Bell Ringer

• Write down the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the 1950s.

1950’s AmericaGoal: Analyze the impact of the GI Bill, Interstate

Highway Act, the baby boom, and consumer culture on American Society.

Post War Economy

• American economy booming after WWII.

• Big businesses expand

• Americans begin shopping for name brands

GI Bill• Truman passes GI Bill

• Provides low interest housing loans

• Provides veterans money to go back to school

Rise of Suburbs• Housing boom increased demand for new homes

• Homes mass produced in open areas outside of cities.

• First housing plan– Levittown, NY

Interstate Highway Act of 1956

• Creation of network of highways makes Americans more mobile

• Cars take more important role in Americans lives

• Middle class Americans begin to flee cities for the suburbs

Baby Boom

• Birth rate nearly doubles during the 1950s from pre-war years

Culture of Conformity• Fitting in was cool

• TV shows portrayed what was “American”

• Most popular TV Shows– I Love Lucy– Leave it to Beaver

• How has TV changed?

Leave it to Beaver Questions

• Based on what you observed from this clip of “Leave it to Beaver,” answer the following questions.

1.What type of job does Beaver’s father have?2.What type of job does Beaver’s mother have?3.Do you think that shows like “Leave it to Beaver”

accurately portray the average American family?

Resistance to Conformity• Working women

– Challenged traditional roles

• Rock-and-roll– Considered vulgar

• Beatniks– Challenged conformity through art

Review Questions1. How did the GI Bill provide opportunities for

returning GIs after WWII?

2. Why did people begin moving to the suburbs?

3. What impact will the baby boom have on American society?

4. How did Americans resist conformity?

Election of 1952

• Ike vs. Adlai Stevenson

• Stevenson (D) Gov. of Illinois– Egghead

• Eisenhower (R) Never held elected office– War Hero

Election of 1956

• Rematch Ike vs. Adlai

• Stevenson did not hold office during this election.

• Eisenhower health and age issues– Heart attack in 1955

Eisenhower defeats Stevenson by an even larger margin this time around

457 to 73