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- Unit 1: Progressive Era and WWI
- Unit 2: The Roaring Twenties
- Unit 3: The Great Depression
- Unit 4: World War II
- Unit 5: Cold War and the 50s
- Unit 6: Kennedy, Johnson and Vietnam War
- Unit 7: An Era of Protest
- Unit 8: Policies of the 70s and 80s
- Unit 9: 1990s
- Unit 10: Contemporary Issues
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The 1950s Culture and Society
The decade or so after World War Two was a period of significant change for the
United States. Many of these changes and the events of the period had a profound
impact on the future of the country and serve as the basis for American life
today. Whether speaking of economics, the labor movement, the Baby Boom, the
further increase in consumerism, or the changes in popular culture, post-war
America sped down the highway (quite literally, as you'll find out) of
commercialism and progress.
United States. Many of these changes and the events of the period had a profound
impact on the future of the country and serve as the basis for American life
today. Whether speaking of economics, the labor movement, the Baby Boom, the
further increase in consumerism, or the changes in popular culture, post-war
America sped down the highway (quite literally, as you'll find out) of
commercialism and progress.
The Project:
You and your group will be assigned one or two of the major topics below on which to conduct quick research and learn about together. You will become "experts" - as the limited time will permit - on your subject and be prepared to educate your classmates on the topic. Once you've finished your research, you will create a mini PowerPoint that highlights the basics and includes some relevant
photographs and illustrations. An additional slide should comprise a general bibliography. You will then present your topic in no more than Five Minutes to the rest of the class.
photographs and illustrations. An additional slide should comprise a general bibliography. You will then present your topic in no more than Five Minutes to the rest of the class.
Topics:
1950s Economy
Labor Movement
Technological Advancements/Consumerism
The Baby Boom
The G.I. Bill
Popular Culture
Suburbanization and Population Shifts
Political Events
Labor Movement
Technological Advancements/Consumerism
The Baby Boom
The G.I. Bill
Popular Culture
Suburbanization and Population Shifts
Political Events
Resources
GHS Library (click on eBooks, toggle the "History" option, and click on "American Decades")
1950s (gac.edu)
American Cultural History: 1950-59 (lonestar.edu)
Born of Controversy: The GI Bill of Rights (VA.gov)
The Consumer Society: The 1950s (Prentice-Hall)
Interstate Highway System (Digital History)
Post-War Labor Timeline
Levittown (Digital History - [suburbs])
Picture History
Post-WWII Baby Boom(Wikipedia)
Rise of the Sunbelt(Digital History)
Social Issues (U-S-History.com)
Taft-Hartley Act (U-S-History.com [labor])
Labor in the 1950s (Encyclopedia.com)
Unrest in Labor (Miller Center- Scroll down to "Labor")
History of American Labor Movement (US History)
Truman and Eisenhower (Dept. of Transportation)
President Truman (History.com)
President Eisenhower (History.com)
1950s (gac.edu)
American Cultural History: 1950-59 (lonestar.edu)
Born of Controversy: The GI Bill of Rights (VA.gov)
The Consumer Society: The 1950s (Prentice-Hall)
Interstate Highway System (Digital History)
Post-War Labor Timeline
Levittown (Digital History - [suburbs])
Picture History
Post-WWII Baby Boom(Wikipedia)
Rise of the Sunbelt(Digital History)
Social Issues (U-S-History.com)
Taft-Hartley Act (U-S-History.com [labor])
Labor in the 1950s (Encyclopedia.com)
Unrest in Labor (Miller Center- Scroll down to "Labor")
History of American Labor Movement (US History)
Truman and Eisenhower (Dept. of Transportation)
President Truman (History.com)
President Eisenhower (History.com)