1 The Mood of the 1950s TEKS 20(A), 20(B), 24(A) 2 Listen During the 1950s many Americans lived comfortable lives. After a depression and a war, people valued security and comfort over individuality. Most young peopl e, sometimes called the “silent generation,” were content to enjoy their parents’ affluence rath er than become involved in the outside world. Businesses seized this opportunity to sell produc ts to this new youth culture. Americans also showed a renewed interest in religion. 3 Listen Religious affiliations increased dramatically during the 1950s i n response to the struggle against “godless communism.” Conformity to traditional roles was the norm. Men worked in the public arena, while women worked at home or as secretaries, teachers, nurses, and sales clerks, and not in professions such as medicine or law, which were reserved for men. 4 Listen Some young people felt confined by the conformity of the 1950s a nd looked for a style of their own. Many turned to music, becoming fans of the new rock -and - roll music, especially the songs of Elvis Presley. Most adults disliked this music, seeing it as a potential cause of immorality. 5 Listen Other people, not just teenagers, challenged society’s attitudes . These people were referred to as the “Beat Generation,” or beatniks . This group consisted of artists and writers who challenged the traditional patterns of respectabilit y and shocked most Americans with their open sexuality and use of illegal drugs. 6 The Mood of the 1950s Begin Taking Notes 1. Why were comfort and security so important to Americans in the 1 950s? 2. What were the accepted roles of men and women during the 1950s? 3. How did some people challenge conformity during the 1950s? 7 Comfort and Security Enjoying prosperity and recovering from war and economic depress ion, most Americans in the 1950s valued security over adventure. Youth in the 1950s enjoyed more time for school, and for recreat ion, than youth in earlier generations. Businesses marketed products such as movies and magazines to you ths, reinforcing images of what it meant to be a teenager. Partially in response to the threats of communism and nuclear war , many Americans renewed their interest in religion. References to God were added to the Pledge of Allegiance and imp rinted on U.S. currency. 8 Billy Graham b. 1918 Evangelist Billy Graham gained a wide following during the 1950s . Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, William Franklin Graham, Jr., was the son of a prosperous dairy farmer. In 1939, he was ordained a s a Southern Baptist minister, and he went on to graduate from college in 1943. Graham then joined an organization founded to minister to young soldiers during World War II. Following the war, he appeared at tent revivals and religious rallies in the United States and Europe.
1 Thousands of Americans flocked to hear Graham preach throughout the United States. His direct style of speaking made religion accessible, and he became known as fundamentalism's chief spokes person. In addition to his televised crusades, Graham founded Decision magazine and wrote several books. Graham's prominence continued to grow, and in 1996, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Meda l. 9 Men’s and Women’s Roles Men and women were expected to play strictly defined roles in th e 1950s. While men were expected to hold jobs and support their families, women were expected to perform domes tic duties. Nevertheless, more and more married women began working outside the home, some to support their families and others for the sense of satisfaction they derived from holding j obs. Some women, notably Betty Friedan , desired more freedom in choosing social roles than the 1950s c ultural climate allowed. 10 Youthful Rebellions 1 Rock -and -Roll Rock -and -roll , a style of music based on black rhythm and blues, became popular among teenagers in the 1950s. Many adults disliked rock -and -roll music, claiming that it encouraged immorality. Popular with both black and white teenagers, rock -and -roll threatened those who were comfortable with racial segregati on. 2 Beatniks Beatniks , many of whom were artists and writers, launched a movement tha t stressed spontaneity and rejected money and power. Beatniks shocked many Americans with their open sexuality and us e of illegal drugs. Author Jack Kerouac embodied the Beatnik spirit for many Americans. 11 Rock-and-Roll Music - Viewpoint 12 13 The Mood of the 1950s—Assessment Which of these trends was a reason for the resurgence in religio n during the 1950s? (A) Increasing popularity of rock -and -roll music (B) Rise of media targeted at teenagers (C) Fear of nuclear war (D) Frustration with traditional women’s roles Why did many adults oppose rock -and -roll music? (A) They did not have the money to buy records. (B) They felt it encouraged immorality. (C) They disliked the philosophy of the Beatniks. (D) They preferred music with more complicated melodies.
14 The Mood of the 1950s—Assessment Which of these trends was a reason for the resurgence in religio n during the 1950s? (A) Increasing popularity of rock -and -roll music (B) Rise of media targeted at teenagers (C) Fear of nuclear war (D) Frustration with traditional women’s roles Why did many adults oppose rock -and -roll music? (A) They did not have the money to buy records. (B) They felt it encouraged immorality. (C) They disliked the philosophy of the Beatniks. (D) They preferred music with more complicated melodies.
15 QUIZ Put your name, date, and period on a piece of binder paper – number it 1 to 10.
Make sure to title the quiz.
Complete the quiz.
2 QUIZ 16 Work Look over your notes from today. 1. Answer the 3 questions from today’s lecture. 2. In five sentences, write a brief summary of what we went over in class today. Use the highlighted key terms in your summary! Title the paper the same as the Lecture Notes. Make sure to put your Name , Date , and Period in the upper right hand corner of your page. Turn this in at the beginning of class tomorrow – put it in the hand -in/collection basket. Worth 25 out of 100 points for this week’s Daily grade.
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