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Explore the emphasis on conformity in America during the 1950s, from GI Bill benefits to suburban lifestyles and racial stereotypes. Uncover the pressures faced and the impact on youth culture in this era.
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consider:How have you ever been pressured to be like other people? If so, how?
essential question:How do we see conformity in 1950s society? from the end of World War II through the early 1960s
In general, there is an emphasis on conformity (being like the majority) in America during the 1950s.
Adjusting Back to Civilian Life • GI Bill of Rights helps veterans pay for college and buying a house
most, but not all, women return home to be a housewife again
baby boom: huge increase of babies when WWII veterans come home
fear of nuclear war led to bomb shelters and “duck and cover” drills “Duck and Cover” video for schoolchildren
Eisenhower’s National Interstate and Defense Act builds national highway system
The Growing Middle Class • per capita income up = growing middle class (white collar)
rise of the suburbs, or “cookie-cutter” neighborhoods outside of cities (i.e. Levittown) Levittown
a bigger middle class means that cars and televisions become household items
racial and ethnic stereotypes common in the media What do these images say about each ethnicity shown?
Youth culture • car-related activities (i.e. drive-ins)
rock n’ roll sees whites follow black culture; white musicians copying black musical form Hound Dog (Big Mama Thornton) Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)
Business • conglomerates = big company that controls smaller companies all the channels owned by General Electric
On the back of your page, draw a scene from the 1950s to show the conformity of the time. Be sure to include at least one thing to show each of the four categories we have discussed.