Election – Eisenhower

victory 1. Nixon Vice President

II. 1950’s OptimismA. Americans were optimistic about

the future1. survived the depression and won

the war2. Veterans used GI Bill to go to

college 3. many got married and started

families creating the “baby boom”

4. Americans bought cars, moved to suburbs

Film Clip:

Eisenhower Brings a New Style to the White House

III. Increase Federal and State Government Spending

A. Eisenhower’s administration accomplishments

1. Extended Social Securitya. Covered 7 million more

b. Increase in benefits

2. Extended unemployment compensationa. Covered 4 million more

3. Increased minimum wage

4. Increased housing for low income

5. Increased in federal aid for education

The Booming Economy

ConsumerismConsumerism

1950 - Introduction of the Diner’s Card1950 - Introduction of the Diner’s Card

All babies were potential consumers All babies were potential consumers who spearheaded a brand-new market who spearheaded a brand-new market for food, clothing, and shelter.for food, clothing, and shelter. -- Life -- Life Magazine (May, 1958) Magazine (May, 1958)

ConsumerismConsumerism

IV. An Economic BoomA. American standard of living was

highest in the worldB. 60% of Americans were in the

middle class.

V. Federal Policies Spur Economic GrowthA. Servicemen’s Readjustment Act

(GI Bill)1. $13.5 Billion federal funds for:

a. college

b. loans to buy homes

2. Americans had saved $140 million in banks

3.Taxes were cut by $6 million in 1945

A Changing WorkplaceA Changing Workplace

Automation:

1947-1957 factory workers decreased by 4.3%, eliminating 1.5 million blue-collar jobs.

By 1956 more white-collar than blue-collar jobs in the U. S.

Computers Mark I (1944). First IBM mainframe computer (1951).

Corporate Consolidation:

By 1960 600 corporations (1/2% of all U. S. companies) accounted for 53% of total corporate income.

WHY?? Cold War military buildup.

VI. Changes in the WorkplaceA. Rise of white collar workers:

1. Clerical and professional

2. Conformity at the expense of creativity

3. Outnumbered those who manufactured products

Film clip: The Woodstock Generation

A Changing WorkplaceA Changing Workplace

New Corporate CultureNew Corporate Culture:: “The Company Man”“The Company Man”

1956 1956 Sloan Wilson’sSloan Wilson’s The Man in The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit the Gray Flannel Suit

The Other America

VII. The Other AmericaA. distribution of wealth unequal

B. 42.5 million Americans (1 in 4 were classified as poor)

C. ½ African Americans ½ Native Americans – below poverty line

The Baby Boom

Baby BoomBaby BoomIt seems to me that every other It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant.young housewife I see is pregnant.

-- British visitor to America, -- British visitor to America, 19581958

1957 1957 1 baby born every 7 1 baby born every 7 secondsseconds

VIII. The Baby Boom A. Marriage and family was the

key to happiness B. More $ = more babies

1. birthrate increased dramatically

IX. Impact on the Economy A. The baby boom helped fuel the

economic growth of the 1950’s B. Factories had to expand to keep

pace

Baby BoomBaby Boom

Dr. Benjamin Dr. Benjamin SpockSpock

and the Anderson and the Anderson QuintupletsQuintuplets

Film Clip: 1950’s Home Life

Suburban LivingSuburban Living

$7,990 or $60/month with no down $7,990 or $60/month with no down payment.payment.

Levittown, L. I.:Levittown, L. I.:“The American “The American Dream”Dream”

1949 1949 William LevittWilliam Levitt produced produced 150 houses per week. 150 houses per week.

Housing CrisisA. After WWII severe housing crisis

1. Veterans returning home

2. baby boom

Mass production of Homes

A. William Levitt – pioneer of mass production of houses

1. a home built every 16 seconds

Gadgets and Gismos

A. New home technological advances made home maintenance less burdensome

Prefabricated Housing

Suburban Living

Suburban Living:The New “American Dream”Suburban Living:The New “American Dream”

k 1 story high1 story high

k 12’x19’ living 12’x19’ living roomroom

k 2 bedrooms2 bedrooms

k tiled bathroomtiled bathroom

k garagegarage

k small backyardsmall backyard

k front lawnfront lawn

By 1960 By 1960 1/3 of the U. S. population in 1/3 of the U. S. population in

the suburbs. the suburbs.

