the 1950s a new american society
DESCRIPTION
The Suburbs Success defined by home ownership “American Dream” Focus on openness, community, conformity Decline in urban living Populated mostly by young, white, middle class families Husbands commuted to cities to work, housewives raised children Levittown leads the way 4 types of houses built in named communities with similar sizes, yards, etc. Levittown, PA Ads such as this one demonstrated the kinds of homes available in LevittownTRANSCRIPT
The 1950sA New American Society
http://www.history.com/videos/1950s#1950s
America After the WarCold War begins Idealistic society
Conformity encouragedAmerican life transitioned
to suburbia Women return to traditional
rolesMore “desk jobs” than
hands-on laborSome similarities to 1920s
Postwar Economic Growth New Commercialism
Advertisements & Television
Credit Cards
Times Square, New York V-J Day
1950s Family gathered around the television
Desk jobs increased during the 1950s
The Suburbs
Success defined by home ownership “American Dream” Focus on openness,
community, conformity Decline in urban living Populated mostly by young,
white, middle class families Husbands commuted to
cities to work, housewives raised children
Levittown leads the way 4 types of houses built in
named communities with similar sizes, yards, etc.
Levittown, PA
Ads such as this one
demonstrated the kinds of
homes available in Levittown
Roles of WomenWomen encouraged to be
homemakers “Keepers of the suburban
dream” (Time Magazine) Main role was to keep
house, raise childrenLimited job choices for
women Teachers, Nurses,
Secretaries Not for married women
M.R.S. degree Women encouraged to
use school to find a husband
Women were encouraged to work
during WWII, but when the war ended,
they were encouraged to return
to the home
Teaching was one job available to women
Baby Boom
During the 1950s, the US population grew by 30 million people
People were getting married and having children earlier and in larger numbers than during the War years
Larger families contributed to more traditional roles for women
Large families moved to suburbia for good schools
Americans married young and more children than the
previous generation
TV and Commercialism Television debuted just after
WWII Over 45 million sold during the
1950s Programs directed toward
families and children Best medium for new
commercial-driven lifestyles Led Americans to believe
products could help perfect their lives
Could be use to sell almost anything
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFbCGT_AWBI
Concern over television destroying family meal time led to the TV Dinner in 1954
Family television time
Ad for Swanson TV Dinners
Shows like Howdy Doody were aimed at children
“I Love Lucy” was one of the most
popular shows of the decade
“Teenagers” and Rock and Roll
New form of music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7riCWxe4_0
Popular with TeenagersElvis Presley was “King of
Rock and Roll” Influences from Gospel
and Country musicTeenagers defined as a
separate social group for the first timeEvents and Places just for
teenagersSoda shopSock hops
Elvis combined “hillbilly” music
and gospel sounds to create
a new kind of music
Teenagers at a sock
hop
Fashion 1950 2015
Cars2015
Houses
Appliances2015
Hair Styles
Toys
2015
Interstate Highway System One of Eisenhower’s top priorities
as President was an interstate highway system.
His first year in office, 1953, was dominated by the Korean War, but by 1954, he raised the highway issue.
Congress passed the Federal Aid Hwy Act of 1954 authorizing $175 million, but Eisenhower considered that just “one effective forward step.”
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 allowed the interstate system to grow, and it is currently 46,876 miles.
The Cold War… Growing out of post-World War II
tensions between the US and the Soviet Union, the Cold War lasted for much of the second half of the 20th century.
The Cold War resulted in mutual suspicions, heightened tensions and a series of international incidents that brought the world’s superpowers to the brink of disaster. Arms Race Red Scare Space Race Berlin Wall
http://www.history-timelines.org.uk/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw60
1950s Slang Assignment – DUE TOMORROW!!
Use at least FIVE of the common slang words from the 1950s to write a paragraph that summarizes things you’ve learned about life in America during the 1950s. Be creative and have fun with this, but make sure you’re using the words correctly and that you are correctly describing life in the 1950s. Note: You may use only ONE slang term per sentence!