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The 1950s

The 1950s. Conformity, Consumerism, and Crisis. Focus Question:. Describe both positive and negative effects of economic prosperity. The Affluent Society. America appeared to be without want in the 1950s New devices New models of consumerism New “necessities” Arose from numerous sources

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The 1950s

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  1. The 1950s Conformity, Consumerism, and Crisis

  2. Focus Question: • Describe both positive and negative effects of economic prosperity.

  3. The Affluent Society • America appeared to be without want in the 1950s • New devices • New models of consumerism • New “necessities” • Arose from numerous sources • Parents experience of want • Rising middle class • Massive economic expansion

  4. Legacies of World War II • The Baby Boom • Birth rate in the U.S. exploded after the war • New births 1945: 2.8 million • New births 1946: 3.47 million • Peaked between 1957-1961: 4.3 million per year • Some 79 million born between 1946 and 1964

  5. Growth of the Suburbs • G.I. Bill typically used for housing • Severe housing crisis in the U.S. after the war • Massive expansion of housing • Spread to the suburbs

  6. Levittown • Planned community • Pre-fabricated houses • Designed to provide inexpensive housing fast! • Catered to veterans • Started in New Jersey • Expanded throughout the U.S.

  7. Role of Television • Antiseptic world • Lacked any real crises of the modern world • Set up common stereotypes • Reflected conformity of society • “Being ordinary was better” • Growth of isolation

  8. Impact of Suburbia • Women felt isolated • Increased opportunities for education • Social conformity to become wives and mothers • Removed from neighbors • Sparked women’s movement

  9. Impact of Suburbia • Birth of the teen-ager • Prosperity sparked a longer childhood • Move attended high school, college • Increased consumer spending • Alienation • Development of the Beat Movement • Growth of “punk styles”

  10. African-Americans • Increased power of the Black community • Economic: • Black veterans qualified for the G.I. Bill • Political • U.S. government took a more liberal view to Civil Rights • Nurtured the seeds of the Civil Rights Movement

  11. “New Look” Idealism • American strength arose from the economy • Defense spending cut • Reliance on atomic weapons and “massive retaliation” • Left U.S. unprepared for low-intensity warfare • Military draft continued

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