1 “Conservatism, Complacency, and Contentment” “Anxiety, Alienation, andTHE 1950s: “Conservatism, Complacency, and Contentment” OR “Anxiety, Alienation, and Social Unrest” ??
2 Statement: The postwar era witnessed tremendous economic growth and rising social contentment and conformity. Yet in the midst of such increasing affluence and comfortable domesticity, social critics expressed a growing sense of unease, rebellion, and tension with American culture in the 1950s. Essay Prompt: Assess the validity (legitimacy/strength) of the above statement by examining evidence on how the decade of the 1950s potentially expressed a growing sense of rebellion, tension, and anxiety. Devin: see alternate essay handout provided
3 America: Story of US Superpowerbecame a superpower by…… Led to tension because….. Led to anxiety because….. Led to rebellion because…..
4 Partner Giant Foldable: Eisenhower years 1.Collect and gather information on the particular topics (Notes) 2.Provide connection to Truman’s Cold War Quote 3.Provide summary of how each section displays Tension, Rebellion, or Anxiety. (Can be a combination) 4.Key people and terms of each section 5. Visual representation
5 President Eisenhower kick starts the 1950s
6 Presidential contender Dwight DPresidential contender Dwight D. Eisenhower hosts a group of Republican National Committee women at his campaign headquarters in Ike’s status as America’s biggest war hero, along with his genial public persona, made him an extremely popular candidate with voters across party lines.
7 President Eisenhower rise to powerMost American’s frustrated about Korea…..hire a popular war hero “Early and honorable end”-Slogan for ending the Korean War Nixon his running mate (Though rumors of his illegal bribes for VP) Won in a landslide
8 Smart Start: Quote interpretation:What does the following quote: Who do you think would say it? Why would that individual makes such a comment? What did this person mean by this quote? (Think of the time period we are in) “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”
9 Presidential contender Dwight DPresidential contender Dwight D. Eisenhower hosts a group of Republican National Committee women at his campaign headquarters in Ike’s status as America’s biggest war hero, along with his genial public persona, made him an extremely popular candidate with voters across party lines.
10 Poster Gallery(Add to our evidence chart)Domestic Policy Eisenhower and the Cold War Foreign Challenges
11 President Eisenhower “Middle of the Road approach“Federal govern’t smaller rather than bigger” Leaves office with a surplus of $300 million Domestic Programs: Federal Hwy Act; 2 new states (Hawaii and Alaska); Expanded benefits of Social Security, created Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare; named Oveta Culp Hobby as second woman to hold a cabinet job.
12 Eisenhower and the Cold WarDealt with Sputnik Increases spending in NASA Opposed the spread of Communism; though tried to look for ways to avoid conflict Used new strategy of “Brinkmanship” Use nuclear weapons : “more bang for the buck” (Arms Race)
13 Challenges to Foreign PoliciesMiddle East (Suez War) Hungary Uprising Beginning of Vietnam Latin America Cuba Domino Theory: Seemed by the end of the 1950’s everyone was turning to Communism
14 Quick Write Practice How did the Eisenhower presidency contribute to the anxiety, tension, and rebellion of the 1950s? Be sure to provide SPECIFIC examples Hint: Intro….body paragraphs..conclusion
15 Red Scare (2nd: ) American feelings of the spread of communism America was penetrated through and through with spies and sympathizers Pres. Truman accused of being to easy on communism: calls for full investigation and background checks of federal employees Finds nothing; most still lose their jobs
16 The Second Red Scare The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) launched investigations into communist influence in Hollywood. A parade of friendly witnesses denounced communists. Many people gave names of suspect former friends so that they themselves would be cleared and able to work again. A few witnesses (many blacklisted later) attacked HUAC and a handful went to prison for contempt of Congress.
17 Spy Cases Public anxieties were heightened when former State Department advisor Alger Hiss was accused of being a communist spy. Richard Nixon pursued the charges. Hiss went to jail for perjury. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed despite worldwide protests.
