1. Peace, Prosperity, and Progress pg. 32
Why are the 1950’s remembered
as an age of affluence?

2. PREVIEW Examine this collage of photographs.
What are some interesting things you see?

3. In this lesson you will
Examine different photographs that reveal what life was like for many Americans in the years after World War II.

4. In God We Trust
In midst of the Cold War, Congress declared this our Motto to stress the American belief in God and to contrast it with the Communist belief in Atheism

5. Truman’s First Term
Taft-Hartley Act – reduces the power of labor unions
22nd Amendment – limits president to two term limit

6. Truman Wins Re-Election
Increases minimum wage

7. Eisenhower in the 1950s Supreme Allied Commander during WWII
Helped to create the Interstate Highway System
Warned about the military-industrial complex

8. Interstate Highway System
Cars become more popular – increased mobility
Highway system – internal government project, linking the nation
Roadside businesses become more popular
Gas stations, restaurants, and motels

9. Migration in the 1950s People begin to move from urban to suburban
GI Bill – helped veterans to receive home loans and get a college education
Americans also moved from the north to south

10. Franchises in the 1950s
Franchises start to develop across the United States, streamlining the service industry

11. Marriage Boom = Baby Boom = Economic Prosperity
After the war people married and quickly started having children
More children meant an increase in schools, consumer spending, and housing

12. Increase in Consumer Spending
Shopping centers grew across the country
Businesses offered credit cards to increase spending
Planned obsolescence invented to increase consumer spending

13. Traditional Family Roles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SiwgMgBLgo
Fathers went to work; Mothers stayed at home to take care of the house and family
Boys played with cars; girls played with dolls
Television became more popular
people stayed home and re-enforced gender roles

14. Shift in Worker Population
Majority of the work force shifts from blue-collar to white-collar jobs

15. Advances in Medicine
Advances in medicine helped to extend life expectancy
Vaccines (polio) and antibiotics
First open heart surgery and kidney transplants successfully performed

16. Developments in Technology
X-rays are developed from the exploration of nuclear energy

17. Picture Matching Activity Pg. 33
Find the photograph that corresponds with each photo description. Next to the image you will put the letter of the correct picture.
You will then write a headline that captures the main idea of the image.
Hint: Use the bolded words
in your description

18. Why are the1950s remembered as an age of affluence?
PROCESSING: Pg 34
Examine your notes and the photographs in your notebook. Write a paragraph that answers this question:
Why are the1950s remembered as an age of affluence?
Your paragraph should include:
an introduction with a clear thesis statement that summarizes your position.
two arguments that support your thesis.
two or three sentences that explain how each argument supports your thesis.
conclusion sentence