2. Popular Culture of the 1950s: “Anxiety, Alienation, and Social Unrest” ?? “Conservatism, Complacency, and Contentment” OROR

3. 1. Baby Boom It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant. -- British visitor to America, 1958 1957  1 baby born every 7 seconds

4. 2. Suburbanization What is a suburb? What does it represent?

5. $7,990 or $60/month with no down payment ($71,000 in today’s money) ($71,000 in today’s money) 1949: William Levitt produced 150 houses/week Levittown

6. The new “American Dream” By 1960: 1/3 of the U. S. population lives in the suburbs

7. 3. Gender Roles

8. Male The ideal 1950s man was the provider, protector, and the boss of the house. - Life magazine, 1955  A middle-class, white suburban male is the ideal

9. Women After the WWII, housekeeping and raising a family were considered ideal female roles – not working outside the homeAfter the WWII, housekeeping and raising a family were considered ideal female roles – not working outside the home In the 1950s, women felt tremendous social pressure to focus on getting a wedding ring.In the 1950s, women felt tremendous social pressure to focus on getting a wedding ring.

10. The ideal modern woman married, cooked and cared for her family, and kept herself busy by joining the local PTA and leading a troop of Campfire Girls. She entertained guests in her family’s suburban house and worked out on the trampoline to keep her size 12 figure. -- Life magazine, 1956

12. Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they get home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed. Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little happy and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc and then run a dustcloth over the tables.

13. During the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction. Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they small), comb their hair, and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

14. Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first – remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours. Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax. You goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order, and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit. Don’t greet him with complaints and problems. Don’t complain if he’s late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day

15. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie him down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice. Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him. A good wife always knows her place.

17. 4. Changing Workplace 1947-1957: the number of factory workers decreased due to factory automation By 1956: more white-collar (businessmen) than blue-collar (factory) jobs in the US New Corporate Culture: “The Company Man” “The Company Man”

18. 4.Changing Workplace After the WWII, women were encouraged to leave the workforce and return homeAfter the WWII, women were encouraged to leave the workforce and return home But some women did work outside the home. By 1956, 35% of all adult women were members of the labor force, and nearly a quarter of all married women were working.But some women did work outside the home. By 1956, 35% of all adult women were members of the labor force, and nearly a quarter of all married women were working.

19. 5. The Economy One of the greatest periods of economic expansion in the US Consumerism increased Franchise system flourish 1 st major franchise was McDonalds

20. Consumerism What does this tell you about 1950s economy?

21. 600 corporations control 53% of total corporate income Meaning a few firms like Ford, GM, Chrysler, & GE dominated the economy WHY? Cold War military buildup. Corporate Consolidation by late 1950s

22. 1950s – Credit card “All babies (baby boomers) were potential consumers who spearheaded a brand-new market for food, clothing, and shelter.” -- Life Magazine (May, 1958)

23. 6. Television 1946  7,000 TV sets in the U. S. 1950  50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S. Beginning of mass media, which celebrated traditional American values Beginning of mass media, which celebrated traditional American values Beginning of TV dinners Beginning of TV dinners Grew because of increased leisure time Grew because of increased leisure time “Television is a vast wasteland.”

24. Portrayed a glossy view of mostly white middle-class suburban life The typical TV suburban family Father Knows Best 1954-1958 Leave It to Beaver 1957-1963

25. 7. The Culture of the Car

26. Largest public works project in American history! Largest public works project in American history! Cost $32 billion Cost $32 billion 41,000 miles of new highways built 41,000 miles of new highways built Encouraged growth of suburbanization Encouraged growth of suburbanization 1956: Interstate Highway Act

27. America became a more homogeneous (similar or uniform) nation because of the automobile and car culture Drive-In Movies First McDonald’s

28. 1955 Disneyland opened in Southern CA Disneyland opened in Southern CA 40% of the guests came from outside California, most by car 40% of the guests came from outside California, most by car

29. 5. New Roles... A. “The Teenager” During the 1950s, the word “teenager” entered the American languageDuring the 1950s, the word “teenager” entered the American language There were 13 million teens with $7 billion to spend a yearThere were 13 million teens with $7 billion to spend a year Many listen to the new music of rock ‘n’ rollMany listen to the new music of rock ‘n’ roll

30. Teenage Behavioral Rules of the 1950s: Obey Authority Obey Authority Conform to middle class rules and values Conform to middle class rules and values Control Your Emotions Control Your Emotions Don’t Make Waves  Fit in with the Group Don’t Make Waves  Fit in with the Group

31. B. The “Beat Movement”  Members called “Beatniks”  Artists, poets, and writers who challenged conformity, social norms and the suburban lifestyle  Many were college students  Examples:  Writer Jack Kerouac  Poet Allen Ginsberg

32. C. Rise of Rock ‘n’ Roll Musicians added electronic instruments to traditional blues music creating a new style called “Rock ‘n’ Roll”Musicians added electronic instruments to traditional blues music creating a new style called “Rock ‘n’ Roll” First played in 1951 by DJ Alan FreedFirst played in 1951 by DJ Alan Freed Because it grew out of African American blues, some people called “race music”Because it grew out of African American blues, some people called “race music” Examples: Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill HaleyExamples: Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill Haley Elvis Presley “The King”

33. 9. Religious Revival Today in the U. S., the Christian faith is back in the center of things. -- Time magazine, 1954 Today in the U. S., the Christian faith is back in the center of things. -- Time magazine, 1954 Increase in church membership: 1940 64,000,000 people, 1960: 114,000,000 Increase in church membership: 1940 64,000,000 people, 1960: 114,000,000 Rise of television preachers who warned against the evils of communism Rise of television preachers who warned against the evils of communism 1954: “Under God” added to Pledge of Alliance to fight “godless communism” 1954: “Under God” added to Pledge of Alliance to fight “godless communism” 1955 “In God We Trust” added to US money 1955 “In God We Trust” added to US money 1959: 95% of people felt a link with religion 1959: 95% of people felt a link with religion

34. 1951 -- First IBM Mainframe Computer 1951 -- First IBM Mainframe Computer 1952 -- Hydrogen Bomb Test 1952 -- Hydrogen Bomb Test 1953 -- DNA Structure Discovered 1953 -- DNA Structure Discovered 1954 -- Salk Vaccine Tested for Polio 1954 -- Salk Vaccine Tested for Polio 1957 -- First Commercial U. S. Nuclear Power Plant 1957 -- First Commercial U. S. Nuclear Power Plant 1958 -- NASA Created 1958 -- NASA Created 10. Progress through Science…

35. 1957: Soviets launch SPUTNIK I The Space Race is on… Leads to the: National Defense Education Act (1958) which increased funding to math and science education

36. Atomic Anxieties:  “Duck-and-Cover Generation” Atomic Testing: à 1946-1962  U. S. exploded 217 nuclear weapons over the Pacific and in Nevada.

37. The postwar era witnessed tremendous economic growth and rising social contentment and conformity. Yet in the midst of such increasing affluence and comfortable domesticity, social critics expressed a growing sense of unease with American culture in the 1950s.