In her essay, “What We Really Miss About the 1950s”, Stephany Coontz talks about the myth of the 1950s. She begins her argument by stating some reasons why the nostalgia for the 1950s exists. The main thing Americans miss about the those days is the stability. She acknowledges that this fallacy is not insane. She bases her information on facts and historical evidence. Coontz discusses that jobs, marriage, birthrate and education were at very high points in the 1950s. Jobs were secure and came with great benefits. Coontz describes that when one takes a closer look at the 1950s they will realize that comparing it to the 1990s or the 21st century is absurd. Coontz also explains that the social society during the 1950s was different than the social society we have today. Racism was also a huge factor that seems to be hid by the appearance of the 1950s. African American and Latino families received no support from the government. Discrimination was widespread. Coontz explains that the sexism
During this Era there was quite a few new inventions that came out. A couple were television sets, newer radios, telephones, and (of all things that was produced at this time this item was the biggest) which of are automobiles. Automobiles were new to that mark and they boomed everyone who saw them off ads or television ads wanted one. But, with this large boom America started to be affected by these changes.
The 1920s was a time of great change. From fashion to politics, this period is known as one of the most explosive decades in American history. After WWI, America became one of the world’s most formidable superpowers. The rise to power prompted the 1920s to become a decade of evolution for women’s rights, African American’s rights, and consumerism.
Automobiles. Telephones. Lightbulbs. These were some of the major technological innovations created during 1865 to 1920. These creations impacted many Americans, even to this day. The groups of people that were most changed by these new innovations were factory workers, middle-class urban residents, and midwestern farmers. There were many effects that these creations had on these groups of people. These innovations allowed travelling and the transporting of goods to be easily accomplished, made communication between others simpler and more efficient, and allowed for better and safer ways of lighting to be established.
The consumer revolution that occurred in the 1920s gave Americans prosperous hope for the future of the United States of America. The people became comfortable on how they were living their lives. After the stock market crashes in 1929, people were left jobless and hungry. For those who do not know exactly what happened in the Great Depression and just figure it was a time of famine and unemployment and wasn 't thought of as a big deal, but it sure was. In the text book it talks about the specific effects the Great Depression had on all types of people. African Americans were the first ones to be laid off. Mexican workers were being booted out of their low laboring jobs because whites needed the money more than them, in result over half a million
In a time after World War I, in which the United States emerged as a world military and industrial leader, many of the citizens wanted to return to the government’s old policy of laissez-faire economics. This was a drastic change from the strong sense of nationalism that arose throughout the citizens of the United States during World War I, creating acts such as the Sedition Act of 1918, which made it a crime to criticize the government’s war policy. The decade of the 1920’s ended with the crash of the stock market which eventually led to the Great Depression, a worldwide economic depression that took place mostly during the 1930’s. It is in this context that America began to break away from its past and transform into a more modern era. While
World War II greatly stimulated America’s economy by creating millions of jobs and nearly wiping out unemployment. Due to high levels of industrial outs, wages were also increased. Since WWII caused the economy to grow rapidly, things started to change within American society. WWII had a major influence on changing American society because the growth it caused in the economy allowed African Americans and women to seek new opportunities.
Many individuals/Scholars tend to characterize the 1950s as a time of conformity, prosperity, & solidarity. While the 1960s was viewed as the decade of pandemonium, chaos & rebellion. These descriptions of both decades may be accurate. But many argue that there is a correlation between the two periods.
In the 1920’s, America reached its highest standard of living. American citizens were making more money, working less, spending more time on leisure activities, and buying expensive items, such as cars. A middle class America was developing, suburbs were constructed, and the new workweek was shortened to five days a week. Despite this boom of prosperity, the changes in America from 1920 to 1945 were primarily detrimental. The United States began the 20th century on excess, but this excess eventually overflowed and left America high and dry. The sudden boom of modernization led to a revolt against modernity, the overzealous prohibition movement caused more problems than it solved, and the precipitous rise of consumer culture led to the stock
The United States had appeared to be dominated by consensus and conformity in the 1950s. The fifties were the decade of reform to the better led by president Eisenhower. The economy was booming. Further, there was a rise in consumerism which resulted in a domino effect on the economy. On the other hand, issues arose during that time as well, such as the fear of communism. Additionally, disagreements and rebellions. The 1950s was characterized as a prosperous and conformist for several reasons. For instance, the development of the suburbs. The fifties was a period of civil rights groups, feminism, and change.
The roaring 1920s earned its name for the enormous prosperity and lively culture it witnessed. In the post war society, the American industry was in need for new markets as its capacity had increased significantly, which resulted in the flourishing of mass production, mass consumption economy. While arguably a stepping stone to the following Great Depression, the rise of consumerism during the era did help raise the living standard of many Americans and bring enormous benefits to investors and had remained one of the most prominent quality of American economy ever since.
The 1920s and the 1950s were times of substantial growth and economic prosperity. The two decades led to historical breakthroughs as well as setbacks; they are imperative to the history of the United States. Consumerism and innovations had a large role throughout the time periods. While the decades were similar in heightened consumerism, they each affected Americans and their ideology regarding freedom differently.
Social and Economic life in the early twentieth century was improved by the new industries. The number of consumer products went up.There were more products being created and when there more products to buy the stores made more money and when a product is being bought there needs to be more of that product made.Factory workers had to work longer hours which means they made more money which also means they would have more to spend. Some of the new products they were creating were indoor plumbing, hygiene products, electric irons, vacuums, washing machines, and refrigerators.Ford's
Mass consumerism in the United states ignited during the so called Roaring Twenties. As a result of industrialization, manufacturing goods was even easier and faster than in all of human history. Companies could pump out canned and packaged foods, toys, accessories, and clothing at a rate ten times of what
The sixties was a decade unlike any other. Baby boomers came of age and entered colleges in huge numbers. The Civil Rights movement was gaining speed and many became involved in political activism. By the mid 1960s, some of American youth took a turn in a “far out” direction. It would be the most influential youth movement of any decade - a decade striking a dramatic gap between the youth and the generation before them. The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage, written by Todd Gitlin, explains the rebellious youth movement, highlighting activist group, “Students for a Democratic Society,” the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights Movement. While some of the youth became politically active, others escaped into the counterculture – disbanding their faith in government and the ideals