1. American Life in the 1950s

2. America after WWII Politically Americans were focused on the Cold War and preventing the spread of Communism. However, life at home for American citizens was changing rapidly. Women were staying in the work force, factories focused on peacetime consumer goods and the nation was experiencing huge growth.

3. Eisenhower’s domestic policies To help farmers who were struggling with overproduction and falling prices, Eisenhower promoted subsidies, or payments from the government to individuals. These subsidies paid farmers to not plant crops. The goal was to reduce supply and raise prices. Domestic- Home

4. Eisenhower Prosperity Consumer spending increased following World War II. Many Americans had earned good wages during the War years, but rationing and shortages had limited spending. After the war Americans used their savings to buy consumer goods, homes and leisure. The new American Dream was to work hard to buy more

5. The Automobile More money meant more families could buy cars. The 1950’s turned America into a mobile nations. The increase of cars on the road led to the 1956 Interstate Highway Act, providing money for more than 40,000 miles of roads. Though the increase of cars led to a demand for more and better roads, Eisenhower supported the road program to provide quick transportation for the military in case of Communist Attacks… remember, the cold war is still in full swing in the 1950s

6. Franchises The rise of the automobile led to more restaurants and roadside eateries. Diners popped up around the country. Many small town shops and corner stores (Mom and pop shops) closed. Franchise- The right to open a restaurant using a parent company’s brand name and system.

7. Suburbs and Levittowns As soldiers returned home and the Baby Boom created larger families, the demand for housing soared. To accommodate the demand for suburban houses, William Levitt developed mass-production techniques in home building. Using precut and preassembled pieces, Levitt could build communities in less time and for less money. Inspired by the rise of the suburbs with their similar looking houses, Malvina Reynolds wrote the song “Little Boxes”LittleBoxes As Americans left the cities, there were fewer tax payers left to pay for essential services. At the same time, cities were full of poorer citizens who could not afford to move to the suburbs and needed public services. This led to the decline of cities.

8. The American Dream Suburban house Cars Relaxing family time Several children

9. Paying for the American Dream The GI Bill provided veterans with money for college access to low interest mortgages. The development of Levitt towns further reduced the average cost of a new home, opening home ownership to even more Americans. Credit cards also offered a way for consumers to purchase at will. Americans were willing to go into debt to purchase products they wanted.

10. Television After WWII the television became increasingly popular. By 1955 nearly 2/3rds of American families owned a TV and spent 4-5 hours watching a day. Broadcasting companies began to make money by selling advertising time to companies. How are commercials different from the ones of today? commercials

11. 1950’s Conformity This generation of this time period is known as “The Silent Generation”. It is characterized by a desire to conform and to compromise. The youth went to college and enjoyed a leisurely and entertaining experience.

12. Religious Resurgence During the 1950s many flocked back to their religious beliefs. As we were battling the God-less Soviet Union, people felt church was a safe place to be. During this time Congress approved two well known phrases to American Society…

13. Birth of Rock and Roll A new sound for a new era… characterized by the driving beat and simple melodies. Some favorite artists include Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and the Comets, and Little Richard and Elvis. Adults disliked the music, fearing it would cause a rise in immoral behavior. Despite the integration of the military, Civil Rights for African Americans were still limited. The 1960s will be a period of drastic change as African Americans fight for their rights.

14. Domestic Life 1950s During WWII Americans made sacrifices for the war effort. Despite making good wages, Americans had few things to spend their money on. Rationing limited the goods that could be purchased. After the war Americans had extra money to purchase consumer goods, cars, homes and new technology. Despite prosperity many farmers still struggled, and the threat of Communism worried many Americans. Additionally, a growing call for Civil Rights brought significant changes throughout the 1950s and 1960s.