Why did the Fifties Boom?

World War II was over.World War II was over.

Soldiers came home. Soldiers came home.

The baby boom was in full The baby boom was in full roar.roar.

Americans settled down to Americans settled down to raise families, build stable raise families, build stable homes, and pursue homes, and pursue respectable careers.respectable careers.

The population of the inner The population of the inner cities dwindled as Americans cities dwindled as Americans fled to the suburbs and the fled to the suburbs and the comfort of backyards, comfort of backyards, driveways, and tree-lined driveways, and tree-lined streets.streets.

Why did the Fifties Boom?Why did the Fifties Boom?

The Nazi threat of World War The Nazi threat of World War II, still lingered in the minds II, still lingered in the minds of Americans.of Americans. The rising power of the The rising power of the Soviet Union created the Soviet Union created the impression that the American impression that the American way of life was under siege. way of life was under siege.

Americans developed a Americans developed a nervousness about nervousness about international events and a international events and a fierce national pride. fierce national pride.

These feelings were reflected These feelings were reflected in an anti-Communist in an anti-Communist movement in the United States movement in the United States known as McCarthyism and a known as McCarthyism and a reaffirmation to traditional reaffirmation to traditional lifestyles and the idea of lifestyles and the idea of common decency. common decency.

Church attendance rose, and Church attendance rose, and behavior considered behavior considered rebellious was repressed by rebellious was repressed by social scorn and, social scorn and, occasionally, by the courtsoccasionally, by the courts..

The greatest changes in The greatest changes in American life, however, resulted American life, however, resulted from the growth of television as from the growth of television as a national medium. It became a national medium. It became the dominant mass media.the dominant mass media.

Political events were televised, Political events were televised, popular programming popular programming entertained the country, and entertained the country, and advertisers bombarded millions advertisers bombarded millions of American homes with alluring of American homes with alluring images.images.

The end of the war brought The end of the war brought young servicemen back to young servicemen back to America to pick up their lives America to pick up their lives and start new families in and start new families in new homes with new jobs. new homes with new jobs.

American industry expanded American industry expanded to meet peacetime needs. to meet peacetime needs.

Americans began buying Americans began buying goods unavailable during goods unavailable during the war, which created the war, which created corporate expansion and corporate expansion and jobs.jobs.

Growth was everywhere.Growth was everywhere.

The baby boom was The baby boom was underway.underway.

People could People could afford single afford single family homes family homes and the suburbs and the suburbs were born. A were born. A small suburban small suburban community community called Levittown called Levittown was built by was built by William Levitt for William Levitt for returning returning servicemen and servicemen and their families.their families.

Chief Justice Earl Warren Chief Justice Earl Warren and other members of the and other members of the Supreme Court Supreme Court unanimously decided in unanimously decided in Brown v. Board of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Education of Topeka, KansasKansas (1954) that (1954) that separate facilities did not separate facilities did not make them equal according make them equal according to the Constitution. to the Constitution.

Integration began across Integration began across the nation in 1956.the nation in 1956.

Highways, tunnels, and Highways, tunnels, and bridges sprang up across the bridges sprang up across the United States, making far-United States, making far-flung travel possible for flung travel possible for middle-class Americans. middle-class Americans.

Automobiles became affordableAutomobiles became affordableto nearly everyone as the to nearly everyone as the country grew prosperous. country grew prosperous.

They were regarded as indicators They were regarded as indicators of prosperity and “cool-ness.”of prosperity and “cool-ness.”

Broadway musicals entered Broadway musicals entered their golden age during this their golden age during this period.period. Dance underwent change Dance underwent change during this period. Alvin Ailey during this period. Alvin Ailey created the American Dance created the American Dance Theater. It featured an all- black Theater. It featured an all- black cast and dance styles that were cast and dance styles that were culturally based, and truly culturally based, and truly American, in style.American, in style.

Theater, Film, and RadioTheater, Film, and Radio

Radio’s influence was still Radio’s influence was still very great as was seen in very great as was seen in the rapid growth of Rock the rapid growth of Rock n’ Roll. People began n’ Roll. People began carrying small transistor carrying small transistor radios. Music could be radios. Music could be heard in any location. One heard in any location. One of the most famous of the most famous musicians of this period musicians of this period was Elvis Presley.was Elvis Presley.

People in the Fifties loved sports. People in the Fifties loved sports. More leisure time and greater general More leisure time and greater general prosperity led to greater participation prosperity led to greater participation in athletic activities for the average in athletic activities for the average person and increased the number of person and increased the number of fans. fans.

Baseball became one of the most Baseball became one of the most popular sports of the time.popular sports of the time.

SportsSports

Lesson PlanLesson Plan

Each student will make a power Each student will make a power point slide illustrating the life andpoint slide illustrating the life andtimes of the fifties.times of the fifties.

Each student will illustrate theirEach student will illustrate theirslide on a form given to them byslide on a form given to them bythe teacher.the teacher.

The illustration must have wordsThe illustration must have wordsexplaining the image.explaining the image.

The slide can be about science,The slide can be about science,technology, people, events, sports, technology, people, events, sports, or entertainment of the period.or entertainment of the period.

Your choice must be approved byYour choice must be approved bythe teacher to avoid duplication.the teacher to avoid duplication.

The slides will be combined into an The slides will be combined into an online book.online book.

RubricRubric

Do you have a title for you slide?Do you have a title for you slide?

Do you have an illustration?Do you have an illustration?

Did you write a paragraph about Did you write a paragraph about your illustration?your illustration?

Is your paragraph grammatically Is your paragraph grammatically correct?correct?

Did you finish your project in the Did you finish your project in the time allotted?time allotted?

Resources

www.history-of-rock.com

www.todaysteacher.com.FiftiesQuest/

www.gpb.org/peachstar