18 The Rosenburgs Alger Hiss*
19 THE RED SCARE AND McCARTHYISM *Loyalty checks (began in 1947) House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) “The Hollywood 10” H10 with lawyers. Am Journey online Hollywood Ten (with lawyers)
20 Chambers Makes Sensational Charges in Hiss Case. Acme. 1948President Truman shakes the hand of Alger Hiss, UN Conference, June 1945 Chambers Makes Sensational Charges in Hiss Case. Acme. 1948 Chambers Makes Sensational Charges in Hiss Case. Chambers now renounced the communist movement and went public with his accusations against Hiss, shown at center listening to Chambers's testimony. Acme. 1948 A smiling President Harry S. Truman ( ) shakes the hand of Alger Hiss ( ) on June 16, 1945, at a conference in San Francisco, California, to inaugurate the new United Nations. Hiss, a State Department diplomat, helped organize the United Nations. AP/Wide World. AMJ OL Alger Hiss ( ), seen sitting here to the right of his attorney William Marbury, was a former State Department diplomat who had been accused of spying for the Soviet Union. Before sessions of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1948, Hiss denied charges by a journalist and former communist, Whittaker Chambers ( ), that he had spied for the USSR. AMJOL Hiss Called to Testify before House Committee. Acme AMJOL Here, Nixon, at right, carefully analyzes microfilm that had been dramatically removed from a hollowed-out pumpkin in a patch on the Maryland farm of Hiss's accuser, Time magazine editor Whittaker Chambers ( ), an admitted former member of the Communist Party. Nixon had plenty to view through his magnifying glass. The microfilm contained copies of documents that Chambers alleged Hiss had stolen from the State Department in the late 1930s and turned over to him as part of the communist espionage conspiracy. A jury later concluded that the type on some of the documents matched Hiss's typewriter. Nixon Pursues Hiss. UPI AMJOL Hiss Called to Testify before HUAC, 1949 Nixon Pursues Hiss
21 McCarthyism 1950’s * Senator from WIUsed TV to promote campaign on Communism Used fear
22 Published in 1947, this full-color comic book appeared as one of many sensationalistic illustrations of the threat of the “commie menace” to Americans at home. Approximately 4 million copies of Is This Tomorrow? were printed, the majority distributed to church groups or sold for ten cents a copy.
23 Examples of Cold War Propaganda *As you watch… 1. Make connections to how propaganda can be used to persuade emotions, sentiments, and ideology on a particular concept (This case communism) 2. Identify key persuasion tactics used within each of the propaganda examples Example 2
24 Transition Activity In 50 words or less, explain the decade of the 1950s thus far in terms of Anxiety, Rebellion, and Tension. Discussion
25 Read Section 2 of Chapter 28
26 On the lighter side The Baby Boom Generation overview
27 1957 1 baby born every 7 seconds1A. Baby Boom It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant British visitor to America, 1958 1957 1 baby born every 7 seconds
28 Dr. Benjamin Spock and the Anderson Quintuplets1B. Baby Boom Dr. Benjamin Spock and the Anderson Quintuplets
29 $7,990 or $60/month with no down payment.2A. Suburban Living Levittown, L. I.: “The American Dream” 1949 William Levitt produced houses per week. $7,990 or $60/month with no down payment.
30 2A. Suburban Living: The New “American Dream”1 story high 12’x19’ living room 2 bedrooms tiled bathroom garage small backyard front lawn By 1960 1/3 of the U. S. population in the suburbs.
31 SHIFTS IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, 1940-19702B. Suburban Living SHIFTS IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, “White Flight” Central Cities % % % % Suburbs % % % % Rural Areas/ % % % % Small Towns U. S. Bureau of the Census.
32 2c. Suburban Living: The Typical TV Suburban FamiliesThe Donna Reed Show Leave It to Beaver Father Knows Best The Ozzie & Harriet Show
33 Video Clip…..* Suburban LivingCreate a list that identifies the “cultural and social” aspects of living in the suburbs. Anxiety Tension Rebellion
34 A Date with my Family * As you watch, explain and identify the following… List all the features and characteristics of the family in the video Place into categories of Tension Anxiety Rebellion 3. What do you believe is the intent/purpose of this video?
35 1950 Introduction of the Diner’s Card3a. Consumerism 1950 Introduction of the Diner’s Card All babies were potential consumers who spearheaded a brand-new market for food, clothing, and shelter Life Magazine (May, 1958)
36 3B. Consumerism
37 1950’s Cartoon on Consumerism Example
38 4A. A Changing Workplace Corporate Consolidation: Automation: factory workers decreased by %, eliminating 1.5 million blue-collar jobs. By 1956 more white-collar than blue-collar jobs in the U. S. Computers Mark I (1944). First IBM mainframe computer (1951). Corporate Consolidation: By 1960 600 corporations (1/2% of all U. S. companies) accounted for % of total corporate income. WHY?? Cold War military buildup.
