1950s Culture

Baby Boom

Baby BoomObjectives Terms

What caused the Baby Boom?

GI Bill

Baby Boom

GI Bill. Created June 24, 1944

EffectFour million veterans

bought homes with low interest government loans.

A lot of veterans went to college with the money

GI BILLCreated to help ease soldier

back into every day life.Details of Bill

Gave job priority to veterans52 weeks of unemployment monthly allowance low interest loans.

Baby Boom

“It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant.”

Baby Boom- Largest Generation in the US History

1957 1 baby born every 7 seconds

Baby BOOM!Why?

1. More men in society due to end of WWII.

Married at a younger age then their parents ( 1 in 3 women married by age 19)

2. GI bill Helped men to start a family.

1. Medical science improved increasing the survival rate of babies.

2. High flying economy encouraged parents to have babies sooner.

Baby BoomObjectives Terms

What caused the Baby Boom?Men coming

home from WWIIIncrease in Marriages

GI Bill Medical

AdvancementsStrong Economy

GI BillBill that gave WWII

veterans financial assistance after the war.

Baby BoomLargest generation

in US History

Suburbia

SuburbiaObjectives Terms

What major population trends took place in regards to Suburban and Rural living?

Levittown

What is the make up of a typical House?

Suburban LivingLevittown

“The American Dream”

1949 William Levitt produced 150 houses per week.

Levittown “The American

Dream”1949 William

Levitt produced 150 houses per week.

$7,990 or $60/month with no down payment.

1 story high

12’x19’ living room

2 bedrooms

tiled bathroom

garage

small backyard

front lawn

http://www.levittowners.com/images/HOUSES/KITCHEN/KITCHEN%20ge%20AD%20BIG.jpg

Suburb Living - Movement to Suburbs

- Movement Away from Rural Areas

- Movement to Suburbs

- Movement Away from Rural Areas

SHIFTS IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION,

1940-1970

1940 1950 1960Suburbs 19.5% 23.8% 30.7%Rural Areas/Small Towns 48.9% 43.9% 36.7%

U. S. Bureau of the Census.

By 1960 1/3 of the U. S. population in the suburbs.

Suburbia Clip

SuburbiaObjectives Terms

What major population trends to place in regards to Suburban and Rural living?Americans

moved away from rural areas and into suburban areas.

LevittownName given for

standard suburban housing built in the 1950s

Television Culture and Consumerism

Consumerism Objectives Terms

What trends took place in the television industry during the 1950s?

What lead to the increase in consumerism during the 1950s?

What were the tobacco usage trends of the 1950s?

What were the trends regarding car usage in the 1950s?

Interstate Highway Act

The Television Revolution

1946 7,000 TV sets in the U. S.1950 50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S.

Black and White

Television – The WesternTelevision – The Western

Davy CrockettKing of the Wild

Frontier

The Lone Ranger(and his faithfulsidekick, Tonto): Who is that masked man??

Sheriff Matt Dillon,

Gunsmoke

Lone Ranger

The Television Family

Shows like Leave it to Beaver, and I love Lucy portrayed a perfect family life and not the reality of everyday homes.Moms were always

pretty and doing domestic things

Children were adventurous but obedient

Dads never worked late, never lost their temper and knew all the right answers.

The Typical TV Suburban Families

The Typical TV Suburban Families

The Donna Reed Show1958-1966

Leave It to Beaver1957-1963

Father Knows Best

1954-1958

Leave It to Beaver

I Love Lucy

The Honeymooners

ConsumerismGood

Economy+

AdvertisingTV

RADIO

MAGAZINES

NEWSPAPERS

=Lots of

Spending

Good Economy

+Advertising

TV

RADIO

MAGAZINES

NEWSPAPERS

=Lots of

Spending

Advertising continued…

Age of the Cigarette1950s was

the Golden Age for smoking

You could smokeAnywhereAnytimeCheap

Doctors Smoke

The Culture of the CarThe Culture of the Car

Car registrations: 1945 25,000,000 1960 60,000,000

2-family cars doubles from 1951-1958

Interstate Highway Act

Largest public works project in American history!

