1. Nurturing the Baby Boom & Baby Boomers Transform Society
Bringing Up the Boomers
Boomers Fashion and Fun
Baby Boom Goes to School
1960 Counterculture
Sexual Revolution
American Graffiti

2. Bringing Up the Boomers
Canada experienced an economic boom following the war
Americans invested ~$12 billion in Canada
Northern mining frontier expanded
Alberta oil increase
New manufacturing plants across Ontario and Quebec
Suburban Culture
Rapid population growth caused suburban culture to develop
New homes were built beyond existing built-up/suburban areas
Some suburbs used latest principles of urban planning:
Curved streets (slows traffic), central parks, schools
Homes had driveways as owners required cars to get to work
Led to car-culture  fast-food restaurants, shopping plazas, drive-in movies
New social patterns  women’s groups during the day, evening adult parities, weekend sports for kids, social organizations (Scouts, Guides, etc.), and 60% of people attended religious services on weekends

3. Boomers Upbringing – p.152
Create a table to compare the Boomers’ upbringing to that of their parents.
Use the box on page 152 to help you.

4. Bringing Up the Boomers - Suburbia
Two age groups dominated the post-war suburb: children under 15, and young adults aged
In 1961 nearly 50% of suburban population was under 15
Suburbs dominated by nuclear family: 2 parents and young children living together

5. Boomers Fashion and Fun
Surfing Culture
The Beatles -
“Love Ins”
Roller Discos
Saturday Night Fever
Led Zeppelin -

6. Boomers Fashion and Fun
What music and fashion trends could be added to the table?
Would you have rather lived in the 60s or 70s? Why?
What music and fashion trends are still around today? What explains their popularity?

7. The Baby Boom Goes to School
– first way of early boomers arrived at school causing increase in elementary schools and secondary schools (~1950s- 1960s)
Mid- to late 1960s saw overpopulated universities
Ontario responded with:
Enlarging existing universities
Creating new universities (i.e. Trent, York, Brock)
Developing province-wide system of community colleges
Shift in education from authoritarian education (expected mastery of a standard school program focused on reading, writing and arithmetic) to progressive education (child-centred schooling, development of lessons and activities that would keep them interested)

8. Baby Boomers Transform Society
1960s Counterculture
First of the baby boomers reach their late-teenage years and because visible and vocal!
Seen as: rude, spoiled, self-centred, rebels
Defining images: hippies, drugs, The Beatles, Vietnam protests, “sit-ins”, peace symbols, Woodstock
Music focused on: protest, rebellion against authority, Vietnam war, freer attitudes towards sex and drugs
Counterculture: young people expressed values and behaviours that conflicted with society’s norms
Members revelled in shock value of pushing personal freedoms beyond societal boundaries

9. Baby Boomers Transform Society
Baby Boomers Transform Society
1960s Counterculture
Many Canadians adopted the look and sound of the times without actually participating in many events
In Canada – few sit-ins, small communities of hippies, increased sexual promiscuity and illegal drug use
Political activism – anti-war, anti-nuclear, environmental issues, rights of women and Aboriginals

10. Baby Boomers Transform Society
The Sexual Revolution – behaviour and morals in North America began to change
1960s saw an increase in the number of “Illegitimate” children (see the graphs on page 159)
This could be caused by:
A) more couples were living together without being legally married
B) people were engaging in premarital sex
Birth Control Pill was developed and made widely available at a low price through prescription (1961)
Birth rate dropped between due to:
highly educated women
birth control

11. American Graffiti –Questions to Answer
As the film progresses, not the attitude changes of the following characters:
Curt Henderson
Steve Bolander
Laurie Henderson
John Milner
Terry “Toad” Fields
What are some timeless problems teens face as they finish high school?
Compare the 1960s slang with the slang used today. Is any of the 1960s slang still in use?
What are some differences between the “Freshman Hop” and high school dances today? What are some things that might never change?
What are some other timeless aspects of youth life illustrated by the film?
What are some differences between the 1960s culture shown in the film and out culture today? Which changes are positive, and which are negative?