1. Broadwater Department 1 Key Questions Was the 1950s a “golden age” when all Americans were happy? The 1950s saw the USA experience a great period of prosperity. The USA emerged from WW2 as the richest country in the world. There was almost full employment. Many Americans experienced a real improvement in their standard of living, which was the best in the world. Many more Americans lived in new suburban housing and enjoyed a wider range of consumer goods like new cars and TV sets. What problems were the in the American way of life? Black, Hispanic and Native Americans did not share in the growing affluence. Black Americans did not enjoy the same civil rights as white Americans. They could not vote and suffered from segregation into separate schools, hospitals and even washrooms. These groups suffered from lower wages, poorer housing and lived in greater poverty. Health care was not free in the USA, as it was in the UK and other European countries. America in the 1950s: The Affluent Society

2. Broadwater Department 2 Page 62 – 63 notes. The 1950s was a period of prosperity for many Americans. There was a “baby boom”. Between 1945 and 1960 population rose by 40 million. Better-off Americans moved into newly built suburbs, with shopping malls. Inner-cities declined into places where poorer people lived. 73% of families owned a car by 1956. During the 1950s the GNP doubled (twice as much wealth generated). Shopping for new consumer goods fuelled the growth of wealth. The average standard of living was three times higher than in the UK. By 1960, 90% of homes had TV sets. Most stations were commercial. America in the 1950s: The Affluent Society

3. Broadwater Department 3 Page 63 Questions 1. Explain what consumerism means (“Shopping” section on page 62). Write about what Americans bought (Source B). Explain how ownership of these consumer products changed peoples’ lives in the 50s. 2. Either do the graph, or copy out the section from Source B. 3.Use Source B to look up the % of car ownership in 1956. What was 73% of 30 million? 4.This requires a longer answer, where you provide a balanced answer (for and against the idea that ALL AMERICANS were better off) and provide supporting reasons. Describe the ways in which SOME Americans were better off (suburbs, malls, cars, TVs etc.) Explain which groups were not better-off (Black, Native and Hispanic) and why. 5.Look for the list just above the questions on page 63. Don’t forget diet! America in the 1950s: The Affluent Society

4. Broadwater Department 4 Page 64 to 65 Notes. In 1959, 22% of Americans were living in poverty. Many of these were Black Americans. The poorest areas were in the southern states. In Mississippi 60% lived in poverty. Many elderly people did not have pensions and lived in poverty. Many Americans could not afford medical treatment, or insurance to pay for it. The inner-cities often became areas of deprivation and neglect. Communist countries used this poverty to criticise the USA. America in the 1950s: Poor Americans

5. Broadwater Department 5 Page 65 Questions 7.These statistics prove that between 1950 and 1962, White Americans had roughly twice / three / four times the income of Black Americans. This proves that the average family of Black Americans could not have shared in the consumer boom of this period. They would have probably lived in poorer housing and have poorer diet and medical care. 8.Source I was written in 1952. It set the poverty line at $2,000 / $3,000 / $5,000 pa. The people who would be affected by this were (write a list from the source). 9.Source J is a communist cartoon that criticises American affluence. It shows a poor man looking at a poster that shows …. (write a list from the source). The American capitalist is saying “………………..” (copy this from the blurb). The point that the source is making is ………….... 10.Where would the government have got the money from to help the poor? What would tax payers have felt about their money going to help the poor rather than having a new car? What would factory owners have felt about this. Would it have made a difference that many of the poor were black and that they didn’t have a vote? America in the 1950s: Poor Americans

6. Broadwater Department 6 Page 65 to 66 Notes. Church and synagogue attendance grew to 65% of adults in 1960. This may have been as a result of ears caused by the Cold War and its atomic bombs. Religion was seen as a defence against communism. Church membership gave people a sense of community. Eisenhower called God “the supreme being”. “In God We trust” added to currency in 1954. Religious organisations employed modern bill-board, TV and radio advertising. Billy Graham (televangelist) “crusades”. Religion seen as the moral defence of the affluent (well-off) society. America in the 1950s: Religion in the Fifties

7. Broadwater Department 7 America in the 1950s: Religion in the Fifties Billy Graham preaching in England in 1954

8. Broadwater Department 8 Page 66 Questions 11.The growth of affluence helps to explain the increase in church membership because many of the newly affluent Americans lived in new suburbs / towns. Membership of a church gave these people a sense of belonging to a community / team. Many Americans were concerned about the spread of communism / capitalism. They thought that it would destroy their poor / affluent lifestyle. Religion was seen as a defence against the spread of communism. 12.Well-off people probably wanted moral or religious support for their way of life, because they would have felt the need to explain their wealth, when so many people were poor. In communist countries religion was allowed / banned. By calling communists anti- God / for God, wealthy Americans could say that God favoured / disliked capitalist affluence. It gave them moral justification to enjoy their poverty / wealth. It failed to explain why many religious Black Americans lived in poverty in such a wealthy country. America in the 1950s: Religion in the Fifties

9. Broadwater Department 9 Page 66 to 67 Notes. Immediately after WW2 many women stopped working. More women returned to their traditional role a homemakers. Marriage was seen as what every woman should aspire to. Once married, women were expected to devote all their energies to looking after their husband and children an to running the home. During the 1950s more women returned to work to pay for new consumer goods. Return to work was made possible by labour saving devices, like refrigerators and washing machines. Women usually worked for lower wages than men. They worked in traditional women’s jobs in offices and shops. Very few were able to follow a career. America in the 1950s: A woman’s place in the Fifties

10. Broadwater Department 10 Page 67 Questions 13.Source K helps to explain the role of women in the 1950s, because it is taken from an article in “Life” magazine that describes the “ideal” woman in 1956. It describes the ideal woman as being able to … (write a list from source K – there are at least 14 accomplishments!) In addition to all this, she “brings off with the most spectacular success” …. It is clear that in 1956 “Life” magazine felt that a woman’s place was in the home / out at work. She would not have had time to go out to work! 14.I think source L is / is not biased, because it is / is not critical of the role of women in the 1950s. My evidence is because it lists all the things that women did in a good / bad way. For example it talks about how many High School girls were more / less interested in getting a husband than a qualification. It goes on to say the only women’s movement led to the wedding chapel / workplace. 15. Do not do this question. America in the 1950s: A woman’s place in the Fifties

11. Broadwater Department 11 Page 67 Notes. During the 1950s American teenagers had lots of money to spend. Spending power rose from $10billion in 1950 to $25bilion in 1959. 75% of High School boys aged 16 to 17 had cars. Cars, alcohol, music and teenage fashion fuelled teenage rebellion. 1956 Elvis Presley became a phenomenal success as Rock and Roll music was universally adopted by teenagers as their own. Films like “Rebel without a cause” starring James Dean offered role models. Music and fashion copied by teenagers around the world. Adults criticised, but owned the record, movie and TV companies that made money. Shocking adults, rebelling and protest were key elements of youth culture. Caused by Second World War. Adults wanted to settle down to a quiet life after Depression and War, teenagers craved excitement. Teenagers had the money to spend and the leisure time to enjoy it. Some teenagers “dropped out” by becoming Beatniks. America in the 1950s: Young Americans

12. Broadwater Department 12 Page 67 Questions 16.Why might adults have resented the teenager’s purchasing power? Why might poorer teenagers have resented the purchasing power of richer ones? Why might Black or older Americans have resented the money spent by teens? Why might non-US teenagers have resented the purchasing power? 17.What did US teenagers have that most teenagers all over the world not have? 18.The evidence of this chapter helps to explain the popularity of President Eisenhower because for many Americans, Eisenhower’s presidency was a period of growing prosperity. Many Americans were experiencing a higher standard of living than they had ever had before. They had better housing and more consumer goods like ….. The 1950s also saw a return to the traditional values associated with the home. Many more women returned to becoming full time housewives. They ….. The greater prosperity was also shared by young Americans who …. America in the 1950s: Young Americans