Historical Impacts
The 1950s post-war era had many historical impacts that even affect society today. First, the economy of the post-war era was stable and created a society full of mostly middle class white people. Housing loans were available to whites, but not to minorities. The economic prosperity was due to the baby boom and the end of World War II. With an increasing population, there needed to be more goods to sustain this population. Also, men coming back from World War II began to take jobs that had been held by women and minorities in their absence. This sent women back to do their “traditional roles”. Women were expected to be ideal housewives, mothers, and to be active in the community. They were also expected to leave the head of the household to the male members of the family. Another problem occurring within the family was that teenagers of the baby boom were increasingly beginning to become involved in crime. Delinquency was on the rise. An example of this is “During the 1950s, a wave of juvenile delinquency swept across middle-class society. By 1956, over one million teens a year were being arrested.” (Shi and Tindall 967) While this occurred, it became difficult once more for minorities to receive a job, being in competition with white men coming home from the war. Poverty in rural areas and urban slums was widely ignored due to the focus on exterminating communism and the growing economy of the white middle class. This was a period of prosperity for some, and poverty for others (Shi and Tindall 955-967).
Over all, President Eisenhower, and this time period has been remembered for the economic prosperity, for the white middle class. Eisenhower insured the prosperity of the majority by keeping the U.S. out of nuclear war, and by making it easier for white middle class Americans to prosper. While this was positive, woman and minorities continued to suffer inequality, and segregation in the work force. This very much relates to the 1920’s in terms of outward prosperity verses hidden problems. Historians continually remember this as a controversial period, in which there were a variety of positives and negatives (“Miller Center: American President: Dwight David Eisenhower” 1-2).
Questions from Reading
1. Describe the traditional roles of women. How have they changed compared to present day America?
2. Name two causes of economic prosperity during the 1950s.
3. What was widely ignored due to the country's focus on communism during this time period?
The 1950s post-war era had many historical impacts that even affect society today. First, the economy of the post-war era was stable and created a society full of mostly middle class white people. Housing loans were available to whites, but not to minorities. The economic prosperity was due to the baby boom and the end of World War II. With an increasing population, there needed to be more goods to sustain this population. Also, men coming back from World War II began to take jobs that had been held by women and minorities in their absence. This sent women back to do their “traditional roles”. Women were expected to be ideal housewives, mothers, and to be active in the community. They were also expected to leave the head of the household to the male members of the family. Another problem occurring within the family was that teenagers of the baby boom were increasingly beginning to become involved in crime. Delinquency was on the rise. An example of this is “During the 1950s, a wave of juvenile delinquency swept across middle-class society. By 1956, over one million teens a year were being arrested.” (Shi and Tindall 967) While this occurred, it became difficult once more for minorities to receive a job, being in competition with white men coming home from the war. Poverty in rural areas and urban slums was widely ignored due to the focus on exterminating communism and the growing economy of the white middle class. This was a period of prosperity for some, and poverty for others (Shi and Tindall 955-967).
Over all, President Eisenhower, and this time period has been remembered for the economic prosperity, for the white middle class. Eisenhower insured the prosperity of the majority by keeping the U.S. out of nuclear war, and by making it easier for white middle class Americans to prosper. While this was positive, woman and minorities continued to suffer inequality, and segregation in the work force. This very much relates to the 1920’s in terms of outward prosperity verses hidden problems. Historians continually remember this as a controversial period, in which there were a variety of positives and negatives (“Miller Center: American President: Dwight David Eisenhower” 1-2).
Questions from Reading
1. Describe the traditional roles of women. How have they changed compared to present day America?
2. Name two causes of economic prosperity during the 1950s.
3. What was widely ignored due to the country's focus on communism during this time period?