Cost $32 billion.

41,000 miles of new highways built.

First McDonald’s (1955)

Drive-In Movies

ConsumerismObjectives Terms

What trends took place in the television industry during the 1950sTV sets increased dramatically

What lead to the increase in consumerism during the 1950s?Strong Economy Advertising

What were the tobacco usage trends of the 1950s?Tobacco usage very commonAll ages, all genders

What were the trends regarding car usage in the 1950s?2 car families and car

registration doubled

Interstate Highway Act

Largest public works project in American history!

Gender Roles

Gender RolesObjectives Terms

What were the ideal Gender Roles of the Males in the 1950s?

What were the ideal Gender Roles of the Females in the 1950s?

Duck and Cover Society

Well-Defined Gender RolesWell-Defined Gender Roles

Ideal Woman Ideal Man Married Young

Cooked and cared for her family

Kept herself busy by joining local clubs

Entertained guests

Provider for family Protector of family Boss of the house Took care of outside

work

Gender Roles as of Life magazine, 1955

Role of middle class women. Women were told to be

“helpmates” to their husband’s and full time mothers to their children“A woman isn’t a

woman until she is married and had children.”

Working women were called “a menace”

The ideal wife was married at 16, raised 4 children, cooked and sewed, headed the PTA and exercised to keep her size 12 figure1950s Home Ed Book

1950s Video

Duck and Cover Society Cold War had and

effect on People“Duck and Cover

Society”Fear of Nuclear

WarBomb shelters

Two Different Boys

Mr. Tough Guy Mr. Clean Break Rules Show anger Loner Don’t bring home to

visit mother

Obey Authority. Control Your Emotions. Don’t Make Waves Fit in

with the Group. Don’t Even Think About

Sex!!!

Gender RolesObjectives Terms

What were the ideal Gender Roles of the Males in the 1950s? Provider for family Protector of family Boss of the house Took care of outside work

What were the ideal Gender Roles of the Females in the 1950s? Married Young

Cooked and cared for her family

Joined local clubs

Entertained guests

Duck and Cover SocietyFear of Nuclear WarCreation of bomb

shelters

Music and Fashion

Gender RolesObjectives Terms

What were the major fashion trends for women in the 1950s?

What were the major fashion trends for men in the 1950s?

Bubble Gum Music

Rock N Roll Music

Movies

1950s Movies

Science Fictions

3-D Movies

1950s Movies

Science Fictions

3-D Movies

1950s Music

Bubble Gum Rock n Roll Sweet sound and

nice lyricsLight MelodiesInnocent LyricsWholesome SingersMusic reflected the

Post W.W.II good feelings

Very new soundExciting and racy

melodies/lyrics Sex SymbolsMusic represented

new age of kid “teenager”

1950s Fashion WomenA time to wear

DressesHourglass look is

backCircle Skirt

Poodle Skirt- most popular

Pencil SkirtChemise Dress

Tube dress with a belt

Other TrendsFloral PatternsSleeveless topsKakis were ok for casual

affairs Hair

Youth- Long- Pony tailsOlder you get the shorter it gets

or you put it up

Teenage Girls

Skits and Prom Dresses

1950’s Pants/Outfits

1950s Male Fashion A time to be comfortable but yet

formal Suit jackets with stripes became as much

in demand as plain colored jackets.

Shirts were often short, loose, and with short sleeves. Button up shirts were

the normPlaid and Checkered

patterns Leather jackets became a

huge rageFormal HatsMost male preferred

wearing pants made of Khaki

Shirts and Hats

1950’s Hair

Gender RolesObjectives Terms

What were the major fashion trends for women in the 1950s? Dresses very popular Hourglass look back Causal – Blouse and Kakis Hair-

Young – Long Old- Pull up or short

What were the major fashion trends for men in the 1950s? Work- Suit and Tie Causal- Kakis and button up

shirt Hair

High and Tight Hats

Bubble Gum MusicLight MelodiesInnocent Lyrics

Rock N Roll MusicExciting and racy

melodies/lyrics Sex Symbols

Telephone Cramming

Comes to California in 1959.

22 in America