1. The American Dream in the Fifties

2. The Organization Changes in Business More white collar jobs Conglomerates Franchises Social Conformity No creativity or rebellion The Organization Man

3. Suburban Lifestyle Represented “American Dream” Baby Boom Largest generation in history (1947-1960) Changes in childcare and advertisements

4. Automobile Culture Car Ownership Interstate Highway System White Flight Businesses move to suburbs Leaves cities “Black, Brown, and Broke” Increased Suburban growth Noise, Pollution, Traffic Jams Vacation and Travel Gap between rich and poor Decreased Public transportation Railroad use

5. Consumerism Unbound Planned Obsolescence Goods designed to be replaced Ex: New car models each year Credit Cards Emerge “Keeping up with the Joneses”

6. Popular Culture of the 1950s

7. New Era of Mass Media Mass Media Communication that reaches large audiences Rise of Television FCC regulated television broadcasts “Golden Age of Television” changes culture Criticisms Stereotypes of women and minorities Only portrays ideal, white America

8. New Era of Mass Media Radio and Movies Radio covers more local issues Movies use 3-D and wide screens to compete with TV

9. Subculture Emerges The Beat Movement Centered on non-conformity Very little structure on artistic works

10. Rock ‘N’ Roll Artists usually black, listeners white Parents objected African Americans had separate stations “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley: originally by Willie Mae Thornton

11. The Other America

12. The Urban Poor By 1962, 1 in every 4 Americans below the poverty line Inner cities Stricken by poverty, especially minority groups White flight Suburbs largely unaware of poverty Urban Renewal National Housing Act Families displaced

13. Was the American Dream actually accomplished?