1. Causes and Effects of Suburbanization in the 1950’s
vs.
Suburbanization
Baby Boom
Ideal American Family
Opportunity
Modern Convenience
Work Sited Page
By Jenna Napierski

2. Suburbanization
Definition: A usually residential area or community outlying a city.
Prior to this time people lived mostly in cities with few living in the rural areas.
Sprang up very quickly
Not much deviation from home to home or between schools, hospitals, and civic centers

3. Baby Boom Marriage rates at all time high
By the age of 24 70% of women were married
After The Depression and Wars everyone was ready to start their family
An ideal family was viewed as married with children
Young couples wanted to raise their children in a safe environment-away from cities thus, they moved to the suburbs.
Children in the 1950’s
Teens in the 1950’s

4. Ideal American Family TV influenced perception of family life
Suburbs sounded like an perfect place
to raise a perfect family
Idealistic names: Crystal Stream, Robin Meadows, Stonybrook ect.
Children
A new standard for a what a child/young adult could do was set based on the opportunities provided by the suburban culture
Expected to stay in school
More free time because they weren’t required to get a job
Went to movies, public pools, ect.

5. Opportunity
Provided opportunity for young couples to own their own home
Only 19% of people said they would live in used homes
Suburbanization provided an option to buy
Less expensive because they were “built in bulk”
Federal Financing
Low interest rates & mortgage guarantees
They could buy something new and their very own
GI Bills

6. Modern Convenience Modernized car & highway Modern woman
Federal-aid Highway act of 1956
41,000 miles of road laid
Toll roads, bridges, and tunnels made
Allowed people to live in the suburbs and commute to the city for work
With men away at work women were stuck at home. Ford answered this question.
Modern woman
Already made clothes
Prepackaged food
Household electronics more widespread
It wasn’t necessary to live in a city with all of these resources when you had them for yourself

7. TV and movie influence on family life
Took place in suburban communities
Suburban communities were seen as perfect in everyway: religious, friendly, safe
People saw this and wanted to follow the example
Women on television were depicted as:
Being secretive about their age
Being careless with money
Being devoted housewives and attentive mothers
African Americans were rarely seen in these shows
Back to “Ideal American Family” slide

8. Work Sited Page
Kenney, Kim. "Suburbanization in the 1950s." Suburbanization in the 1950s. Kim Kenney, 18 Dec Web. 20 Feb <
The Suburbanization of America: The Rise of the Patio Culture. Greg Knight, Web. 22 Feb <
Hoover Cleaners. 74simon.co.uk. Web. 22 Feb <
1950’s Film on Suburbanization of American W/ Philadelphia. Meta Cafe. Web. 21 Feb <
1950s Suburban America. The History Channel, 23 Mar Web. 19 Feb <