1. Class Systems in America

2. Agenda 1.Bell Ringer: Quick announcements, tests, etc. etc. 2.Lecture: Rise of the Middle Class in America (20) - Social Life in the 1950s - Joe Biden Clip 3. Timeline Activity (15) 4. How Class works (15) 5. How do we bring back the middle class (15) Discussion 6. Introduction to Demographic Change

3. A brief history of the middle class Pre-War –Predominantly industrial. Rapid movement to cities and factory jobs allowed for greater prosperity. –Roaring Twenties, rise of the stock market. Post-War –“Keeping up with the Joneses” –Manufacturing still dominates in some areas, a rise in “white collar” professions. Industry and Manufacturing –These types of jobs began declining in the 1970s, why? Role of Education –Does higher education lead to a better quality of life?

4. Where are we today? Managerial jobs, and white collar work still dominate the middle class. A decline is in place, caused by wages, job loss, etc. etc. Joe Biden speaks on the changing Middle Class.

5. The Decline of the Middle Class A change in wages, and a general lowering of the middle class began in the 1990s. Recessions, Foreclosures, and job loss contributed to this fall of the Middle Class.

6. Timeline Activity For each period in time, what are the common jobs that would lead to a middle- class lifestyle? What showcased that you were “Middle- Class” at this point in time?

7. http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly- news/48757927#48757927 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/business- economy-financial-crisis/two-american- families/the-state-of-americas-middle-class-in- eight-charts/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRShq4Bht7E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yCY22ygvsc http://library.fora.tv/2009/11/05/Joe_Biden_Challen ges_Facing_Middle_Class_in_21st_Century