1. An Affluent Society

2. I. An Economy of Abundance
1958, John Kenneth Gailbraith wrote “The Affluent Society” claiming that America’s postwar prosperity was a new phenomenon
Argued the US was experiencing a new type of economy – an “economy of abundance”
40% of Americans went up to 60% of Americans owning homes

3. II. Technological and Scientific Progress
US factories and industries began using automation – allowing goods to be produces more efficiently and quickly
Use of computers revolutionized US industry
Dr. Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine

4. III. Cities to Suburbs
Automobiles allowed people to live further from work – leading to the growth of suburbs
City problems
Those left behind were the poor and minorities
City services suffered from lack of tax revenue

5. IV. The Family and Television
Baby Boomers – people born between 1945 and 1961; birth of 65 million children
Parents wanted to give their children all the things they had been denied during the depression. Children received an increasing amount of material goods and emphasized the benefits of “the good life.”
Television was the symbol of prosperity
Played a role in political campaigns, ushered in era of mass marketing, and brought people closer through a shared form of entertainment
Television shows celebrated family life: Father knows Best, Leave it to Beaver, and Ozzie and Harriet

6. V. Signs of Change 1955, Blackboard Jungle movie
Demonstrated juvenile delinquency
Introduced Rock and Roll – Bill Haley “Rock Around the Clock.”

7. The Beat Generation
Group of people who went against conformity and materialism
“Howl” by Allen Ginsburg
“On the Road” by Jack Kerouac
Beatniks – The Dobi Gillis Show
Precursor to the Hippies of the 1960’s