Just a couple of things… 1950s Culture Just a couple of things…

TELEVISION The television impacted the average American family by drawing them into the “live” programs. In 1955 the average child watched 4-5 hours of TV a day. This helped parents with babysitting, entertainment, financial problems and brought the family together.

INVENTION OF THE TRANSISTOR Use of the transistor made the widespread use of small powerful electronic devices possible. Ex. Radios, computers, calculators Allowed machines that had once taken up the entire room to fit on a desk.

Computers over time

Polio Vaccine Before the vaccine, the disease had killed over 20,000 kids a year. The Polio Vaccine gave people hope. ~ after the vaccine was available, parents could feel more optimistic about their children’s safety as well as there own.

G.I. Bill of Rights Couples with children increasingly left cities to raise their children in the suburbs. The GI Bills of Rights gave WWII veterans economic and educational opportunities that helped them gain better paying jobs, enabling then to purchase homes in the suburbs.

Suburban Expansion People became dependent upon automobiles to get around. Highways met the need for better roads Gasoline, needed for cars was sold in more locations than ever before Gas companies started to offer credit cards to drivers.

Automobiles and housing

Conformity in Communities A majority of the communities that began to spring up were all the same. The houses looked similar in shape, size and even color in some places. Everything looked alike- conformity.

Ray Kroc 1902- Born in Chicago, Illinois 1917- Joined the Red Cross ambulance corps by falsifying his age 1920s- lost everything he owned in Florida Real Estate 1937- Started his own company to sell a new invention ( a machine that made several milkshakes at once) 1954- Met MacDonald brothers doing a record business selling hamburgers, French fries and milkshakes only gave Kroc the idea of starting a chain. 1960- there were 228 McDonald's across the country with annual sales totaling $37 Million. 1984- Died

How would life be different if Ray Kroc had never gotten involved in the food industry? A: Fast food industry would not have affected American lives as soon or in such a big way $200 billion dollar business = out to 40 cents out of every consumer food dollar

Youth Culture Called the “silent generation” because they seemed to have little interest in problems and crises in the larger world. Able to stay in school Advertisements targeted youth for the first time. In your own opinion write whether or not you think you are similar or different to youth in the 1950s.

Roles of men and women Women are expected to play the supporting role in their husbands’ lives. Cooked, kept the house clean and raised the children Men were expected to get an education then find a secure job worked all day and provided for the family.

Take a minute to answer the following: What is it like today? Take a minute to answer the following: Are men and women’s roles today, in reality, the same as they were during the 1950s? Explain?

Challenging conformity 1. Women- enjoyed working outside the home, some had to work to make ends meet or to have the “good life” Secretaries, teachers, nurses, and sales clerks 2. Youth- rejected the values of their parents, sought to have their own music, style, and beliefs. Ex. Rebel Without a Cause, rock-n-roll, Elvis Presley

continued 3. “Beat Generation” Made up of artists, writers and common civilians Stressed spirituality and the need for release from the world of money and property Open with their open sexuality and illegal drug use.

Domestic Politics and Policy Create a chart on the next page for: Truman’s Domestic Policies Election of 1948 Eisenhower’s Policies Identify significant information under each heading. ( Ex. What Policies did Truman and Eisenhower pursue? What acts were passed? Where did they stand on issues? Who ran in the election of 1940? Who won?)

Truman’s Domestic Policies Election of 1948 Eisenhower’s 1. Limit Labor Union Power --Taft Hartley Act 2. Fair Deal- added points to extend FDR’s New Deal 3. Civil Rights Created committees to address: Banned discrimination in hiring federal employees Desegregate armed forces Support for Truman declined Dixiecrat Party created Dewey v Truman -TRUMAN WINS Democrats won control of Congress Still has little success with his Fair Deal polcies. K1C2 Formula: End Korean War, communism, corruption Modern Republicanism Slow the growth of federal gov. Limit the President’s power and increase congress Cut spending, reduce taxes Balance the budget Slow the growth of gov and support big business. NASA & NDEA