The 1950's

The economic boom after the war allowed more Americans to buy a lot of new things such as cars, homes, televisions, etc, and this is what created the unique culture of the 1950's that still affects Americans today.


Women did not play a large role in the 1950's and they spent most of their time at home taking care of the kids, making meals, and doing chores around the house, which men's primary role was to be out working to provide the family with a steady income. many television shows depicted the women as organized and clean, and were always up to date with the best kitchen appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, or toasters. The television also served as a trustable and reliable source of information for average Americans. They bleieved what the commercials and television shows told them to believe, which is much different from today.


The automobile also started gaining popularity, and became a part of the American dream. It was the goal of most families to obtain a car for their personal use. the rise of the automobile also allowed more jobopportunities in jobs that a person could not ordinarily access because it was too far away from home. the rise in the popularity of the automobile also caused more highways and freeways to be built, making it easier for Americans to travel to new places with more ease.


The conformity of the 1950's caused some teenagers to rebel and want to be more independent, which eventually sparked a revolution. Many teenagers did not agree with the war in Vietnam, and resisted the draft. These teenagers were called hippies and peace lovers because they protested war in all shapes and forms, and this continued on to the 1960's.


The 1950's were a time of entertainment, new inventions, economic growth, and recovery after the Great Depression. There are downsides, however. The availability and popularity of automobiles caused an increase in pollution and car crash related deaths became much more prevalent. This new culture also caused a significant gap between the middle and lower class because only people with a steady income could afford all that America had to offer during this time period.

-Cory and Ofri