Exploring American Exploring American HistoryHistory

Unit X – Post War AmericaUnit X – Post War America

Chapter 27 – Section 3Chapter 27 – Section 3The Nation ProspersThe Nation Prospers

The Nation ProspersThe Nation ProspersThe Big Idea

An expanding economy led to new ways of life for many Americans in the 1950s.

Main Ideas

• America’s economy boomed in the 1950s.

• Americans enjoyed new forms of popular culture.

• Social critics found fault with 1950s society.

Main Idea 1:Main Idea 1:America’s economy boomed in the 1950s.America’s economy boomed in the 1950s.

Many businesses and workers moved to the Sun BeltSun Belt– southern and western states that offered a warm climate year-round and low tax rates.

1956 Highway Act1956 Highway Act encouraged travel and made commutes easier.

Millions of Americans earned more money than everMillions of Americans earned more money than ever and could spend more.

Young Americans getting married and starting families led to a baby boombaby boom, a significant increase in births.

On the Move

Economy

Suburbs and CitiesSuburbs and Cities Rising demand for homes encouraged development of new suburban new suburban

neighborhoods.neighborhoods.

By mid-1950s, builders were constructing preplanned suburbs all over the country.

By 1970 more Americans lived in suburbs than in cities1970 more Americans lived in suburbs than in cities.

Suburban life appealed to many.

Many enjoyed the additional space and convenienceadditional space and convenience.

Suburban life was criticized by others.

Critics believed suburban life too heavily based on consumer culture

Lacking in diversityLacking in diversity– most people living in suburbs were white and middle-class

DiscriminationDiscrimination– some communities refused to sell homes to black families

Move to suburbs meant cities collected fewer taxes and began to decline.cities collected fewer taxes and began to decline.

Federal government began urban renewal programurban renewal program to improve life in cities.

LevittownLevittown 16 million GI's were returning from 16 million GI's were returning from

either Europe, the Pacific, or from either Europe, the Pacific, or from military bases in the United States.  military bases in the United States.  Many were planning to get married Many were planning to get married and raise families.  But these former and raise families.  But these former soldiers were running into trouble in soldiers were running into trouble in their search to find suitable shelter for their search to find suitable shelter for their new families.  their new families. 

The war had created a shortage of The war had created a shortage of construction materials and the construction materials and the housing industry had fallen off housing industry had fallen off rapidly. rapidly.

At the end of 1945, the US was in At the end of 1945, the US was in dire need of about five million dire need of about five million houses, as ex-GIs and their families houses, as ex-GIs and their families were living with their parents or in were living with their parents or in rented attics, basements, or unheated rented attics, basements, or unheated summer bungalows.  Some even lived summer bungalows.  Some even lived in barns, trolley cars, and tool sheds. in barns, trolley cars, and tool sheds.

In Levittown all a prospective buyer In Levittown all a prospective buyer needed was a $90 deposit and needed was a $90 deposit and payments of $58 per month payments of $58 per month

Main Idea 2:Main Idea 2: Americans enjoyed new forms of popular culture. Americans enjoyed new forms of popular culture.

TelevisionTelevision By end of 1950s, nearly

90 percent of American families owned television sets.

Americans shared the experience of watching the same news, comedies, and sports shows.

American families American families watched about six hours watched about six hours of television a day.of television a day.

MusicMusic New styles of musicNew styles of music

helped reshape American culture.

New style of jazz, known as bebopbebop, became popular.

Rock ’n’ rollRock ’n’ roll swept the nation.

Teenage fans bought more than 70 percent of all records sold in the late 1950s.

Baby BoomBaby Boom - - Television- QUIZ SHOWSTelevision- QUIZ SHOWS A naively trusting public of the Fifties fell in love with A naively trusting public of the Fifties fell in love with

television game shows. Some of the games were played for television game shows. Some of the games were played for laughs and some for prizes and some for big money. Some laughs and some for prizes and some for big money. Some survive today in contemporary form. The Price is Right survive today in contemporary form. The Price is Right wasn't born with Bob Barker at the helm. It was Bill Cullen wasn't born with Bob Barker at the helm. It was Bill Cullen in 1956.in 1956.

On Sunday nights everything came to stop while America On Sunday nights everything came to stop while America watched watched The $64,000 QuestionThe $64,000 Question. At their peak, there were 22 . At their peak, there were 22 game shows on the air. game shows on the air.

By 1958 no one was laughing. That naive trust had been By 1958 no one was laughing. That naive trust had been replaced by a suspicious cynicism that is with us yet. Why? replaced by a suspicious cynicism that is with us yet. Why? Because many of the shows were rigged. The "winners" Because many of the shows were rigged. The "winners" Americans had rooted for had been supplied with the Americans had rooted for had been supplied with the answers in advance.answers in advance.

