1. American Life in the 50s

2. Bell Work What do you know about American life in the 50’S
Who was president?
How did the American family look?
What shape was the economy in?

3. Eisenhower and Prosperity
End of WWII
Eisenhower wins the election with his promise of American prosperity
Eisenhower delivers- expanding social security, dep of health care, education and welfare.
Increased minimum wage
Highway act of billion was spent to build 41,000 miles of roads around the country
Led to increase automobile sales

4. American family
Baby Boom -The return of soldiers from WWII led to a major increase in U.S. Births
Population grew by more than 30 million people
The Baby Boom and the Interstate construction led to the growth of the suburb life style
Suburb- residential areas surrounding a city

5. Why do you think the contractions of the interstate led to the growth of the suburbs?
Talk with your table partner and be prepared to share
Write down your answer

6. Bell Work
How do you think advertising helps or hurts a product on the market?
Are you susceptible to T.V or radio commercials?

7. American dream(consumerism)
War production led to strong economy after WWI
The economy led to spending power by young Americans
The effects of rationing also led to the growth of the consumer appetite
Most popular items: Cars, televisions, washing machines,refrigerators,

8. Consumerism In the 1950s the overall economy grew by 37%. ●
By the end of the decade the median American Family had 30% more purchasing power than at the beginning.
● Unemployment during the decade dropped to as low as 4.5%
● People of the time had been living with the bare essentials for 2 decades. The Great Depression and the War had severely halted spending.
● In the 50’s the boosted economy caused people to want to spend, and spend they did

9. Consumerism
In the 1950’s, the Consumer was considered a Patriotic Citizen.
● Product Placement was huge, and TV shows were always placed in a house filled to the brink with all the latest consumer goods.
● People had more money to spend, and more and more items

10. Television Advertising changed to a new revolutionary media.
● The first major television commercials aired to an ever growing number of viewers
● TV and Radio expenditures shot up to 2 billion dollars every year in 1957 ● By ,000 Television were being bought every month
● TV commercials were an extremely effective way of informing the public of new “must have”

11. How do you think that the rise of consumerism led to the technology and the economy of today?
Think of a time when you bought an item based off of great advertising

12. Bell Work/Planner Check
How do you define conformity?

13. Pressure to conform
Many Americas felt pressure to conform to the “perfect suburban lifestyle”
American women praised for being homemakers
Limiting women to this role
Stepping outside this role would only include being a secretary, a teacher, or a nurse
Led to the Beatniks – a group of poets and writers criticizing the “square society”

14. Reflect
Write down a time when you felt the need to conform to a certain role to fit in.
Were you okay with this pressure? Why or Why not?
Ex.
In your family
In a sport
With your friends

15. Left Behind One of every five Americans lived in Poverty
Cities began to decay
All funds were spent on developing suburbs
The demographic was primarily African American and Mexican Immigrants(Braceros)

16. The Projects
A housing project developed by the government targeting low income tenants
Project locations: Chicago, New York, Mississippi

17. Teens and Rock n’ Roll A new form of music rose to popularity in 1955
Derived from Jazz and Blues
Let teens feel a sense of belonging
Conservative families did not allow the music to be listened to in their homes
Believing that the music led to questionable behavior
Most influential artist: Elvis Presley

18. Bell Work Do you think music changes with historical events?
Or do you think music evolves on its own?

19. Jazz Jazz Music Influential in “Roaring Twenties”
Scared the older generation
Originated among African Americans in New Orleans 1910’s
Reached height popularity during prohibition in the 1920’s
Remained “party music until the 1940’s
When cool Jazz was released in the late 1940s early 1950s slowing down the tempo.

20. Types of Jazz New Orleans Jazz 1910- hard Swinging, improve style
Swing Band hard swinging improve style
Bebop 1940s- Composed at fast tempos
Cool Jazz 1940s- Calmer, smoother tempo, melodic and linear
Free Jazz 1950s- played without a regular tempo meter

21. Listen
Listen to a jazz song from each era. What does to the song remind you of?
Write down your answer as you listen
New Orleans Jazz– Jelly Role Morton
Bebop- Charlie Parker
Swing Band Jazz- Louis Armstrong
Cool Jazz-Miles Davis
Free Jazz- Charles Mingus

22. Choose an appropriate song from your phone that speaks to you
You will present this song
Give the song title and artist
Why is this song important to you?
Is this song popular today?
In what situation would you listen to this song?

23. Mental health week day 1: Disorders
Mental health disorders develop in primarily young adults between 18-25
Disorders can develop genetically or from external situations
DID-Dissociative identity disorder(multiple personality disorder)
No clear treatment for the disorder
Caused by trauma
The presence of two or more personality states
The personalities are referred to as alters