1. The Affluent Society
American Abundance

2. Standard of Living Goes up
Between 1940 and 1955, the average income of families tripled
The U.S. had created an “economy of abundance”
New technologies led to more consumer goods
Advertising and marketing became huge

3. Creation of Suburbia
Bill Levitt created the mass-produced, identical homes of suburbs
Families rushed to the suburbs
Some were trying to leave the crime and congestion of the city
Others believed that the suburbs offered a better life and was more affordable
The GI Bill encouraged veterans to buy their own homes
During the 1950s, home-ownership rose from 41 percent to 61 percent

4. Family Dinner

5. The Baby Boom The Birthrate exploded after WWII
From 1945 to 1961 more than 65 million children were born in the U.S.
At the height of the baby boom, a child was born every 7 seconds
This was because couples had waited until after WWII and the Korean War to get married
The GI Bill encouraged families to buy homes
Pop culture celebrated large families, pregnancy and parenthood

6. The Changing Workplace
Rise in “white-collar jobs”
Corporations expanded overseas and became multinational
Franchises also became popular
Corporate leaders expected conformity rather than freethinking workers

7. Medical Breakthroughs
Development of radiation and chemo
Developed CPR
First Pacemakers were implanted in 1952
Treatments for Tuberculosis were developed
The Polio vaccine was discovered by Dr. Jonas Salk

8. The Rise of Television TV became very popular
One episode of I Love Lucy attracted 44 million viewers -more than the presidential inauguration the following day
Western TV shows like The Lone Ranger and Gunsmoke were also very popular

9. New Music First time teens had allowance to spend on entertainment
This created a youth culture
Rock n’ Roll!
Radio DJ, Alan Freed, noticed teens buying African American rhythm- and-blues records so he started playing it on the radio and listeners went crazy for it
White artists began creating similar music

10. Beatniks
Group of Writers who criticized the NEw American Culture for its sterility, conformity, and emptiness
Jack Kerouac wrote On the Road
Charles Bukowski was famous for his drunken, crude poetry

11. African American Entertainers
African Americans struggled to find acceptance
Rock n’ Roll singers faced fewer obstacles
Chuck Berry and Little Richard inspired the Beatles
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was one of the founders of rock n’ roll

12. The Other Side
When the middle class moved to the suburbs, they left behind the poor and less-educated
Many city centers deteriorated because they didn’t have the taxes from the middle class
Cities could no longer provide adequate public transportation, housing, and other services

13. Urban Renewal
The government tore down slums and built high-rises for poor residents
Created overcrowded violent living conditions
The government would then evict anyone who began earning higher income

14. Relocation and Termination Policy
The government tried to solve the “Indian problem” once and for all
The government withdrew recognition of Native Americans as legal entities
Native Americans were relocated from their reservation to cities
There they lived in poverty and had very little contact or connection with their families still on the reservations