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After WWII, Truman had enormous challenge of
converting country back to peacetime economy
Pushed for end to segregation and proposed
Fair Deal – raise minimum wage, enact national
health insurance program, etc.
Met with resistance – Congress refused to act!
 Why do you think this plan was met with resistance?
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1952, Eisenhower elected president 
Republican war hero; “I like Ike!”
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How is this ad different than what we see
today?
Does this indicate anything about the direction
in which politics has taken over the past 60
years?
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After WWII, millions got married; resulted
in baby boom – large increase in births in
proportion to size of population
 Think about all the 55+ communities popping up
today!
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After WWII, women were asked to retake
traditional roles in the household
Mass-media reinforced traditional family
roles
 Leave it to Beaver clip
 Word to the Wives clip w/ reflection questions
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Suburbanization – process of residential,
commercial, and industrial growth and
development beyond central city; movement of
people out of cities into new surrounding
neighborhoods
Major contributing factors:
 Baby boom
 Change in housing mortgages (from 10 year loan
with 80% down payment to 30 year loan with 10%
down payment)
 GI Bill subsidized education and housing
 Automobiles became more available, affordable
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Levittown Video Clip
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Went from war production and rationing to
producing consumer goods and having money
to spend…
Real Income (the amount your income will buy
regardless of inflation) doubled between 1920
and 1950
Before 1950s, most Americans shopped on Main
Street; During 1950s, suburban shopping centers
(malls) sprang up
Charge cards (specific store) and credit cards
(general use) available
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The desire to own something a little newer,
better (and a little sooner than necessary!)
Aim: to make items that are still usable look
obsolete or out of date
Advertisements used this method (and still
do!)
Planned Obsolescence Video Clip
Start of the service industry – i.e. McDonalds!!!
Birth of franchises – an agreement to operate a
business and carry a company’s name and sell its
products (Fun Fact about Ms. Wynn: My dream
job was to own an Auntie Anne’s)
 Before 1950s, most jobs blue collar – jobs in
factories or skilled trades like pluming or auto
repair
 By the end of the 1950s, most jobs white collar –
professional positions like doctors, lawyers,
engineers, salespersons, managers, office staff
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Choose one of the options below to answer
today’s LEQ:
 Write a beat poem. Your poem should be at least
eight lines.
 Write a 1950s rock ‘n’ roll song. Your song should have
at least three versus (three lines each)
 Draw the cover of a comic book. Include a oneparagraph written description of how your comic
book cover answers the LEQ.
 Create an abstract piece of art. Include a oneparagraph written description of how your art
answers the LEQ.
 Using the term “Nifty Fifties” create
an acrostic poem that answers LEQs
1 & 2. Use as much “Beat Slang” as
you can!
 Why are the 1950s remembered as an
age of affluence?
 How did some Americans rebel against
conformity in the 1950s?