1. The 1950’s
America During the 1950’s

2. Economic Growth
Government spending on the Defense Department increased
From the U.S. spent billions of dollars on the military
Why?
The Cold War

3. The GI Bill
Government program created in 1944 that provided billions of dollars in loans to returning WWII soldiers so they could attend college, receive job training, setup businesses, or buy homes
Helped guide America from a wartime economy to a peacetime economy

4. Economic Growth Productivity increased Consumer spending increased
New technologies
Computers, televisions*, consumer goods
Money spent on technological development increased the strength of the economy

6. Economic Growth Higher Wages Average income increased 46%
Americans had the highest standard of living in the world

7. The Baby Boom Increased birth rate
During the 1950’s, the population rose from 150 million to 179 million
Higher incomes allowed people to afford to care for children
Led to increase need for schools and products serving children
More women left the workforce to raise kids

8. Growth of the Suburbs
Many Americans left the cities for areas outside the city
Suburbs offered:
Privacy
Lower crime rate
Space

9. Growth of the Suburbs William Levitt Introduced mass produced housing
Started 1st suburban development
Levittown
Long Island, NY.
17,000 identical houses

10. The Federal Highway Act
Law passed in 1956 which funded the construction of more than 40,000 miles of highways that connected the nation
Strengthened the nation’s economy
Automobile and Oil Industry
Largest publics works project in the history of the country provided many jobs
Improved military mobility in the event of a Soviet attack

11. The Automobile Suburban America was automobile centered
The Automobile culture develops
Drive ins
Fast Food
Movies
Motels/Hotels for travelers
Industries servicing Automobiles

12. American Culture The Television
During the 1950’s, Americans bought 6-7 million Televisions per year
Became main source of entertainment
Important source of news
Advertising
Increased consumer demand for products

14. American Culture
Rock and Roll Music

15. American Culture The Beat Movement
A group of American writers who challenged the conformity and materialism of the 1950’s
Allen Ginsburg
William Burroughs
Jack Kerouac
Neil Cassidy
These were the forefathers of the Hippie Movement of the 1960’s