Happy+Days?



That's a great question, don't you think? We will answer it in class on Thursday in a (hopefully) fun activity, but to prepare, we should do a little background reading and watching. R**ead "The Fifties" in __Creating America__ (28-3, pp. 800-803), read over the ABC-CLIO links posted below, and w****atch the videos below.** 
 * FOR HOMEWORK, CREATE A LIST (IN YOUR ONLINE NOTEBOOK) OF POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES CONCERNING LIFE IN THE FIFTIES FOR CLASS ON THURSDAY. WE WILL USE IT TO WRITE SOME DIALOGUE ...**

[|The Cold War at Home] / [|The Economy Booms] / [|The Sky is the Limit] / [|Boom-Time for Babies and Houses]

GOOD


 * President Eisenhower expanded Social Security, increased minimum wage for workers, created the Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
 * Americans felt more prosperous and there were more families created. The U.S. grew by 30 million people in the 50s.
 * The baby boom expanded the suburbs.Shopping centers, movie theatres, and restaurants sprouted up on what was once farmland.
 * Car sales exploded.
 * For millions of mainly white Americans, life in the suburbs was living the American dream. Lived in an affordable house, good school for children, and living in a safe place to raise their children.
 * In the 50s, magazines, films, and T.V. programs praised women for their roles as homemakers.
 * Economy was booming.
 * New T.V. shows for the whole family, very entertaining.
 * Rock n' Roll. All teens listened to that music as it became more popular.
 * Elvis!
 * Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac protested to the "squarness" of American society. Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy, also wanted to shake up the dullness of the Eisenhower years.
 * Kennedy wins election. Wanted to "get this country moving again".

BAD
 * In 1957, nearly one out of every five Americans lived in poverty.
 * Fewer people remained in the city to pay taxes.
 * Often, those most affected by urban decay were African Americans and Latinos.
 * Many could not afford homes in suburbs.
 * Many Mexicans immigrated to the U.S. and being taken advantage of, they had to endure difficult living and working conditions.
 * Not all women felt fulfilled as being homemakers, they felt isolated and bored. They had limited job choices.
 * Movie theatres became less popular as more people stayed home to watch T.V.