What three words describe the 1950s based on what we have learned thus far?

1. What three words describe the 1950s based on what we have learned thus far? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC8HxaNoQcE

2. Now, tell me about the 1950s…

3. How it all came to be… The Baby Boom Generation was born!-Born between 1946-1964-77 million babies born!GI Bill : education, home loans • 1957  1 baby born every 7 seconds

4. The Economy was Booming! American Production - 1947 Proportion of world's manufacturing 50% Proportion of world's steel production 57% Proportion of world's electricity usage 43% Proportion of world's oil production 62% Proportion of world's automobiles 75% Proportion of world's automobiles manufactured 80% Weekly Earnings of Manufacturing Workers, 1940-1960 (1967=100) Year Index of Weekly Earnings Index of Real Weekly Earnings (adjusted for inflation) 1940 21.9 53.1 1945 38.6 72.8 1950 51.6 72.8 1955 66.4 84.3 1960 78.1 89.5

5. Buying the American Dream

6. Buying the American Dream • On May 7, 1947, Levitt and Sons - 2,000 mass-produced homes for veterans • Becomes known as Levittown, NY • 32' by 25' five different models, differing only by exterior color, roof line, and the placement of windows • Equip with identical floor plans &appliances • Choose a house and sign a contract in 3 minutes! • By 1948, 30 houses/day • $7,990 - $90 deposit and $58/month • 1950 ranches came with a carport and a 12 1/2 inch Admiral TV set built into the living room staircase • Shopping centers, playgrounds, and a $250,000 community center sprang up to accommodate Levittown's active residents

7. Home ownership is the "cement of a stable society" and the "epitome of the traditional values.”

8. http://www.ushistoryscene.com/uncategorized/levittown/ • Building a house in one day!

10. Automania • During the Fifties, the number of cars in the US nearly doubled from 39 million to 74 million. By 1960, 80% of American families had at least one car and 15% had two or more

11. A Nation on Wheels • Drive-in movie theaters boomed—3,000 by 1956. • Motels chains, i.e., Holiday Inn. • McDonald’s 55’ first franchise – 1960 over 228 • By 1955, 1,800 shopping centers

12. 1956 - Interstate Highway System, "the greatest public works program in the history of the world.“ • 41,000 miles of four-lane roads • 16,000 entrance ramps and 55,000 bridges • designed for high-speed driving • $129 billion spent!!! • National security

13. By 1960, a third of the country's population lived in the 'burbs.

14. Was the 1950s the “Good Old Days?” • Would you have liked living during the 50s? • Was it the “good old days”? • Anything about the era that seems unappealing to you? • Conformity, follow gender roles, sameness • Why do you think that was the case?

15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe0TlvSVByQ • Leave it to Beaver

17. Part I: Building the American Dream • No place to live, the war created a shortage of building materials • Had money to spend – low interest GI loans • Levitt and Sons (owned lots of land) • Apply mass production techniques of shipyards to building homes • On May 7, 1947, Levitt and Sons publicly announced their plan to build 2,000 mass-produced rental homes for veterans on their Island Trees land • Concrete slabs and non-union works • By 48’ = 30 houses/day!!

18. Feeling Good About the Future • Between 1945 and 1960, the gross national product more than doubled, growing from $200 billion to more than $500 billion. • Rates of unemployment and inflation were low, and wages were high • Middle-class people had more money to spend • Increased population (20%) meant spending inevitable

19. More Levittowns • NJ & PA • Of course others mimic

20. Suburbia is Born • Franklin Delano Roosevelt said later in the century, “A nation of homeowners, of people who own a real share in their land, is unconquerable.” • "cement of a stable society" and the "epitome of the traditional values.“

21. A Suburban Nation • Government also built low income housing • From the Northeast to the South and West—California's population grew by 49% during the Fifties, Florida's by 79%. • They moved from rural areas to cities and from cities to suburbs. • By 1960, a third of the country's population lived in the 'burbs. • Why do so many people move to the suburbs???? • Franklin Delano Roosevelt said later in the century, “A nation of homeowners, of people who own a real share in their land, is unconquerable.” • "cement of a stable society" and the "epitome of the traditional values.“ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dceBTg2S5k • Pleasantville breakfast scene • Control over surroundings – white flight

22. Thursday, April 18, 2013 By 1960, a third of the country's population lived in the 'burbs

23. What do the ads tell you about suburban life? • Standardization & conformity • Consumerism - lots of buying! • Planned obsolescence – built to NOT last! • Materialism • Traditional roles • Role of science/technology for children (beat USSR)

24. What do you need most if you move to the burbs??

25. On average, 4.5 million cars were junked every year during the 1950s. • By 1960, Americans owned more cars than all the rest of the world put together "Impala" Motif Eagle/Airplane On A 1950s Skyline

26. With cars, you need……….

27. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWsxKAS4CfQ • Summary video on automobile – 4-5 min

28. Even the President appears happy go lucky!! • I LIKE IKE!!!!!!!!! • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va5Btg4kkUE • Ike for President theme song!

29. The Perfect Life • Father – leader, “the company man”, happy, loving • Mother – domestic, maternal, subservient to husband, happy, loving • Children – obedient, loving, happy • Dr. Spock tells us to love our children!! • Do these perfect people really seem perfect? The time seem perfect?

30. The Perfect? Housewife • Only middle class or higher were perfect housewives… • I Love Lucy • The Honeymooners • The Feminine Mystique (63’) • "the problem that has no name.“ • "The suburban housewife -- she was the dream image of the young American women and the envy, it was said, of women all over the world."

31. Do you really want to be the company man????? • The Organization Man – 56’ • No risk • Man in the Gray Flannel Suit - 55’ • Make money pursue empty lives • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcRr-Fb5xQo • Mad Men intro

32. Who is really going to hate living in this time???????? • Pleasantville

33. http://www.ushistoryscene.com/uncategorized/levittown/ • Housing discrimination • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_2lGkEU4Xs • Little boxes