American Life in the 1950’s

Big Business Postwar OPTIMISM led to an economic BOOM: Gross domestic product went from $212 billion in 1945 to $504 billion in 1960… Big corporations such as General Motors, Ford & G.E. saw their profits explode… McDonald’s pioneered the concept of the franchise— The right to open a restaurant using a parent company’s brand name and system… And CONSUMPTION was driven by a new form of ADVERTISEMENT: The TV commercial. Big Business

The First McDonald’s

Ronald McDonald

Technology The pressures of WAR usually lead to advances in technology and medicine— And the US saw EXPLOSIVE GROWTH in these sectors as well. Computers became smaller and more powerful… Able to do calculations in a SECOND that had once taken HOURS… Nuclear Power was predicted to replace gasoline and oil… Antibiotics ERADICATED diseases like SMALLPOX that had RAVAGED mankind for centuries… And Dr. Jonas Salk created the first effective polio vaccine.

A 1950’s mainframe computer

Suburbs and Highways After the war, millions of servicemen returned home from Europe and the Pacific… Leading to a “Baby Boom”—a huge increase in postwar BIRTHRATE. Cities could not accommodate so many growing families— So veterans moved to the SUBURBS— Buying houses with cheap loans provided to them by a benefits system called the GI Bill of Rights. The growth of the suburbs led to an explosion in the demand for… Automobiles… And the massive expansion of America’s highway system.

’57 Chevy

The Interstate Highway System During the Allied invasion of Germany, Dwight Eisenhower admired the German network of highways (the autobahn)… And as President, became determined to construct a similar system in the United States. The INTERSTATE system is part of US National Defense: It is designed to rapidly evacuate civilians in the event of foreign attack or natural disaster… And for the rapid transportation of troops and military equipment. It is also designed to accommodate aircraft landings. It is now the largest in the world.

Religion in the 1950’s Organized religion was OUTLAWED in the USSR… And American responded by EMBRACING a religious identity. “In God We Trust” and “Under God” were added to money and the pledge… And Billy Graham, an evangelist preacher, held enormous “crusades” throughout the country… Pioneering the use of television and radio to spread the Christian gospel.

1950’s Society Adults in the 1950’s had been through two world wars and a depression… And were anxious to create a postwar society of SAFETY and SECURITY for their children. This desire led to widespread social CONFORMITY in the US— Americans were expected to think, act, and dress alike— Live in the suburbs, watch the same TV shows, etc., etc., And young people tended to find this arrangement… INCREDIBLY BORING.

Were a group of writers who were the first to question 1950’s obsession with “conformity”… They were led by Jack Kerouac, who published “On the Road”—an account of his cross-country hitchhiking… Allen Ginsberg, an openly homosexual poet whose poem “Howl” was a savage attack on 50’s culture… And William S. Burroughs, a lifelong heroin addict whose novel “Naked Lunch” is regarded as one of the greatest of the 20th century. Their strong individualism and heavy use of alcohol and illegal drugs was a precursor to the “Hippies” of the 1960’s. The Beat Generation

“A paranoid is someone who knows a little of what's going on. A psychotic is a guy who's just found out what's going on.”

Rock-and-Roll Was first heard in the early 1950’s… And was quickly EMBRACED by bored 1950’s teenagers. The term “rock and roll” was well-known as a slang term for sex… So parents and religious leaders immediately HATED it… Causing young people to LOVE IT EVEN MORE. The first rock-and-roll hit was “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets… And the first rock superstar was ???

Elvis Presley --Called the “King of Rock and Roll”… --Released a record 18 number-one-hits… --And starred in 31 movies. --In middle age, he became grossly overweight, and addicted to prescription medications… --And he died of a drug- induced heart attack at the age of 42. Elvis Presley

James Dean --Made three movies, the most famous of which was “Rebel Without a Cause”… --And was nominated for two Oscars… --Before dying in a car wreck at the age of 24. James Dean

Marilyn Monroe --Actress and sex symbol who became one of the most popular actresses in movie history… --Probably had affairs with both John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy, and was briefly married to Joe DiMaggio… --Died at the age of 40, probably of an accidental drug overdose. Marilyn Monroe

--Claims to be the true “inventor” of Rock and Roll… --Achieved mega- stardom with his hit “Tutti Frutti” --Quit show business at the height of his popularity to join the ministry after becoming convinced that rock and roll was the path to damnation. Little Richard

Jerry Lee Lewis --Briefly rivaled Elvis Presley as the “King” of rock and roll… --His hits included “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”… --His career was almost completely destroyed when it was discovered in 1958 that he had married his 13 year-old cousin. Jerry Lee Lewis

Buddy Holly --Recorded seven Top-forty singles, including “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll Be the Day”, between 1957 and 1958. --Died in a plane crash in the winter of 1959 at the age of 22. Buddy Holly

Ritchie Valens First Hispanic rock star… Made famous with Spanish-language smash hit “La Bamba” On the brink of international stardom, he died on the same plane as Buddy Holly. Ritchie Valens

Chuck Berry --Along with Little Richard is said to have “invented” rock and roll. --Is probably best known for his 1958 hit “Johnny B. Goode”. --At the peak of his popularity he was arrested for violating the Mann Act— transporting a woman across state lines for the purposes of prostitution—and sentenced to five years in prison. His career never completely recovered. Chuck Berry