1. Aim: To what extent were the cultural developments of the 1950’s similar to the “Roaring Twenties”?

2. Post War America – Late 1940’s – 1950’s
Millions of American soldiers return home!
1) GI Bill of Rights
Help veterans return to life at home
Provides money to attend colleges or trade schools
2) De-Segregation of the Military – 1948
Truman’s executive order to integrate the armed forces – first federal step towards desegregation

3. The Cold War at Home “The AFFLUENT 1950s”
The end of WWII also led to an era of wealth & spending in the 1950s:
WWII stimulated the economy & ended the Great Depression
High wages and service pay for soldiers gave Americans money to spend
Americans enjoyed the highest standard of living in the world

4. 1. Consumerism 5. Popular Culture 2. The Baby Boom 6. Conformity
Title your page: THE COLD WAR AT HOME
Then, draw a chart in your notebook with columns labeled:
1. Consumerism
5. Popular Culture
2. The Baby Boom
6. Conformity
3. Suburbs
4. “Automania”

7. The 1950s: Consumerism Consumerism returned in the 1950s
People rushed to buy new goods like TVs
Advertisers used new TV commercials to market goods to Americans
Credit became available (The 1st credit card was created in 1950)
1950s TV commercials #1 and #2
Expansion of business in the 1950s:
Corporations, Franchises (848)
Consumerism ( )
1956 Diners' Club Charge Card original vintage advertisement. The world's first charge card (credit card) features 300,000 members and accepted at over 5000 of the world's finest restaurants, hotels, clubs and florists. Includes an application coupon.

8. The “Affluent Society”

9. What do these advertisements show you about the changing lifestyles of Americans during the 1950’s?

10. The 1950s: The Baby Boom
Americans produced a “baby boom” in the 1950s = the largest generation in U.S. history
The return of soldiers from war led to an increase in marriages & a rise in the birthrate
The baby boom led to a demand for new baby products, schools, & homes for growing families
Returning soldiers, housing shortage, baby boom
Levittville
Suburban shopping centers
GI Bill of Rights (?)

11. In 1957, a baby was born every 7 seconds
U.S. Birthrate,
In 1957, a baby was born every 7 seconds

12. By around 2020, baby boomers will place enormous strains on the Social Security system.
Boomers began to reach age 62 in The cost of Social Security will rise faster than tax income because the population over age 65 will grow faster than the working-age population.

13. The 1950s: Suburbs Suburbs boomed in the 1950s:
The majority of Americans worked in cities but wanted the security of suburbs for their families
Suburbs offered peace of mind, affordable homes, & good schools

15. SHIFTS IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, 1940-1970
The desire for homes in the suburbs led to massive communities like Levittown in NY
1 story high
12’x19’ living room
2 bedrooms
tiled bathroom
garage
small backyard
front lawn
SHIFTS IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION,
Cities % % % Suburbs % % % Rural Areas 48.9% % %

16. Look at the picture below
Look at the picture below. With a growing population and growing suburb population, what industries and job opportunities might develop too?

17. The Sunbelt
Warmer climates, lower taxes, and economic opportunities prompted families uprooted by the war to move to these areas.
In what regions do you see the largest increase in population during the 1950s?

18. The Economy, Suburbs, & Baby Boom
VIDEO

19. The 1950s: Suburbs
Churches, schools, grocery stores, & shopping centers were build to service the suburbs
But, the migration to the suburbs was mostly by white families; “White flight” to the suburbs left African Americans in urban areas

20. VIDEO The 1950s: “Automania”
Suburbs increased America’s need for cars & highways
In the 1950s, Americans bought cars in record numbers:
The growth of suburbs, creative advertising, easy credit, & cheap gasoline led to a car boom
Congress added 41,000 miles of highway when the Interstate Highway Act (1956)

21. Ford 1955

22. Interstate Highway Act 1956

23. “Automania” transformed America
Americans were more mobile, took long-distance vacations, & lived further from their jobs

24. Does anyone know what famous family vacation destination opened on July 17, 1955?

25. “Automania” transformed America
First EVER McDonalds commercial
April 15, 1955
Dairy Queen commercial
Cars led to drive-thru restaurants & drive-in movies