5-5.2 Summarize the social, cultural, and economic developments that took place in the United States during the Cold War, including consumerism, mass media, the growth of suburbs, expanding educational opportunities, new technologies, the expanding job market and service industries, and changing opportunities for women in the workforce.
What social, cultural, and economic developments took place in the United States during the Cold War?
The impact of cultural developments in the United States following World War II was the result of returning prosperity and returning soldiers. When the war ended, many women returned home from the work they had been doing for the war effort and became homemakers and consumers. American factories were able to switch production back to consumer goods. War time workers had money to spend and products that had not been available during the war, such as automobiles, were in high demand. The resulting post-war prosperity allowed many people to spend money on new American products. Soldiers returning from the war married and started families and bought new homes. A trend in home building, the development of suburbs, was made possible by even greater availability of the automobile and is most often associated with the 1950s. The trend of moving to outlying city neighborhoods began in the late nineteenth century due to the availability of trolleys and continued in the 1920s with the automobile. Large
tracts of land, located on the outskirts of town, were bought by developers. The land was then
divided into hundreds of plots on which new houses were built. Americans began to leave the
cities in which they worked to buy new homes in these new suburban developments and
commute to work. A new highway system to link major metropolitan cities increased
suburbanization
Mass media, the widespread availability of radios, movies, and the new medium of television, helped to spread popular culture or pop culture, to urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout the United States. Radio spread new Rock and Roll music. Television became the center of American family entertainment. Advertisers used the new medium to spread their message and soon everyone wanted the same goods including, Slinkies, cap guns, coonskin hats, Barbie dolls, and Hoola Hoops.
Due to an increase in jobs and production necessary to sustain the war effort, the economy of the United States experienced a boost, lifting the nation out of the Great Depression. The United States experienced an economic boom following the conclusion of World War II. Americans devoted much of their financial priorities to the war effort. Industries that had focused their efforts on war materials shifted to the production of consumer products. As a result of the increase in wartime jobs, Americans had savings with which to purchase new products, such as automobiles, televisions, and radios, which had not been available during the war. Advertising encouraged people to buy and an increasing consumerism dominated American culture. As consumers had more money to spend, service industries such as dry cleaners and restaurants expanded. The automobile and new highway system gave rise to motels and fast food restaurants. More consumer credit was available in the form of credit cards.
New technologies created new products, improved existing ones, and enticed consumers to buy new and improved products. Changes to the automobile such as automatic transmissions, radial tires, and power steering made them safer and easier to drive. Jet engines and pressurized cabins changed the airline industry by providing faster, more efficient air travel. Improved telephone service including long distance, and new televisions changed communication, strengthening national and international connections. Technologies, such as air conditioning, became more widely available, making the South a more attractive place to live and establish industries. Air conditioning also moved the family off the front porch and inside in front of the television.
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Our Assignments
Activity 1:Chalk Walk Activity: Rotate around the classroom to different “Consumerism Advertisements” for the post-WWII era. The advertisements will be on large chart paper so students can take turns adding dialogue, writing a question/caption etc. Each student will also complete the Analyzing Post-WWII Advertisements graphic organizer. (DOK 2-3)
Activity 2: Jigsaw Activity: Read the Jigsaw Activity text and answer questions by completing the Jigsaw Activity graphic organizers in small groups. Teacher will assign a section to each group. (DOK 2-3)
-Use technology to create a visual (Brochure, comic strip, iMovie, etc) to explain the impact of their topic on US culture. *Ask teacher for technology piece on what you allowed to use*
-Use technology to create a visual (Brochure, comic strip, iMovie, etc) to explain the impact of their topic on US culture. *Ask teacher for technology piece on what you allowed to use*
Acctivity 3: Read from the ABDO eBook Postwar Era: 1945- Early 1970’s (pages 4-11). While reading they will complete the “Write about It” graphic organizer where they draw a picture /symbols, list important terms from the text, and write an overall summary. Students will then work on the VERSO activity as their exit slip out. (DOK 2-3)
Early Finisher Activity- Need a laptop to complete this*
Read closely Compass Odyssey passage “Innovations of the 1950s” and analyze text using the document analysis sheet. (DOK 2)
Read closely Compass Odyssey passage “Innovations of the 1950s” and analyze text using the document analysis sheet. (DOK 2)