1. The Mood of the 1950s
Chapter 13

2. Lecture Focus Question
In what ways was the mood of the 1950s different from the mood of the 1930s?

3. G.I. Bill of Rights
GI Bill of Rights: helped returning WWII veterans readjust to society
Helped vets buy homes
Helped vets pay for college
BIG focus on starting families

4. Baby Boom Baby Boom: post-WWII population explosion
1957  1 baby born per 7 sec.
Dr. Benjamin Spock (baby expert)

5. Suburbs Major move to the suburbs William Levitt Levittowns
“The American Dream”
Cookie cutter homes
$7,990 or $60/month with no down payment

6. fLayonsl

7. Typical TV Suburban Families The Ozzie & Harriet Show 1952-1966
The Donna Reed Show
Leave It to Beaver
Father Knows Best
The Ozzie & Harriet Show

8. Business Per capita income on the rise → more $ to spend!
Standard of living on the rise
Highest in our nation’s history
Businesses expand
Rise of the franchise (ie: McDonald’s)

10. Conformity Conformity: Blending into the larger group
Lots of pressure to “fit in” and “go with the flow”
Religion
Return to religion
Escape “godless” communism
“It’s un-American to be un-religious!”

11. Women & Men Expected to marry right after high school
Keep a clean house
Cook meals
Raise children
Look and act like a lady at all times
Conform!
STAND BY YOUR MAN!
Expected to go to school and find jobs
Financially support his family
Involved in the public sphere (politics, business)
Conform!
BRING HOME THE BACON!

12. Women Challenge Conformity
Number of women in the work place increases slightly
Traditionally female professions
Teaching
Nursing
Clerical Work

13. Behavioral Rules of the 1950s:
Youths Conform
Behavioral Rules of the 1950s:
Obey Authority
Control Your Emotions
Don’t Make Waves  Fit in with the Group!
Don’t Even Think About Sex!!!

14. 1951  “race music”  “ROCK ‘N ROLL” Elvis Presley  “The King”
Teen Culture
In the 1950s  the word “teenager” entered the American language. By 1956  13 mil. teens with $7 bil. to spend a year.
1951  “race music”  “ROCK ‘N ROLL”
Chuck Berry
Elvis Presley  “The King”

15. Teenage Rebels Tight blue jeans & white T-shirt Leather jacket
Rebelled against authority
Tight blue jeans & white T-shirt
Leather jacket
Cigarettes
Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1953)
James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

16. The “Beat” Generation “Beatnik” “Clean” Teen
Beatniks: emphasis on spontaneity, spirituality, open sexuality, drug use
Jack Kerouac  On The Road
Allen Ginsberg  poem, “Howl”
“Beatnik”
“Clean” Teen

17. Lecture Focus Question
In what ways was the mood of the 1950s different from the mood of the 1930s?