1950s Economic and Social Themes1950s Economic and Social ThemesPeople of Plenty and Conformity

-GDP Doubles GDP = consumption + gross investment

+ government spending + (exports − imports)

GI BillGI Bill Went to veterans of WWII

1) College scholarships2) Loans for Houses3) Unemployment Pay

Gave Opportunities to the average blue- collar soldier after the war.

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Economics of 1950sEconomics of 1950s 1950s=Cash Money Victorious in WWII. Now control trade. Only Super Power

to NOT have their country torn to shreds from WWII Causes of Economic Boom

1) New Business Techniques-white collar jobs2) Improved Technology

Effects1) Consumerism2) Growth of Suburbs (Levittowns)

Baby Boomers (1945-1961)Baby Boomers (1945-1961)

Couples start having children after WWII Couples could now afford a family, house,

life, etc. Conform to society (don’t draw attention to

yourself)

-Marriage, Pregnancy, parenthood, large families

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpra9OEw6nQ

Consumer CultureConsumer Culture

Television-brought people together -1946=7,000-media is building 1960=50 million

-by 1970, 9 out of every 10 homes had one -projected new image of America -helped fight communism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPpDSpiCBEU

Rock ‘N Roll…daddy-oRock ‘N Roll…daddy-o

Helped foster differences between parents and teenagers (youth culture)

Loud, rhythmic, promoted movement (freedom), full of energy

Adults didn't get it and even FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover called the new music "a corrupting influence"

AutomobileAutomobile Sales increased 300% during the 1950’s The public desired speed, luxury, travel,

freedom, and privacy in a car Promoted creation of drive-ins, diners

Dates and promiscuous behavior Poor gas mileage Chrome everything! Detroit’s “Golden Age”

RiddleRiddle

What’s College?

AnswerAnswer

“That’s where girls who are above cooking and sewing go to meet a man they can spend their lives cooking and sewing for.

-ad for Gimbals’ department store campus clothes, 1952.

Conform, or be scornedConform, or be scorned

Middle Class, White values Normalcy Fears of standing out (communism) Women return to the home (uniformity)

Health Class in 1954….Health Class in 1954….

http://libguides.wsulibs.wsu.edu/content.php?pid=109047&sid=820606

This quote is in your book and you don’t have to write this down. Just listen to Mr. Werner and everything will be fine.

This quote is in your book and you don’t have to write this down. Just listen to Mr. Werner and everything will be fine.

John KeatsJohn Keats

“You too can find a box [house] of your own,” wrote Keats, “inhabited by people whose age, income, number of children, problems, habits, conversations, dress, possessions, perhaps even blood types are almost precisely like yours.”

Generation GapGeneration Gap Marked differences between teenagers and

parents began to emerge Beat generation Ducktail haircuts Television portrayed “juvenile delinquents” Marlon Brando- The Wild One James Dean- Rebel Without a Cause J.D. Salinger- The Catcher in the Rye