Today’s Objective We will describe impacts of that rock ’n roll, television and the Beat Generation had on American society during the 1950s.

Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 Known as the GI Bill of Rights Provided college for returning war veterans Gave GIs one year of unemployment It helped re-acclimate returning GIs to civilian life and boosted the economy

Truman’s Fair Deal Increased the minimum wage Expanded Social Security benefits for many Americans National Housing Act was passed providing funding to build low- income housing

Truman’s Prosperity of the 1950s “The Buck Stops Here”

Federal Highway Act The building of the Interstate Highway System Allowed for traveling across the nation Within large cities Travel at large was easier for all Americans

Americans Move to the Suburbs

The “Baby Boom”

Technological Breakthroughs of the 1950s

Medical Advances of the 1950s

Pop Culture in the ’50s

Birth of Television Television shows like I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners were the most popular shows; and there were only 3 channels. By 1957, there were about 40 million television sets in use and TV became an important source of information

Pop Culture of the 1950s Father Knows Best The Ozzie and Harriet Show Leave it to Beaver

Pop Culture of the 1950s Americans became more homogeneous (alike) in the ’50s. People got married, had 2-3 kids. The dad worked and mom stayed home to run the house.

First McDonald’s (1955) Drive-In Movies Peaked in ‘50s First Holiday Inn (1952) The Automobile Culture Americans became a mobile nation in the 1950s because of the automobile. Many of the things Americans did centered around the automobile.

Teenagers of the 1950s With more disposable income and greater freedoms, the culture of teenagers in society greatly changed during the 1950s.

Rock ’n Roll music and the automobile culture united teens in their own world where they could escape the bonds of their parents. Birth of Rock ’n Roll

Rock ’n Roll was a form of music that evolved in the 1950's from rhythm and blues, characterized by the use of electric guitars, a strong rhythm with an accent on the offbeat, and youth-oriented lyrics. Birth of Rock ’n Roll

During the ’50s, Rock n’ Roll became a symbol of teenage rebellion against authority Rock ’n Roll was based on African- American rhythm and blues and had a fast beat Elvis Presley, a singer from Mississippi, became the King of Rock ‘n Roll during the 1950s

Other rock ’n roll stars of the 1950s included Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Chuck Berry. Birth of Rock ’n Roll

Many parents viewed rock ’n’ roll as loud and dangerous. Rock ’n Roll shows were banned in some communities. Birth of Rock ’n Roll

Juvenile Delinquency Many parents blamed rock ’n roll for the rising juvenile delinquency that became a major problem in American society in the 1950s.

Juvenile Delinquency Many blamed juvenile delinquency on books such as J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye that glorified rebellious behavior.

Juvenile Delinquency With such movies as “Rebel Without a Cause” and “The Wild One” others blamed the movie industry for juvenile delinquency.

The Beat Generation The Beat Generation was the movement of the ’50s when young people ditched society’s normal standards and embraced originality and individuality.

Elements of "Beat" culture embraced originality and individuality in the way people thought and acted. “ The Beat Generation

Beat Generation writers such as Jack Kerouac (right) and Allen Ginsberg inspired many young people to reject conformity and other social norms.

Ginsberg's Howl (1956) and Kerouac's On the Road (1957) are among the best known examples of Beat Generation literature. The Beat Generation

Members of the Beat Generation were referred to as “beatniks” and were people who did not want to conform to the rest of American society.

Coming up: *Test Tomorrow The Civil RightsMovement