consider How have you ever been pressured to
consider: How have you ever been pressured to be like other people? If so, how?
essential question: How do we see conformity in 1950 s society? from the end of World War II through the early 1960 s
In general, there is an emphasis on conformity (being like the majority) in America during the 1950 s.
Adjusting Back to Civilian Life • GI Bill of Rights helps veterans pay for college and buying a house
• most, but not all, women return home to be a housewife again
• baby boom: huge increase of babies when WWII veterans come home
• fear of nuclear war led to bomb shelters and “duck and cover” drills “Duck and Cover” video for schoolchildren
• Eisenhower’s National Interstate and Defense Act builds national highway system
The Growing Middle Class • per capita income up = growing middle class (white collar)
• rise of the suburbs, or “cookiecutter” neighborhoods outside of cities (i. e. Levittown) Levittown
• a bigger middle class means that cars and televisions become household items
• racial and ethnic stereotypes common in the media What do these images say about each ethnicity shown?
Youth culture • car-related activities (i. e. driveins)
• rock n’ roll sees whites follow black culture; white musicians copying black musical form Hound Dog (Big Mama Thornton) Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)
• non-conformist beatnik subculture
Business • conglomerate s = big company that controls smaller companies all the channels owned by General Electric
• franchise = store with same products at different locations
On the back of your page, draw a scene from the 1950 s to show the conformity of the time. Be sure to include at least one thing to show each of the four categories we have discussed.
- Slides: 22