1. GI Bill GI Bill – government paid for college for returning soldiers. Also, provided unemployment payments and money to buy homes. Many of the veterans would never have been able to afford the tuition on their own College educated veterans made more money, bought suburban homes and became part of the growing middle class

2. Economic and Baby Boom The economy of the 1950s was strong because… 1.People had saved and invested money during the war 2.U.S. economy was not damaged much by the war 3.GI Bill helped returning soldiers go to college and get good jobs Baby Boom – Increase in the birth rate during the 1950s and 1960s Returning veterans were eager to get married and start families The Depression and WWII had delayed marriage and families for decades Baby Boom Generation – largest generation in U.S. history. Challenge for Social Security system to pay for this large group as they retire over the next several decades

3. Suburbs and Conformity Levittown – large suburban developments that built houses that all roughly looked the same. Levittown’s were a symbol of the massive suburban growth in the 1950s Conformity - people are pressured to act the same Suburbs – pressured women and men into strict roles Businesses – preferred employees with similar personalities and views Counter Culture – rebellion against conformity Many children in the 1950s became “hippies” in the 1950s that rebelled against conformity and the consumer culture

4. Role of Women Suburban culture, television shows, and social expectations pressured women to get married and stay at home to care for the home and children Businesses typically avoided promoting women because they believed that women should stay home once they married Women’s Liberation/feminists – worked to change social attitudes so that women could have both families and careers

5. Consumerism or Consumer Culture Consumerism/consumer culture – people competed to have the latest and greatest homes, appliances, cars etc. Consumer culture and economic competition still exist today The counter culture (“hippies”) in the 1960s rebelled against the consumer culture by avoiding steady jobs, careers and the suburbs.

6. Pop Culture in the 1950s Television and Rock ‘n’ Roll Music were new forms of entertainment and media in the 1950s James Dean (movies), Lucille Ball (T.V.), Edward R. Murrow (News), Little Richard (music), Elvis Presley (music) and Chuck Berry (music) were some of the key figures in entertainment Many adults were opposed to Rock music and believed that it promoted immorality Television shows included very few African American actors and often limited them to undesirable roles. Many radio stations refused to play African American musicians because of racism