Angela Brown Chapter 17 Section 2 The Mood of the 1950s Angela Brown Chapter 17 Section 2

Comfort and Security Youth Culture “Silent Generation” – little interest in the problems and crises of the world More kids in school due to strong economy. More leisure time to organize parties and pranks joining fraternities and sororities.

Businesses marketed products directly to youth. Ads and movies helped build an image of what it means to be a teenager. Girls bobby sox and poodle skirts – boys in letter sweaters = conformity

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Resurgence in Religion New interests in religion in response to Cold War struggles against “godless communism” – hope to face threat of nuclear war. 1954 Congress added words “under God” to Pledge of Allegiance. 1955 “In God We Trust” on all currency .

could call Dial-a-Prayer Slogans “The family that prays together stays together” Evangelists on TV and radio End of 1950s – 95% Americans felt linked to some formal religious group

Billy Graham Billy Graham – Charlotte, North Carolina 1939 ordained as a Southern Baptist minister Joined youth for Christ to minister to young soldiers during WWII Gained widespread recognition at Crusades in Los Angeles (8 weeks); New York (16 weeks

http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/forum/graham.jpg

Known as fundamentalism’s chief spokesperson Televised crusades, published sermons, stated magazine Decision, wrote 18 books, frequent guest at White House 1996 awarded Congressional Gold Medal

Men’s and Women’s Roles Men – school, job to support wife and kids – public sphere, judged by what they could buy Women – play supporting role for husband, keep house, cook, raise children, PTA, campfire girls, charity causes, exercise twice a week to maintain size 12 figure Pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock stated mothers should stay home with children.

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Many women of 1950s married with children held paying jobs 24% of all married women jobs to pay for “the good life” By 1960 – 31% worked – married women with jobs outnumbered single women beginning in WWII

Challenges to Conformity 1955 – film Rebel without a Cause – captured feelings of alienation James Dean became a teen idol and film legend. http://www.cch.unam.mx/historia genda/11/componentes/James% 20Dean.jpg

1951 – The Catcher in the Rye – J. D 1951 – The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger- troubled by hypocrisy of “phonies” struggle against pressure to conform http://www.everyobject.net/data/5e02eeee69c8224a0260f3 2e41128b18/raw5e02eeee69c8224a0260f32e41128b18.jpg

1953, Alan Freed, a radio disc jockey in Cleveland, Ohio began playing rock and roll – Chuck Berry, Bill Haley, and the Comets, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley http://www.onestientertainment.com/pages/chuck_berry_promo.jpg

Elvis Presley

Adults disliked the new music; feared a rise in immorality. Made efforts to ban rock concerts and keep records out of stores. “Beat Generation” – called beatniks stressed spontaneity and spirituality Challenged traditional patterns of respectability, more open sexuality and use of illegal drugs, met in coffee houses.