1940’s-1950’s

By: Olivia Chapla, Lizzy Lubitsky, Kara Nelson, Katie VanGolen

Science & Technology

• In the 1940’s, the computer was developed shortly after the war ended.

• Scientists worked with vitamins because of the food shortages. People needed something to keep them healthy.

Medicine

• In March of 1953, Dr. Jonas E. Salk announces his success in tests of his vaccine against a child killer disease, polio.

• Sir Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic Penicillin, useful for treating wounded soldiers.

• During the war, American Red Cross organized a massive and efficient blood bank which saved many lives.

Art

• In the 1940’s, Benjamin Britton worked on his opera, “ Peter Grimes.”

• In the 1940’s, Paul Nash painted “ The Dead Sea” that records the battle of Britain.

• In the 1950’s, Graham Sutherland painted a portrait of Churchill to mark the good man’s 80th birthday.

Music

• In 1952, Frank Sinatra performed concert in New York. He was voted singer who had done most to raise popular taste in music.

• Rock n’ Roll was a popular kind of music in our time period. Elvis got his start in out time period and “Rock Around the Clock” stayed at the top of the charts for five months in 1955.

Classic Literature

• Jove Jansson wrote Moomintroll in 1958.

Major Events

• The end of World War ll took place in early May 1945.

• The Cold War started in 1947.

Influential Women

• A lot of dangerous work was done by women in munitions factories.

• Many women worked in different braches of armed forces (nurses, radio operators, pilots, etc.).

• Members of Women’s Home Defense Corps were trained to shoot.

• Many women offered to work the land when there was food shortages.

• Mary Osborne was assigned to a super secret Naval Intelligence Facility.

Fashion

• In the 1950’s, generally only two social groups were into fashion.

• In the 1940’s, many clothes in wartime Britain could only be bought with clothing coupons.

• Decorative details like trouser cuffs and pocket flaps disappeared and were replaced with practical outfits.

• After the war, more elegant fashions for women returned.• During the war, most clothes were plain and simple.• Wartime shoes were designed for comfort and durability

rather than elegance.