1. THE 1950s:
The Economy

2. The Economy in the 50s
Economic boom began because after 17 years of depression and war shortages, Americans rushed out to buy consumer goods
Unemployment low
Plenty of goods to buy

3. The G.I. Bill fuels the economy
Provided money to veterans to start business, buy homes, & go to college
Home loans helped suburbs grow

4. Unions in the 1950s Conservatives limit power of unions
Taft-Hartley Act:
1. Right-to-work laws: outlawed making workers join unions
2. Outlawed closed shop: which forced businesses to hire only union workers

5. Truman’s Economic Program (1946-1952)
The Fair Deal: Every segment of population (workers, businesses, consumers) had right to be treated equal by government
1. Increased social security benefits
2. Raised minimum wage
3. More low income housing

6. Eisenhower’s Economic Program (1952-1960)
Conservative Program that…
Cut funding of schools and public housing
Modest tax cuts
Great-Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway
Connected Midwest to Atlantic Ocean
Federal Highway Act
Improved transportation accross country
Largest public works program in American history

7. Social and Cultural Factors
of the 1950s

8. 1957  1 baby born every 7 seconds
Baby Boom
It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant British visitor to America, 1958
1957  1 baby born every 7 seconds

9. Baby Boom
Increased the need for public schools and education resources

10. Suburban Living
Levittown: Symbolized “The American Dream” with mass produced suburbs
$7,990 or $60/month with no down payment.
1949  William Levitt produced houses per week.

11. Suburban Living: The New “American Dream”
1 story high
12’x19’ living room
2 bedrooms
tiled bathroom
garage
small backyard
front lawn
By 1960  1/3 of the U. S. population in the suburbs.

14. Suburban Living: The Typical TV Suburban Families
The Donna Reed Show
Leave It to Beaver
Father Knows Best
The Ozzie & Harriet Show

15. Television
1946  7,000 TV sets in the U. S  50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S.
Mass Audience  TV celebrated traditional American values.
ii > Became a predominant source of news and entertainment in America
Truth, Justice, and the American way!

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

17. Teen Culture The Generation Gap:
The rise of an independent youth culture separate from the adult culture:
1. Have money to spend
2. Influenced by mass media
James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1953)
“Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.”