Questions and Answers
What were Americans caught up in?
economic boom
What were material goods equated with?
What allows Americans to keep up with their neighbors?
credit
What was the first credit card?
Signup and view all the answers
What marketing strategy convinces American consumers they need new and better products?
Signup and view all the answers
Critics claimed Americans were becoming a _____ society.
Signup and view all the answers
What was the number of TV sets by 1960?
Signup and view all the answers
Name examples of traditional American TV shows.
Signup and view all the answers
What are examples of family shows portraying middle-class suburban life?
Signup and view all the answers
Who questioned the behavioral norms of adolescents in the 1950s?
Signup and view all the answers
What were the behavioral norms of adolescents in the 1950s?
Signup and view all the answers
Name shows that depict juvenile delinquency.
Signup and view all the answers
What new musical genre was influenced by rhythm and blues?
Signup and view all the answers
Who were the rockers of the 50s?
Signup and view all the answers
When does Rock n Roll music debut?
Signup and view all the answers
What term is used for Rock n Roll?
Signup and view all the answers
How many books were sold per day?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the number of national TV networks?
Signup and view all the answers
Name popular genres of TV shows in the 1950s.
Signup and view all the answers
What was TV criticized for causing?
Signup and view all the answers
What fueled the consumerism binge of Americans?
Signup and view all the answers
What shift was seen from 'mom and pop' locally owned businesses?
Signup and view all the answers
How did mass media reinforce traditional roles?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the struggle against conformity in the 1950s?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Americans want in their government?
Signup and view all the answers
Who were the beatniks?
Signup and view all the answers
Who were the writers who embodied the 'beat' message?
Signup and view all the answers
Where were the centers of the 'Beatnik' Generation?
Signup and view all the answers
Who criticized the youth?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the beatniks seek through Eastern philosophy?
Signup and view all the answers
How did the beatniks heavily influence the 1960s?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the result of the GI Bill?
Signup and view all the answers
What were the AFL and CIO?
Signup and view all the answers
What exploded during the 1950s?
Signup and view all the answers
By what year were there more white-collar jobs than blue-collar in the US?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines the ideal modern woman?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines the ideal 1950s man?
Signup and view all the answers
Who wrote The Organization Man?
Signup and view all the answers
What does The Organization Man define?
Signup and view all the answers
Who conducted a study on sexual behaviors during the 1950s?
Signup and view all the answers
Churches become less interested in ___ but more interested in ____.
Signup and view all the answers
Who is the author of Life is Worth Living?
Signup and view all the answers
Who is the author of The Power of Positive Thinking?
Signup and view all the answers
Who warned against the evils of Communism?
Signup and view all the answers
Name examples of religious movies.
Signup and view all the answers
What did Brown vs. Board of Education overturn?
Signup and view all the answers
What year was Brown vs. Board of Education?
Signup and view all the answers
What was declared unconstitutional regarding public schools?
Signup and view all the answers
States are ordered to ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Who was ordered by a Montgomery bus driver to give up her seat?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Economic Landscape
- The 1950s experienced an economic boom, greatly influencing American lifestyles.
- Material goods became synonymous with success as consumer culture flourished.
- The rise of credit allowed consumers to maintain appearances and keep up with their neighbors.
Consumer Innovations
- The Diner's Club Card emerged as the first credit card, revolutionizing spending.
- Planned obsolescence became a marketing strategy persuading consumers to frequently upgrade products.
- Critics labeled Americans as part of a "throwaway" society due to disposable consumer habits.
Television and Entertainment
- By 1960, approximately 50 million TV sets were in use across the U.S.
- Traditional American television examples included shows like Superman and The Lone Ranger.
- Family-centric sitcoms like I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners depicted middle-class suburban life.
Youth Culture and Rebellion
- The Beatniks challenged adolescent norms, questioning authority and conformity.
- Popular films such as The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause showcased themes of juvenile delinquency.
- Music genres like Rock n Roll, debuting in 1951, drew from rhythm and blues influences.
Prominent Figures in Rock n Roll
- Artists such as Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry became iconic figures of the Rock n Roll movement.
- The term "race music" was used to describe early Rock n Roll.
Publishing and Media
- An estimated 1 million books were sold daily during this period, reflecting a booming reading culture.
- There were three national TV networks, showcasing a variety of genres like sitcoms, westerns, quiz shows, and sports.
- Television faced criticism for being a "Vast Wasteland," reflecting concerns over media content.
Shifts in Consumer Behavior
- Credit cards and shopping malls fueled rampant consumerism in American culture.
- A transition from locally-owned "mom and pop" businesses to nationally held franchises occurred.
- Traditional roles of women as wives and mothers were reinforced through mass media representation.
Social Movements and Counter-Culture
- A struggle for individualism marked the 1950s, reflecting a desire to resist conformity.
- Americans increasingly demanded enhanced social spending and attention to poverty-related issues.
- Beatniks rebelled against societal norms and sought enlightenment through Eastern philosophies and sometimes drug use.
Literary Voices of the Beat Generation
- Notable writers such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg epitomized the beat message.
- San Francisco and Greenwich Village, NY became the centers of the Beatnik Generation.
- John Clellan Holms was critical of youth culture during this period.
Changes in Employment
- Post-GI Bill led to more white-collar jobs surpassing blue-collar jobs, particularly by 1956.
- Major unions like AFL and CIO supported the workforce, providing industrial jobs with middle-class incomes.
Family Dynamics and Societal Expectations
- The ideal modern woman of the 1950s was portrayed as married, nurturing, and community-oriented.
- The ideal man was depicted as the family provider and protector.
- William H. Whyte Jr. authored "The Organization Man," defining the middle-class male as a societal standard.
Religious Influences
- Dr. Alfred Kinsey conducted influential studies on sexual behaviors in the 1950s.
- Churches became less focused on doctrine and more on socializing within communities.
- Prominent figures like Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen and Norman Vincent Peale authored motivational works, contributing to religious discourse.
Civil Rights Movements
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954) overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine, declaring school segregation unconstitutional.
- The ruling aimed to integrate public schools, addressing systemic racial discrimination.
- Rosa Parks became a significant symbol of the civil rights movement after refusing to give up her bus seat.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on the consumer culture that blossomed in the 1950s America. This quiz covers economic shifts, innovations in spending such as credit cards, and the impact of television on entertainment. Explore how these changes influenced American lifestyles during this dynamic decade.