Charles Van Doren,Charles Van Doren, - “Twenty-One”. - “Twenty-One”. As Van Doren kept As Van Doren kept winning, his popularity grew until he became a recognized winning, his popularity grew until he became a recognized celebrity. His acting ability didn't suffer either as America celebrity. His acting ability didn't suffer either as America watched him "agonize" over each question. Ultimately, he won watched him "agonize" over each question. Ultimately, he won $129,000 - a hefty sum at any time, but a huge amount in the 50's$129,000 - a hefty sum at any time, but a huge amount in the 50's

The scandal prompted Congressional hearings. Although The scandal prompted Congressional hearings. Although there were no laws prohibiting the "fixing" of game shows, there were no laws prohibiting the "fixing" of game shows, both the networks and their sponsors acknowledged the both the networks and their sponsors acknowledged the public's distaste and kept game shows off the air for quite public's distaste and kept game shows off the air for quite some time.some time.

I’ve Got A Secret

Price is right

Queen for a Day

This Is Your Life

To Tell the Truth

What’s My Line?

Twenty-One- Scandal

Baby Boom - Baby Boom - TV DramasTV Dramas Daytime Soap Operas- Daytime Soap Operas- Hawkins Hawkins

Falls- Falls- 1950-19551950-1955 DragnetDragnet- 1950-1970- Jack Webb- 1950-1970- Jack Webb Alfred Hitchcock Presents- Alfred Hitchcock Presents- mystery/ mystery/

suspense dramas that came to an end after the suspense dramas that came to an end after the last commercial. 1955-1962last commercial. 1955-1962

Dick Powell TheatreDick Powell Theatre Kraft Suspense TheatreKraft Suspense Theatre Studio OneStudio One The WhistlerThe Whistler Superman- Starring George Reeves- Superman- Starring George Reeves-

1951-19571951-1957 Perry Mason - Lawyer- 1957-1966Perry Mason - Lawyer- 1957-1966 Robin Hood- 1955-1958Robin Hood- 1955-1958 Route 66- 1960-1964Route 66- 1960-1964 Highway Patrol- 1955-1959Highway Patrol- 1955-1959 The Grey Ghost- 1957-1959The Grey Ghost- 1957-1959 The Fugitive- 1963-1967The Fugitive- 1963-1967 77 Sunset Strip- 1958-196477 Sunset Strip- 1958-1964 Ben Casey- Doctor show- 1961-1966Ben Casey- Doctor show- 1961-1966

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Perry Mason

Robin HoodRoute 66

Baby Boom - WesternsBaby Boom - Westerns Roy Rogers- 1951-1957Roy Rogers- 1951-1957 Hopalong Cassidy- 1949-1951Hopalong Cassidy- 1949-1951 Gene Autry- 1950-1956Gene Autry- 1950-1956 Death Valley Days- 1952-1970(Ron Reagan)Death Valley Days- 1952-1970(Ron Reagan) Sgt. Preston of the Yukon- 1955-1958Sgt. Preston of the Yukon- 1955-1958 Tombstone Territory- 1957-1958Tombstone Territory- 1957-1958 Rough Riders- 1958-1959Rough Riders- 1958-1959 Swamp Fox- 1959-1961Swamp Fox- 1959-1961 Johnny Ringo- 1959-1960Johnny Ringo- 1959-1960 Laredo- 1967-1969Laredo- 1967-1969 Here Come the Brides- 1968-1970Here Come the Brides- 1968-1970 Bat Masterson- 1958-1961Bat Masterson- 1958-1961 Annie Oakley - 1952-1956Annie Oakley - 1952-1956 Branded- 1965-1966Branded- 1965-1966 Cisco Kid- 1950-1955- Cisco Kid- 1950-1955- “Oh, Cisco, Oh Poncho”“Oh, Cisco, Oh Poncho” Davey Crockett- 1954-1955Davey Crockett- 1954-1955 Gunsmoke- 1955-1971Gunsmoke- 1955-1971 Life and Times of Wyatt Earp- 1955-1961Life and Times of Wyatt Earp- 1955-1961 Lone Ranger- 1949-1957Lone Ranger- 1949-1957 Maverick- 1957-1962Maverick- 1957-1962 Riflman- 1958-1963Riflman- 1958-1963 Rin Tin Tin- 1954-1959Rin Tin Tin- 1954-1959 Wild Bill Hickock- 1951-1958Wild Bill Hickock- 1951-1958 Yancy Derringer- 1958-1959Yancy Derringer- 1958-1959 Zorro- 1957-1959Zorro- 1957-1959

Baby Boom - Variety ShowsBaby Boom - Variety Shows American Bandstand- Dick Clark- 1952-1987American Bandstand- Dick Clark- 1952-1987 Arthur Godfrey- 1949-1959Arthur Godfrey- 1949-1959 Milton Berle Show- 1948-1967Milton Berle Show- 1948-1967 Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour- 1948-Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour- 1948-

