Warm Up

1. Warm Up • Knowing what you know about World War I and the Roaring Twenties…what do you think life at home after World War II would be like? • Explain in 2-3sentences.

2. The Fifties Why are the Fifties in America remembered as the “Golden Age” in history?

3. The Golden Age • The 1950’s in America were know as a time of peace, prosperity, and progress. • World War II was over and soldiers returned home to their families, searching for a new and better life.

4. A Rocky Transition to Peace • When war was over, Truman announced the Fair Deal • He hoped to raise the minimum wage and enact a national health insurance program • The economy was changing back to normal production, and many people were left jobless • Inflation and prices soared

5. With rising prices and growing unemployment, workers in major industries called for wage increases • When demands not met, they took to the streets to strike • Strike eventually ended, but wounds were still fresh for the congressional election of 1946

6. Truman Battles A Republican Congress • In the election, Republicans swept the vote and gained control of both houses of Congress • Created the 22nd Amendment • Limited the terms in office of a President to two • Also passed the Taft-Hartley Act, which limited the power of labor unions.

7. The Taft-Hartley Act… • outlawed the “closed shop”-- a workplace in which the employer agrees to hire only members of a certain union. • It also banned sympathy strikes by other unions. • Truman vetoed act, but Congress passed it anyway

8. An Upset Victory in 1948 • Most of Truman’s Fair Deal reforms had been blocked by Congress • However, they did enact Truman’s proposal to raise the minimum wage and to promote slum clearance. • Truman’s whistle-stop tour helped him win reelection in a narrow victory over Republican Thomas Dewey

9. A Landslide Victory in 1952 • The nation decided in 1952 that they “liked Ike” and his modern Republicanism program • He won the election and chose Richard Nixon as his Vice President • They would go on to serve for two terms

10. Eisenhower’s Modern Republicanism • He promised to be “conservative when it comes to money and liberal when it comes to human beings” • Expanded Social Security • Built up peace time arms

11. Age of Affluence • Due to large savings and twice as much real income for most than in the 1920s, Americans have begun spending more money than ever before. • To encourage this spending, businesses used advertising and offered consumers charge cards. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rycwu8t_IBs

13. Some industries pioneered a method called planned obsolescence • They introduced new or improved products to encourage consumers to buy the latest designs • Do they still do that today? • What are some examples?

14. Economy Shifts From Goods to Services • General Motors became the first U.S. corporation to earn more than $1 billion in a year • One factor in GM’s success was that they guaranteed its workers wage hikes that were tied to the cost-of living index • Prices went up, wages went up

15. Service industries, like fast-food restaurants and motel chains, began to compete for consumer business • Businesses started to franchise and spread all over the country • McDonalds • Holiday Inn • Best Western

16. The Workforce Shifts • For the first time in history, white-collar workers outnumber blue-collar workers • Many blue-collar workers were now members of the middle class. • White-collar workers are usually salaried, while blue collar workers are usually paid by the hour.

18. Suburbia • New planned communities, like Levittown, provided much-needed housing for middle-class families • New suburban communities revealed homogeneity, being predominantly white and middle class. • This became part of the appeal • “everybody lives on the same side of the track”

20. The Sunbelt States • More and more Americans and American industries were moving south to the Sunbelt, increasing population in these states. • This population shift was made possible by massive water projects in the dry Southwest and the invention of air conditioning to cool buildings during heat waves.

21. The sunbelt states were warm and dry and had lower labor costs

22. The Automobile • An increased number of people commuting from the suburbs led to the production and sale of more cars • Cars became a status symbol, with car companies competing to put out new models and better designs each year. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sHJBLfGIeI

23. Highways • This increased amount of driving led to a demand for a nationwide interstate highway system. • Congress passed program to build the system in 1956 • The interstate highway system created new roadside businesses, like gas stations, motels, and restaurants.

25. Live Longer! • With new advancements in technology and medicine, life expectancy in America rose by almost two years • Polio vaccine created • New surgical techniques • More antibiotics

26. Other Advancements • Nuclear energy helped to generate electricity and also helped diagnose and treat diseases • The first electronic digital computer, called ENIAC, performed 300 multiplications per second • The invention of the transistor allowed for smaller and more reliable computers

28. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SFSGTdaulc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuxnaHiiiqM The Fifties Family How did things change in the home once he war was over?

29. After WWII… • When war had finally ended, the people at home could finally find a sense of relief. • The world was not a scary place to bring a child into anymore • Many people were now beginning to create families, and rapidly!

30. Marriage On The Rise • In 1946, there were almost 2.3 million marriages in the U.S. • This was an increase of 600,000 from 1945 • Average age for marriage was decreasing • Women = 20 • Men = 22

31. Baby Boom! • These young newlyweds were starting families right away • Older couples who waited through the war were also beginning to start families • The result was a baby boom!

32. 1957: 1 baby born every 7 seconds!

33. This influx of babies helped boost the economy • These couples needed lots of: • Diapers and bottles • Homes • Furniture and appliances • Cars • School needs soared and many had to be open to accommodate for the baby boomers

34. Who do you think the baby boomer generation is today? • Think of people you know well!

35. The American Dream • With the baby boom on its way, families began to create their dream household and life • Average household included a husband, wife, and two children • A house with a backyard and a garage with two cars was ideal

36. The “Traditional” Family • The husband was the bread winner and hard worker • The wife stayed at home and cooked and clean and took care of the children • The children were neat and proper and went to school everyday

37. The Stay-At-Home Wife • In this decade, it was generally believed that women should only be working if absolutely necessary (if the family needed money) • Dr. Benjamin Spock • Women were told to devote themselves full-time to raising the children • If there were distractions, then it could potentially damage a young child

38. Media’s Role • The mass media reinforced the traditional family roles at every chance it could • Magazines, movies, and advertisements • They all showed the husband as the worker and the wife as the homemaker

39. “The ideal modern woman married, cooked and cared for her family, and kept herself busy by joining the local PTA and leading a troop of Campfire Girls. She entertained guests in her family’s suburban house and worked out on the trampoline to keep her size 12 figure.” -- Life magazine, 1956

40. And don’t forget the television! • The new shows being broadcasted nationally brought the ideal family to life on the screen • Leave it to Beaver • Father Knows Best • I Love Lucy

41. Gender Roles • In all of these shows, women were portrayed as helpless housewives who only knew how to cook and clean • Took care of their family’s every needs • Dressed in their best clothes and heels everyday • Referred all decisions to the man of the house

42. Children were taught the roles they would be as adults • Girls received dolls and tea sets • Boys received toy guns and trucks

43. Education? • College enrollment of women dropped dramatically in the fifties • Young women were too focused on marriage and starting a family

44. Examples • Father Knows Best • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5bKLwSQIq4 • I Love Lucy • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4kIwWHP8Vc (first 5 mins)

45. How are the women different than the women during World War II?

46. Vast Differences • During the war, women were encouraged to work to help war production • They did double duty: worked in factories and came home to clean and cook and take care of their family • In the fifties, women were told their better off in the home

47. Do you think these women were happy?

48. “The Good Wife” • Grab a paper from upfront • Read along • Be a respectful audience 

49. On the last page of your notes, answer the following writing prompt: • In 4-5 sentences, compare and contrast the Fifties Family and stay at home mom to the families we see today. • How are they different? Similar? • What do you prefer?

50. Most Important Thing About… • Grab a sheet from upfront • Take 5 minutes to fill in the three most important things about the Fifties Family