Social Change of the 1950s

Learning Objectives Students will understand how, for some, the 1950s were a decade of economic prosperity. Students will analyze the factors that shaped the economic and social development during the 1950s.

I. The Rise of the Suburbs After WWII, there was a pent up demand for housing. Houses were built using mass production techniques. Levittown Many suburbs did not sell to African-Americans

II. The Triumph of the Automobile Life in the suburbs depended on the automobile. Cars became a status symbol. The nation’s system of roads was underdeveloped. The Interstate Highway Act (1956) sought to address this problem.

III. Baby Boom During the Depression, marriage and birth rates dropped. This changed after WWII Many newlyweds started families right away. The result was a baby boom. Society expected that the woman would stay at home to raise the children.

IV. Economic Growth Creates an Age of Affluence During WWII, Americans saved billions of dollars. After the war, they were ready to spend it. Real income doubled from the 1920s. In 1958, American Express introduced the first all purpose credit card.

1950s Critics Who were the main social critics during the 1950s? What specifically did they criticize about the nature of 1950s society?