39 4B. A Changing Workplace New Corporate Culture: “The Company Man”1956 Sloan Wilson’s The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
40 5A. The Culture of the Car Car registrations: 25,000, 60,000,000 2-family cars doubles from 1958 Pink Cadillac 1959 Chevy Corvette 1956 Interstate Highway Act largest public works project in American history! Cost $32 billion. 41,000 miles of new highways built.
41 5B. The Culture of the Car America became a more homogeneous nation because of the automobile. First McDonald’s (1955) Drive-In Movies Howard Johnson’s
42 5C. The Culture of the Car The U. S. population was on the move in the 1950s. NE & Mid-W S & SW (“Sunbelt” states) 1955 Disneyland opened in Southern California (40% of the guests came from outside California, most by car.) Frontier Land Main Street Tomorrow Land
43 Reflection Explain both the suburban living video and “Date with my Family” have connections with the Cold War Era “American” culture of the 1950s and how they contribute to the sentiments of Rebellion, anxiety, and tension of the decade. In addition, relate the information presented to the Truman Quote and Eisenhower Quote from earlier notes.
44 Smart Start Categorize your notes from …Where would the information you retrieved be placed? (Anxiety? Tension? Rebellion??) Discuss with class
45 Television of the 1950’s Handout Reading and questions
46 6A. Television Truth, Justice, and the American way!1946 7,000 TV sets in the U. S 50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S. Television is a vast wasteland. Newton Minnow, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, 1961 Mass Audience TV celebrated traditional American values. Truth, Justice, and the American way!
47 6B. Television – The WesternDavy Crockett King of the Wild Frontier Sheriff Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke The Lone Ranger (and his faithful sidekick, Tonto): Who is that masked man??
48 6C. Television - Family ShowsGlossy view of mostly middle-class suburban life. But... I Love Lucy The Honeymooners Social Winners?... AND… Loosers?
49 Let’s investigate Select a Television or movie to investigateDevelop a presentation on how the movie/show demonstrated the validity of the essay prompt
50 Requirements 1. Plot of the show (Characters, etc)2. Aspect/Genre (Rural life, suburbs, family, social issues, global issues, etc) 3. Reflections of how the show demonstrated the tension/anxiety/rebellion of the 1950s that historians have often stated existed 4. How does the show provide a new ‘outlet’ for the American society during this era..and beyond? (Land of Illusion?)
51 5. Provide a clip that you can EXPLAIN in relation to requirements 3 and 4 (NO MORE THAN 3 minutes) 6. MLA citation/Work Cited Page 7.ALL members must have section and research within presentation
52 Most defining TV shows, Movies, etcTelevision Movies
53 Let’s think.. How would musicLead to rebellion? Cause Tension? Anxiety? Article on Rock and Roll
54 Origins Rock and Roll originated among the lower classes and a segregated ethnic group (African Americans) Many middle-class whites thought it was tasteless. Rock and Roll records were banned from many radio stations and hundreds of schools.
55 Rock ‘n’ roll had an overwhelming influence on the social interactions and intermingling of black and white teenagers. The genre forced prejudice labels to sign black artists because the music was so popular and profitable.
56 Segregation being overturned in 1954 gave some freedom for black and white artists to be sold in the same stores and be on the same record labels. Many white parents in the 1950s and 1960s tried to ban their children from listening to rock ‘n’ roll believing that it was to provocative and exposed their children to “black lifestyles.”
57 SATAN’S MUSIC Rock and roll sent shockwaves across America.A generation of young teenagers collectively rebelled against the music their parents loved. In general, the older generation loathed rock and roll. Appalled by the new styles of dance the movement evoked, churches proclaimed it Satan's music.
58 “Rock and roll is the most brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious form of expression — lewd, sly, in plain fact, dirty — a rancid-smelling aphrodisiac and the martial music of every side-burned delinquent on the face of the earth.” – Frank Sinatra (1957)
59 But television and radio forced a surge of rock ‘n’ roll into the cars and homes of Americans.The Ed Sullivan show and American Bandstand Black and white teenagers liked rock ‘n’ roll they were more likely to socially interact and be willing to break the barriers of prejudice unlike older generations.
