American History

a. Technology b. School c. Crime d. Family rituals e. Extended families f. Neighbors g. Divorce rate h. Parents at work i. Religion List differences between 1959 and 2000 in:

HISTORY COLONIAL Strong morals & high value on marriage, marriages were stable with strong extended families. Families = economic units Children = believed to be evil by nature & economic assets Adolescents = didn’t exist (short childhood to adulthood) Afro American families unique: due to slavery (marriage prohibited thus created their own) Native Americans: small families, high mortality rate No physical discipline but shamed publicly Many ceremonies and rituals.

Industrialization = change  Industrialization = change Shift from self sacrificing to individualism  Shift from self sacrificing to individualism Shift from self sufficient farmer to wage earner  Shift from self sufficient farmer to wage earner Men were “Bread Winners” doing real work with higher status than women  Men were “Bread Winners” doing real work with higher status than women Women were “Homemakers” creating children that were not dependent on father = less control  Women were “Homemakers” creating children that were not dependent on father = less control Families = emotional support/care for young  Families = emotional support/care for young Creation of adolescents & dependence on family  Creation of adolescents & dependence on family Education in school, not the family  Education in school, not the family Married for love and lower birthrates.  Married for love and lower birthrates. 19 th Century

Families lost traditional economic, education and welfare functions = filled emotional needs mainly  Families lost traditional economic, education and welfare functions = filled emotional needs mainly 1920 Companionate marriage = spouses shared tasks and decisions  1920 Companionate marriage = spouses shared tasks and decisions Marriage = romance & sexual fulfillment  Marriage = romance & sexual fulfillment Children to experience world and not be protected.  Children to experience world and not be protected. Children treated more democratically & could express emotions.  Children treated more democratically & could express emotions. 20 CENTURY

Women went to work.  Women went to work. 1950’s – Exceptional “Golden Age”.  1950’s – Exceptional “Golden Age”. Baby boom, decline in divorce, prosperity.  Baby boom, decline in divorce, prosperity. 1970’s – Dual income families.  1970’s – Dual income families. Married later & fewer children.  Married later & fewer children. Shift from self sacrifice to individualism.  Shift from self sacrifice to individualism. Immigrants experience impoverishment but survived due to families  Immigrants experience impoverishment but survived due to families Depression

1. CONTEMPORARY FAMILY a. Lower birthrate b. Later marriage c. Increased divorce d. Increased cohabitation e. Live longer  Factors Promoting Change 1. Economics – women worked = conflict 2. Technology – computers, appliances 3. Gender roles – struggle for equity CHANGING FAMILY

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