1. The 1950’s

2. 50’s - Growth of the Suburbs
The interstate highway system led to the growth of suburbs
People commuted to cities to work and returned home to the suburbs by car
Levittown NY was the first planned suburb in the US

3. 50’s - The GI Bill
Veterans of WW II were promised loans for housing and schools
Many WWII soldiers went back to school and bought homes in the suburbs

4. 50’s - Jobs The 1950’s was a time of economic growth
Blue collar laborers worked in the automobile and steel industries
White collar office jobs, in sales and management, grew even more quickly than blue collar jobs.

5. 50’s - Role of Women
After the WW II many women left the factories and returned to the home, working in traditional jobs as homemaker, mother and wife

6. 50’s - Baby Boom
From 1945 until 1961 there was a boom in the number of children born
65 million children were born, one every 7 seconds

7. 50’s - Consumer Goods
People had more income in the 1950’s than in the Depression and War.
People purchased autos, refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and other household appliances in great numbers

8. 50’s - Bomb Shelters
The US and the Soviet Union engaged in a nuclear arms and space race
People built bomb shelters to protect themselves from a Soviet attack.

9. 50’s - Rock ‘n Roll Rock ‘n Roll was the new type of music of the 50’s
Elvis Presley and other Rock ‘n Roll stars drew from African American Rhythm and Blues roots