consider: How have you ever been pressured to be like other people?
from the end of World War II through the early 1960s essential question: How did fear and conformity define 1950s U.S. society? from the end of World War II through the early 1960s
In general, there is an emphasis on conformity (being like the majority) in America during the 1950s.
Adjusting Back to Civilian Life GI Bill of Rights helps veterans pay for college and buying a house
most, but not all, women return home to be a housewife again
baby boom: huge increase of babies when WWII veterans come home
“Duck and Cover” video for schoolchildren fear of nuclear war led to bomb shelters and “duck and cover” drills “Duck and Cover” video for schoolchildren
Eisenhower’s National Interstate and Defense Act builds national highway system
The Growing Middle Class per capita income up = growing middle class (white collar)
rise of the suburbs, or “cookie-cutter” neighborhoods outside of cities (i.e. Levittown)
a bigger middle class means that cars and televisions become household items
What do these images say about each ethnicity shown? racial and ethnic stereotypes common in the media What do these images say about each ethnicity shown?
Winston ad Jell-O ad
Youth culture car-related activities (i.e. drive-ins)
rock n’ roll sees whites follow black culture; white musicians copying black musical form Hound Dog (Big Mama Thornton) Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)
non-conformist beatnik subculture
Business conglomerates = big company that controls smaller companies all the channels owned by General Electric all the channels owned by Disney
franchise = store with same products at different locations
On your page, draw a scene from the 1950s to show the fear and conformity of the time. Try to include something to show: the Red Scare, adjusting back to civilian life, the growing middle class, youth culture, and business.