1. Life in the 1950’s

2. Background Technological changes Steady economic growth
Government and military spending
Unemployment 5% and Inflation 3%
Highest standard of living in history

3. Politics in the 1950s
Moderate Republicans won in a landslide victory in
Didn’t really want to be a politician
Didn’t accomplish much in 8 years
Never dealt with the issues of the have nots
Dwight Eisenhower

4. Consumer Culture Prosperity produced a consumer culture
Advertising
Variety and availability of products
Credit cards and revolving debt
Seen as a means of upward mobility
Family centered purchases
Nixon--Capitalism is superior
quantity and quality of goods provides proof

5. Consumer Culture cont. 60% of Americans are considered middle class
GI Bill helped educate veterans
Americans bought
21.4 million cars
20 million refrigerators
5.5 million stoves
11.6 million TVs

6. Growth of Suburbs Also called white flight
1/3 population settled in suburbs in the 50s
suburban population jumped from million
People are more isolated and protected from city life
Levittown

7. Suburbs continued Mass production of housing encouraged growth
Levittown
Few minorities could afford new homes
Suburban families found privacy, security, space in larger homes
Homogeneity
Auto industry mushrooms
’57 Chevy

8. Baby Boom: 1941-1964 Postwar birthrate climbed
1930s population increases-7.2%
1940s to 50s population increases-14.5%
1950 to 60s population increases-18.5%
Baby and child care philosophy shifts--becomes more child centered
Benjamin Spock
Reflected emphasis on family life
Encouraged women to stay home

9. Television Replaced radio and movies as main source of entertainment
Shaped American culture
Conveyed news and entertainment
Advertised new products and fashions
Targeted middle class and traditional values
1954-TV dinners
Changed communication of family
Reinforced stereotypes

10. Characteristics of 1940’s and 1950’s
Early marriage
Child bearing
Suburban lifestyle

11. Characteristics of 1940’s and 1950’s
Experts said:
Television
Shifting roles and “women’s work”
Volunteer organizations