The 1950s Prosperity in Suburbia

Economic Recovery World War II ended the Great Depression –The U.S. had been the ‘arsenal of democracy’, providing weapons and supplies to the allies –This brought us great wealth –In the 1950s and 60s, the U.S. experienced one of the greatest economic booms in world history Returning American soldiers, heroes to their countrymen, were rewarded by a grateful nation with the GI Bill –Helped ‘GI’s’ (soldiers) pay for college –helped them buy homes

Suburbia So many GI’s could now buy homes that there was a housing shortage Home builders created (often from scratch) huge new neighborhoods near to, but outside of, major cities –Suburbs –Homes built by ‘assembly line’ techniques  often rows of identical houses –Levitt and Levittown Baby Boom

Automobile Culture Suburbs were largely made possible by the increase in car ownership –Commute to work in the city Eisenhower, Republican president after Truman, built 41,000 miles of new highway –The Interstate Highway Act

Golden Age of the ‘Teenager’ End of Great Depression and WWII + economic boom  teens have $ to spend Car = freedom from your parents –Drive in diners –Drive in movies –Etc.

Better Jobs Available for Americans Primary producer = you get the raw materials –farmer, miner, fisherman Blue Collar (secondary producer)= you turn primary product into consumer goods –Factory worker, butcher, etc. White Collar (tertiary producer) = you manage blue collar workers and/or provide services for customers who are using the consumer goods –More of these jobs available after WWII –Better Pay –Often require a college education. Hey, GI Bill. Nice!

Primary Secondary (blue collar) Tertiary (white collar)

Conformity To make it in Suburbia and in the White Collar workplace, one must conform (be like everyone else) –Same house, same clothes, same haircut, same race, etc. To people who had been through the Great Depression and WWII, conforming was a small trade off for prosperity (wealth) Ozzie and Harriet

HansenName _______________________________ U.S. History Prosperity in the Suburbs (the 1950s) Economic Recovery World War II ended the Great Depression –The U.S. had been the ‘_________________’, providing weapons and supplies _________________________ –This brought us _____________________ –In the 1950s and 60s, the U.S. experienced one of the _______________________________________________ Returning American soldiers, heroes to their countrymen, were rewarded by a grateful nation _____ _________________________________ –Helped ‘GI’s’ (__________) pay for ____________ –helped them buy ____________________ Suburbia So many GI’s could now buy homes that there was a ___________________________________________ Home builders created (often from scratch) huge ___ _______________near to, but outside of, __________ –Suburbs –Homes built by ‘_________________’ techniques  often rows of ________________________________ –Levitt and Levittown - ______________________________ _______________________________________________ Baby Boom –_______________________________________________ Automobile Culture Suburbs were largely _____________________the increase in car ownership –__________________________________ __________________, Republican president after Truman, built __________________of new highway –The Interstate Highway Act Golden Age of the Teenager End of Great Depression and WWII + _____________ = teens have ____________________ Car = _____________________________________ –Drive in ___________ –Drive in __________ –Etc. Better Jobs Available for Americans Primary producer = you get the raw materials –farmer, miner, fisherman _________________ (secondary producer)= you turn primary product into consumer goods –Factory worker, butcher, etc. _______________ (tertiary producer) = you manage blue collar workers and/or provide ______________ ____________ who are using the consumer goods –More of these jobs available _____________________ –________________________________ –Often require a __________________. Hey, GI Bill. Nice! Conformity To make it in Suburbia and in the White Collar workplace, one must conform (__________________) –Same house, same clothes, same haircut, same race, etc. To people who had been through the Great Depression and WWII, conforming was a __________________ _____________ for prosperity (___________) Ozzie and Harriet