Growth of the SuburbsA. 1951 – Bulletin of Atomic Scientist encouraged people to move away from urban areas to prevent mass death during an atomic bomb

B. GI Bill and Federal Housing Authority – gave loans to people to buy homes

C. Between 1950 – 1970 – suburban population doubled from 36 million to 74 million

D. Space for children to play

E. Segregation and Discrimination

1. Minorities couldn’t afford to move to suburbs

2. Many suburban communities had laws and rule forbidding minorities from moving in

3. FHA refused to give loans to non-whites and Jews

Suburban LivingSuburban Living

SHIFTS IN POPULATION SHIFTS IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, DISTRIBUTION,

1940-19701940-1970

19401940 19501950 19601960 19701970Central CitiesCentral Cities 31.6% 32.3% 31.6% 32.3% 32.6% 32.0% 32.6% 32.0%SuburbsSuburbs 19.5% 23.8% 19.5% 23.8% 30.7% 30.7% 41.6%41.6%Rural Areas/Rural Areas/ 48.9% 43.9% 48.9% 43.9% 36.7% 26.4% 36.7% 26.4%Small TownsSmall Towns

U. S. Bureau of the Census.U. S. Bureau of the Census.

As you listen to the song “Little Boxes” think

about the following questions:

• What is the mood of this song?

• What are the “little boxes” in the first verse of the song?

• Why does the singer say they are made of “ticky-tacky”?

• What do “little boxes” symbolize throughout the song?

Women’s Roles

Well-Defined Gender RolesWell-Defined Gender Roles

The The ideal modern womanideal modern woman married, cooked married, cooked and and cared for her family, and kept herself cared for her family, and kept herself busy by joining the local PTA and leading busy by joining the local PTA and leading a troop of Campfire Girls. She a troop of Campfire Girls. She entertained guests in her family’s entertained guests in her family’s suburban house and worked out on the suburban house and worked out on the trampoline to keep her size 12 figure.trampoline to keep her size 12 figure. -- -- LifeLife magazine, 1956 magazine, 1956

MarilynMarilynMonroeMonroe

The The ideal 1950s manideal 1950s man was the provider, protector, was the provider, protector, and the boss of the house. -and the boss of the house. -- - LifeLife magazine, 1955 magazine, 1955

1956 1956 William H. Whyte, Jr. William H. Whyte, Jr. The The Organization Man Organization Man

A a middle-class, white a middle-class, white suburban suburban male is the ideal.male is the ideal.

Well-Defined Gender RolesWell-Defined Gender Roles

Changing Sexual BehaviorChanging Sexual Behavior:: Alfred Kinsey:Alfred Kinsey: 1948 1948 Sexual Behavior in the Sexual Behavior in the HumanHuman Male Male 1953 1953 Sexual Behavior in the Sexual Behavior in the Human Human Female Female

v Premarital sex was common.Premarital sex was common.

v Extramarital affairs were Extramarital affairs were frequent frequent among married couples.among married couples.

Kinsey’s results are an assault on the Kinsey’s results are an assault on the family family as a basic unit of society, a negation of as a basic unit of society, a negation of moral law, and a celebration of moral law, and a celebration of licentiousness.licentiousness. -- -- LifeLife magazine, early 1950s magazine, early 1950s

X. Women ‘s Jobs Lost to Returning GIs

XI. Media Reinforced Gender Roles

A. women’s primary role was as wives and mothers.

B. poor, non-white women remained in low-income jobs

C. 2/3 of women dropped out of college

Progress Through ScienceProgress Through Science

1951 -- 1951 -- First IBM Mainframe First IBM Mainframe ComputerComputer

1952 -- 1952 -- Hydrogen BombHydrogen Bomb Test Test

1953 -- 1953 -- DNADNA Structure Discovered Structure Discovered

1954 -- 1954 -- Salk VaccineSalk Vaccine Tested for Tested for PolioPolio

1957 -- First Commercial 1957 -- First Commercial U. S. U. S. NuclearNuclear Power Plant Power Plant

1958 -- 1958 -- NASANASA Created Created

1959 -- Press Conference of the 1959 -- Press Conference of the First 7First 7 American Astronauts American Astronauts

Progress Through ScienceProgress Through Science

1957 1957 Russians launch Russians launch SPUTNIK SPUTNIK II

1958 1958 National National Defense Defense Education Act Education Act

Progress Through ScienceProgress Through Science

UFO SightingsUFO Sightings skyrocketed in the skyrocketed in the 1950s.1950s.

War of the War of the WorldsWorlds

Hollywood used aliens as a Hollywood used aliens as a metaphor metaphor

for whom for whom ????

Film Clip: Entertainment of the 1950’s

TelevisionTelevision

* TV was able to reach millions* TV was able to reach millions

1946 1946 7,000 TV sets in the U. S. 7,000 TV sets in the U. S.1950 1950 50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S. 50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S.

Mass Audience Mass Audience TV celebrated traditional TV celebrated traditionalAmerican values. American values.

Television is a vast wasteland.Television is a vast wasteland. Newton Minnow, Chairman of the Newton Minnow, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Communications Commission, 19611961

Truth, Justice, and the American way!Truth, Justice, and the American way!

The Typical TV Suburban FamiliesThe Typical TV Suburban Families

The The Donna Donna Reed Reed ShowShow1958-1958-19661966

Leave It Leave It to Beaverto Beaver1957-19631957-1963

FatherFather Knows Knows BestBest

1954-19581954-1958

The Ozzie & Harriet The Ozzie & Harriet ShowShow

1952-19661952-1966

Television – The WesternTelevision – The Western

Davy CrockettDavy CrockettKing of the Wild King of the Wild

FrontierFrontier

The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger(and his faithful(and his faithfulsidekick, Tonto): sidekick, Tonto): Who is that masked Who is that masked man??man??

