Don’t get lost in dullsville…..dig this warm-up!

• Independently, answer the two “warm-up questions”

• Don’t wig out or be a drag, it’s not hairy

• Be ready to discuss!

• This is going to be a swell and far-out kind of day!

Post-WWII Changes• Baby Boom:

dramatic increase in the birth rate after WWII.

• GI Bill of Rights: 1944 law that helped veterans buy homes and pay for education.

SUBURBS• Growing families

left the cities and moved into the suburbs that outlined urban areas.

• Developers like William J. Levitt catered to the huge demand for housing.

“Little boxes” by Malvina Reynolds• Little boxes on the hillside,

Little boxes made of ticky-tacky,Little boxes, on the hillside,Little boxes, all the same.There's a pink one and a green oneAnd a blue one and a yellow oneAnd they're all made out of ticky-tackyAnd they all look just the same.

• And the people in the housesAll went to the university,where they were put in boxes,Little boxes, all the same.And there's doctors and lawyersAnd business executives,And they're all made out of ticky-tackyAnd they all look just the same.

“Little Boxes”• What do the “little boxes” represent?

• What is the overall tone of the song?

• How does this song portray 1950’s suburbs?

• Compare 1950’s suburbs vs. today’s suburbs. How are they similar? How are they different?

HIGHWAYS

• As suburbs were growing, people began to rely more on automobiles for transportation.

• The growth in the car industry created a need for better roads.

• The 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act provided $25 billion to build an interstate highway system.

Television• Pre-WWII, American

citizens got entertainment from the radio.

• Only 7% had a T.V.• Post-WWII,

entertainment shifted to include the television.

• By the 1960’s, 91% of all households owned the tube.

CONFORMITY• “The Silent Generation:” youth in the

1950s who seemed to have no interest in the larger world.

Conformity - Teenagers• Young people chose to stay in school rather than have jobs.

Conformity - Teenagers• With new opportunities for advertising,

businesses sold products to the youth by building the image of a “perfect teenager.”

Conformity - Teenagers

Conformity - Teenagers

Conformity - Teenagers

Conformity - Children

Role’s In Society - Men• Men were expected to go to school, find jobs,

and support their families.

• Made important political, economic, and social decisions.

Role in Society - Women• Women were

expected to support their husbands, manage their house, cook meals, and raise children.

• Took the role of a domesticated, suburban housewife.

• http://j-walk.com/other/goodwife/images/goodwifeguide.gif

Conformity - Religion• Renewed interest in religion – In 1950, 95% of

all Americans belonged to a church.

• In 1954, Congress added the words “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance.

• In 1955, Congress added the phrase “In God We Trust” to all American currency.

BELLWORK 4/251. What was the purpose of the GI Bill of Rights?2. How did the growth of suburbs effect

highways? 3. What was the Silent Generation? 4. How did teenagers/youth conform to their

roles during the 1950’s/1960’s?5. THINKER: As you know, society had specific

“roles” for men, women, and children to conform to. If you were alive at the time, do you think you would enjoy the conformity? Or would you rebel against these norms? Explain!

Challenges to Conformity – Women at Work

• Women were supposed to leave their jobs once they were married.

• Not all women conformed and by 1960, 31% of all married women had jobs.

• Most women were secretaries, teachers, nurses, or sales clerks.

Challenges to Conformity – Youthful Rebellions

•Some youth rejected the values of their parents and felt misunderstood and alone.

Youthful Rebellions• They wanted a style to call their own,

and they found it in rock-and-roll.

Youthful Rebellions

• Beatniks: group of people who promoted spontaneity and spirituality.

• Wanted to release society from the world of money and property.

• Challenged traditions with their open sexuality and use of illegal drugs.

Jack Kerouac• Kerouac was an author and “father” of

the Beat Generation.• Published his best selling novel On the

Road Again in 1957.• This was an autobiographical work

based on spontaneous road trips across the country and inspired by jazz, poetry, and drug experiences.

Politics in the 1950’s

• As you know, after WWII Americans transitioned to social and politically conservative views.

• Citizens began to support less government involvement due to the fear of another depression. (Rejected New Deal)

• There were three events/laws that led to this transition…….

Internal Fears• People began to distrust the democratic party because

of a growing resentment over postwar shortages in jobs, goods, and housings.

• Business leaders, farmers, and bankers were nervous about the future caused support of Republicans and conservative beliefs

• At the same time, there was a growing fear of communism in the U.S.

• In 1947, Republicans took control of Congress (conflict with Truman over New Deal policies)

• Shortages and inflation caused Americans to blame Truman and Unions (felt unions were greedy in their demands, forcing up the cost of goods)

Taft-Hartley Bill• Employers complained that unions had too much power

and strikes were causing chaos (hard for employer to control employees during strikes)

• Conservative members of Congress thought the time had come to strengthen the management (employer) position

• Taft-Hartley Bill: banned closed shops (place where only union members could be hired) and allowed states to pass right-to-work laws (outlawed requirement for union membership)

• Truman called this a “slave labor bill” and felt it violated workers’ rights.

• Congress passed the bill, Truman vetoed it, and Congress voted to override the veto.

• Workers and laborers supported Truman for his efforts; one of the main reasons he was reelected in 1948.

The Fair Deal• In 1948, Truman is reelected and the Democrats

regained majority in Congress.• Truman announced his program, which focused on

expanding the New Deal. He called it the Fair Deal.• Called for a national medical insurance, extension of

Social Security, new public works projects, public housing, and repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act.

• These programs were very ambitious and liberal, which caused opposition from the conservatives.

• The domestic problems proved successful, but Truman became unpopular regarding his policies in China and Korea.

1950 fads

Other 1950 fads

Truman’s Views

• Besides his liberal political and economic beliefs, Truman was also an advocate for Civil Rights.

• Only one month into his second term, he desegregated the military.

• His efforts lead to the Civil Rights movement.• The Civil Rights movement is our next topic of

American history, so let’s start with some review………

Closure• Turn to your neighbor and explain to

them:• What were men and women’s “proper

roles” in 1950’s society?• How did youth rebel in the 1950s? What

new style emerged as a result of their rebellion?

• What are beatniks? How did their views challenge society’s norms?

• The 1950s were politically and culturally conservative.

• In order to better understand specific policies from the time, you will complete the graphic organizer in your notes.

• Focus on causes/effects of conservative politics– Taft-Hartley Bill – Fair Deal– Internal fears (communism, economy)