60 The prosperity of the '50s allowed teenagers to spend money on records by their favorite bands and singers.
61 OMG….POSSIBLE SEX To the horror of the older generation, their children were twisting, thrusting, bumping, and grinding to the sounds of rock and roll. Clip
62 Breaking Barriers…… Little Richard Richie Valens Fat Domino Four Tops
63 Music of the decade Top 10 Defining Songs of the 1950sThe day the music died
64 1951 “race music” “ROCK ‘N ROLL” Elvis Presley “The King”7A. Teen Culture In the 1950s the word “teenager” entered the American language. By 1956 13 mil. teens with $7 bil. to spend a year. 1951 “race music” “ROCK ‘N ROLL” Elvis Presley “The King”
65 7B. Teen Culture “Juvenile Delinquency” ???1951 J. D. Salinger’s A Catcher in the Rye Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1953) James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
66 7C. Teen Culture The “Beat” Generation: “Beatnik” “Clean” TeenJack Kerouac On The Road Allen Ginsberg poem, “Howl” Neal Cassady William S. Burroughs “Beatnik” “Clean” Teen
67 Behavioral Rules of the 1950s:7D. Teen Culture Behavioral Rules of the 1950s: Obey Authority. Control Your Emotions. Don’t Make Waves Fit in with the Group. Don’t Even Think About Sex!!!
68 But were all these changes positive and did they impact everyone in the same way? (Section 3)Poverty Voices of Dissent Farmers 1/3 of Population Disparity between “American Dream” realities and opportunities Minorities Beat Generation
69 8A. Religious Revival Today in the U. S., the Christian faith is back in the center of things Time magazine, 1954 Church membership: 1940 64,000, 114,000,000 Television Preachers: 1. Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen “Life is Worth Living” 2. Methodist Minister Norman Vincent Peale The Power of Positive Thinking 3. Reverend Billy Graham ecumenical message; warned against the evils of Communism.
70 8B. Religious Revival Hollywood: apex of the biblical epics.The Robe The Ten Commandments Ben Hur It’s un-American to be un-religious! The Christian Century, 1954
71 9A. Well-Defined Gender RolesThe ideal modern woman married, cooked and cared for her family, and kept herself busy by joining the local PTA and leading a troop of Campfire Girls. She entertained guests in her family’s suburban house and worked out on the trampoline to keep her size 12 figure Life magazine, 1956 Marilyn Monroe The ideal 1950s man was the provider, protector, and the boss of the house Life magazine, 1955 1956 William H. Whyte, Jr. The Organization Man a middle-class, white suburban male is the ideal.
72 10A. Progress Through ScienceFirst IBM Mainframe Computer Hydrogen Bomb Test DNA Structure Discovered Salk Vaccine Tested for Polio First Commercial U. S. Nuclear Power Plant NASA Created Press Conference of the First American Astronauts
73 10B. Progress Through Science 1957 Russians launch SPUTNIK I1958 National Defense Education Act
74 10C. Progress Through ScienceUFO Sightings skyrocketed in the 1950s. War of the Worlds Hollywood used aliens as a metaphor for whom ??
75 10D. Progress Through ScienceAtomic Anxieties: “Duck-and-Cover Generation” Atomic Testing: U. S. exploded nuclear weapons over the Pacific and in Nevada.
76 News Worthy Events Korean War 1950-1953 Start of Vietnam 1955Brown vs. Board of Education 1956 Sputnik 1957 All American Negro league (Jackie Robinson) Willie Mays (Bio)
77 The 50s Come to a Close 1959 Nixon-Khrushchev “Kitchen Debate”Cold War -----> Tensions <----- Technology & Affluence
78 Class Discussion Topic:The postwar era witnessed tremendous economic growth and rising social contentment and conformity. Yet in the midst of such increasing affluence and comfortable domesticity, social critics expressed a growing sense of unease with American culture in the 1950s. Assess the validity of the above statement and explain how the decade of the 1950s laid the groundwork for the social and political turbulence of the 1960s.
79 Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NYPower point created by: Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY