Prosperity and ChangeProsperity and Change
Objective: Summarize changes inAmerican life during the 1950s.Objective: Summarize changes inAmerican life during the 1950s.
Consumer SocietyConsumer Society
Economy grew rapidlyEconomy grew rapidly
High standard of living – higher economiccomfort due to affluence (greater wealth)High standard of living – higher economiccomfort due to affluence (greater wealth)
More products to choose from; many purchasedon creditMore products to choose from; many purchasedon credit
Market for cars was growing; automakers triedto outdo each other with bigger, faster, andflashier carsMarket for cars was growing; automakers triedto outdo each other with bigger, faster, andflashier cars
TV and American CultureTV and American Culture
1949 – more than 900,000 households had tvs1949 – more than 900,000 households had tvs
Small screens and grainy black-and-whitepicturesSmall screens and grainy black-and-whitepictures
6.5 million sets were made each year in the1950s6.5 million sets were made each year in the1950s
Television becomes the main source ofentertainment; Movie attendance dropped aspeople stayed home and watched televisionTelevision becomes the main source ofentertainment; Movie attendance dropped aspeople stayed home and watched television
Rock ‘n’ RollRock ‘n’ Roll
Grew from the rhythm- and-blues musicGrew from the rhythm- and-blues music
Elvis Presley becomes an idol to millions ofAmericansElvis Presley becomes an idol to millions ofAmericans
Medical AdvancesMedical Advances
Antibiotics and vaccines helped control diseasesAntibiotics and vaccines helped control diseases
First safe and effective vaccine to fight Polio – adisease that could leave people paralyzed – isdevelopedFirst safe and effective vaccine to fight Polio – adisease that could leave people paralyzed – isdeveloped
1955 – large number of school children beginreceiving vaccine; almost completely eliminatesPolio1955 – large number of school children beginreceiving vaccine; almost completely eliminatesPolio
Expanding SuburbsExpanding Suburbs
More housing needed following WWIIMore housing needed following WWII
Homes built in planned communities outside ofthe big cities – suburbsHomes built in planned communities outside ofthe big cities – suburbs
Levittown – used assembly line techniques tobuild mass produced houses that were so cheapmany people could afford to buy themLevittown – used assembly line techniques tobuild mass produced houses that were so cheapmany people could afford to buy them
Builders often would not sell to minoritiesBuilders often would not sell to minorities
ProblemsProblems
Technology helped economy to grow;computers are createdTechnology helped economy to grow;computers are created
More than 1 in 5 people lived in povertyMore than 1 in 5 people lived in poverty
Small farms could not keep up with large farmsusing new technologies to grow foodSmall farms could not keep up with large farmsusing new technologies to grow food
Coal industry not doing wellCoal industry not doing well
Many people moved out of the cities to thesuburbs; this left the poor behindMany people moved out of the cities to thesuburbs; this left the poor behind
African Americans and Latinos moved to thecities looking for work; few good jobs in thecities for the poorAfrican Americans and Latinos moved to thecities looking for work; few good jobs in thecities for the poor
Factories moved to the suburbs and hired fewerpeople because of new technologiesFactories moved to the suburbs and hired fewerpeople because of new technologies
Discrimination, crime, and violence wereproblemsDiscrimination, crime, and violence wereproblems
Social CriticsSocial Critics
Materialism is criticized (people spend a lot oftime and effort collecting money or things)Materialism is criticized (people spend a lot oftime and effort collecting money or things)
Important problems like poverty were beingignoredImportant problems like poverty were beingignored
Summary and ActivitySummary and Activity
Why were small farms not doing well?Why were small farms not doing well?
How did life in the inner city differ from life inthe suburbs during the 1950s?How did life in the inner city differ from life inthe suburbs during the 1950s?
How did entertainment change during the1950s?How did entertainment change during the1950s?
Activity suggestions: illustrate how entertainmentchangedActivity suggestions: illustrate how entertainmentchanged