Sheriff Matt Sheriff Matt Dillon, Dillon,

GunsmokeGunsmoke

Television - Family ShowsTelevision - Family Shows

I Love I Love LucyLucy

The The HoneymoonersHoneymooners

Glossy view of mostly Glossy view of mostly middle-class suburban life.middle-class suburban life.

But...But...

Social Winners?... AND… Social Winners?... AND… Loosers?Loosers?

The Culture of the Car The Culture of the Car

Car registrations: 1945 Car registrations: 1945 25,000,000 25,000,000 1960 1960 60,000,000 60,000,000

2-family cars doubles from 1951-19582-family cars doubles from 1951-1958

1956 1956 Interstate Highway ActInterstate Highway Act largest largest public works project in American public works project in American history! history!

Å Cost $32 billion.Cost $32 billion.

Å 41,000 miles of new highways 41,000 miles of new highways built.built.

1959 Chevy 1959 Chevy CorvetteCorvette

1958 Pink 1958 Pink CadillacCadillac

The Culture of the CarThe Culture of the Car

The U. S. population was on the move in the The U. S. population was on the move in the 1950s.1950s.

NE & Mid-W NE & Mid-W S & SW S & SW (“Sunbelt” states)(“Sunbelt” states)

1955 1955 Disneyland opened in Southern Disneyland opened in Southern California.California. (40% of the guests came from (40% of the guests came from outsideoutside California, most by car.) California, most by car.)

Frontier Frontier LandLand

Main StreetMain Street Tomorrow LandTomorrow Land

The Culture of the CarThe Culture of the Car

First McDonald’s First McDonald’s (1955)(1955)

America became a more America became a more homogeneous nation because homogeneous nation because of the automobile.of the automobile.

Drive-In Drive-In MoviesMovies

Howard Howard Johnson’sJohnson’s

Teen CultureTeen CultureIn the 1950s In the 1950s the word the word “teenager”“teenager” entered entered

the American language. the American language.

By 1956 By 1956 13 mil. teens with $7 bil. to spend 13 mil. teens with $7 bil. to spend a year. a year.

1951 1951 “race music”“race music” “ROCK ‘N ROLL” “ROCK ‘N ROLL”

Elvis PresleyElvis Presley “The King” “The King”

Teen CultureTeen Culture““Juvenile Juvenile

Delinquency” Delinquency” ??????

Marlon BrandoMarlon Brando inin

The Wild OneThe Wild One (1953)(1953)

James DeanJames Dean in inRRebel Without a ebel Without a

CauseCause (1955) (1955)

1951 1951 J. D. Salinger’sJ. D. Salinger’s A Catcher in the RyeA Catcher in the Rye

Teen CultureTeen CultureThe “Beat” GenerationThe “Beat” Generation::

A group of American writers and artists popular A group of American writers and artists popular in the 1950s and early 1960s, influenced by in the 1950s and early 1960s, influenced by Eastern philosophy and religion and known Eastern philosophy and religion and known especially for their use of nontraditional forms especially for their use of nontraditional forms and their rejection of conventional social values.and their rejection of conventional social values.

Jack Kerouac Jack Kerouac On The RoadOn The Road

Allen Ginsberg Allen Ginsberg poem, “Howl” poem, “Howl”

Neal CassadyNeal Cassady

William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs

““BeatnikBeatnik””

““Clean” Clean” TeenTeen

Teen CultureTeen Culture

Behavioral Rules of the Behavioral Rules of the 1950s:1950s: Obey Authority.Obey Authority.

Control Your Emotions.Control Your Emotions.

Don’t Make Waves Don’t Make Waves Fit in Fit in

with the Group.with the Group.

Don’t Even Think About Don’t Even Think About Sex!!!Sex!!!

The 50s Come to a CloseThe 50s Come to a Close

1959 1959 Nixon- Nixon-Khrushchev Khrushchev “Kitchen Debate”“Kitchen Debate”

Cold War Cold War ----->-----> TensionsTensions

<----- Technology <----- Technology

& Affluence & Affluence

The postwar era witnessed The postwar era witnessed tremendous economic growth and tremendous economic growth and rising social contentment and rising social contentment and conformity. Yet in the midst of such conformity. Yet in the midst of such increasing affluence and comfortable increasing affluence and comfortable domesticity, social critics expressed a domesticity, social critics expressed a growing sense of unease with growing sense of unease with American culture in the 1950s.American culture in the 1950s.

Assess the validity of the above Assess the validity of the above statement and explain how the statement and explain how the decade of the 1950s laid the decade of the 1950s laid the groundwork for the social and groundwork for the social and political turbulence of the 1960s.political turbulence of the 1960s.

Ticket-Out-The-DoorTicket-Out-The-Door