19701970 Your Show of ShowsYour Show of Shows- Sid Ceasar and Imogene - Sid Ceasar and Imogene

Coca. 1950-1954Coca. 1950-1954 Perry Como Show- 1948-1963Perry Como Show- 1948-1963 Colgate Comedy Hour- 1950-1955Colgate Comedy Hour- 1950-1955 You Hit Parade- 1950-1959You Hit Parade- 1950-1959 Jack Benny Show- 1950-1965Jack Benny Show- 1950-1965 People are Funny- Art Linkletter- 1954-People are Funny- Art Linkletter- 1954-

19611961 George Gobel Show- “Lonesome George”- George Gobel Show- “Lonesome George”-

1954-19601954-1960 Ed Sullivan Show- 1948-1971- “A really big Ed Sullivan Show- 1948-1971- “A really big

shew”shew” Diana Shore Show- 1951-1963 + 1974-1980 Diana Shore Show- 1951-1963 + 1974-1980 Lawrence Welk- 1955-1977Lawrence Welk- 1955-1977 Red Skelton- 1951-1971- “God Bless”Red Skelton- 1951-1971- “God Bless” Ernie Kovacs- 1952-1962Ernie Kovacs- 1952-1962 Jackie Gleason- 1952-1970Jackie Gleason- 1952-1970

Baby Boom - Comedy ShowsBaby Boom - Comedy Shows

Amos and Andy- 1951-1953Amos and Andy- 1951-1953 Andy Griffith Show- 1960-1968Andy Griffith Show- 1960-1968 Bachelor Father- 1957-1962Bachelor Father- 1957-1962 Batman- 1966-1968Batman- 1966-1968 Beverly Hillbillies- 1962-1971Beverly Hillbillies- 1962-1971 Brady Bunch- 1969-1974Brady Bunch- 1969-1974 Burns and Allen- 1950-1958Burns and Allen- 1950-1958 Car 54 Where are you?- 1961-1963Car 54 Where are you?- 1961-1963 Make Room for Danny- Danny Thomas- 1953-1964Make Room for Danny- Danny Thomas- 1953-1964 Dennis the Menace- 1959-1963Dennis the Menace- 1959-1963 Many Loves of Doby Gillis- 1959-1963Many Loves of Doby Gillis- 1959-1963 Get Smart- 1965-1969Get Smart- 1965-1969 Gilligans Island- 1964-1967Gilligans Island- 1964-1967 I Dream of Jeannie- 1965-1970I Dream of Jeannie- 1965-1970 I Love Lucy- 1951-1957I Love Lucy- 1951-1957 The Honeymooners- 1952-1961The Honeymooners- 1952-1961 Leave it to Beaver- 1957-1963Leave it to Beaver- 1957-1963 Mr. Ed- 1961-1965Mr. Ed- 1961-1965 Ozzie and Harriet- 1952-1966Ozzie and Harriet- 1952-1966 Topper- 1953-1955Topper- 1953-1955 Grouch Marx- Grouch Marx- You Bet Your LifeYou Bet Your Life- 1950-1961- 1950-1961 Father Knows Best-1954-1963Father Knows Best-1954-1963

Baby Boom - Kid’s ShowsBaby Boom - Kid’s Shows

Captain Kangaroo- 1955-1984Captain Kangaroo- 1955-1984 Ding Dong School- 1952-1956Ding Dong School- 1952-1956 Flintstones- 1960-1966Flintstones- 1960-1966 Flipper- 1964-1967Flipper- 1964-1967 My Friend Flicka- 1956-1958My Friend Flicka- 1956-1958 Howdy Doody- 1947-1960Howdy Doody- 1947-1960 Jetons- 1962-1963Jetons- 1962-1963 Lassie- 1954-1971Lassie- 1954-1971 Mickey Mouse Club- 1955-1957Mickey Mouse Club- 1955-1957 The Monkees- 1966-1968The Monkees- 1966-1968 Bozo the Clown- 1961-Today- Chicago TVBozo the Clown- 1961-Today- Chicago TV Romper Room- 1954-1992Romper Room- 1954-1992 Soupy Sales show- 1960- Pie in the Face.Soupy Sales show- 1960- Pie in the Face.

Main Idea 3: Main Idea 3: Social critics found fault with 1950s society.Social critics found fault with 1950s society.

Some women were frustrated at lack of opportunitieswomen were frustrated at lack of opportunities. Could only find work in limited fields Discouraged by expectation that they would give up jobs when they

got married Novelists commented on society in their work.

J.D. Salinger criticized culture filled with love of money and conformity.

Ralph Ellison wrote of how African Americans were excluded by society.

Young people known as beatniks, or beats, criticized society with beatniks, or beats, criticized society with unusual writing styles and rebellious behavior.unusual writing styles and rebellious behavior. Beat authors inspired many to question the rules of mainstream

society. Many identified with rebellious characters in popular movies of the

1950s.