research

Running head: 1950’S AMERICA 1

Signature Assignment: 1950’s America

West Coast University

This study source was downloaded by 100000764757725 from CourseHero.com on 10-18-2021 11:26:30 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/55624429/HUM370-Signature-Assignment-1950s-Americadocx/

Th is

stu dy

re so

ur ce

w as

sh ar

ed v

ia C

ou rs

eH er

o. co

m

1950’S AMERICA 2

Abstract

This paper will explain certain aspects of America’s culture in the 1950’s. Some of these aspects

include cultural values, artistic contributions, religion, sex/gender roles, and many more. It will

expand upon how one would assimilate into this culture and what actions they would take in

order to achieve assimilation.

This study source was downloaded by 100000764757725 from CourseHero.com on 10-18-2021 11:26:30 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/55624429/HUM370-Signature-Assignment-1950s-Americadocx/

Th is

stu dy

re so

ur ce

w as

sh ar

ed v

ia C

ou rs

eH er

o. co

m

1950’S AMERICA 3

Signature Assignment: 1950’s America

American culture was quite different in the 1950’s compared to how it is now. The 1950’s

showed many of America’s greatest achievements, some of which include a strong military and a

booming economy. Although this era came with many successes, it was also a time of conflict for

our great nation such as the Civil Rights Movement which marked a major endeavor against

racism and discrimination in the everyday American Life.

The 1950’s in the United States of America was a major point of wealth in many aspects

of culture. The post-war society led to many “booms” such as the “baby boom.” The baby boom

in the United States was an “increase in the birth rate between 1946 and 1964,” (Britannica,

2009). One of the main reasons to this sudden increase in birth rate was the end of World War II.

The war prevented many couples from having children and the end of the war allowed people the

opportunity to have the children they wanted before the war and so the majority of couples took

advantage of this which led to the “baby boom.” The population of the “baby boomer”

generation reached to over 75 million which allowed them to have a huge impact on the nation’s

culture.

As states before this era was a time of prosperity for the citizens of the United States. It

was somewhat of an epitome of the American Dream. People enjoyed a booming economy

which led to the increase in housing, education, and consumerism. In regards to whether or not

the culture of this time was more so individualistic or collectivistic, many people would argue

either way. In a sense it was both individualistic and collectivistic. The society of the 1950’s was

individualistic in the sense that, “the key to success and happiness lies in assuming self control,

establishing goals for the self, and striving to become a socially cooperative and ‘mature’

individual, (Thomson, 1992). With that being said, individuality was a prime factor in the 1950’s

This study source was downloaded by 100000764757725 from CourseHero.com on 10-18-2021 11:26:30 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/55624429/HUM370-Signature-Assignment-1950s-Americadocx/

Th is

stu dy

re so

ur ce

w as

sh ar

ed v

ia C

ou rs

eH er

o. co

m

1950’S AMERICA 4

because after the war, many people decided to act on the many freedoms in which America has

established for its people since the dawn of this country. The factor of collectivism comes into

play in the sense that American people as a whole came together and embraced their patriotism.

This sense of pride also came from the results of the war.

Many things were changing in the 1950’s in America, especially with the new generation

of baby boomers and their parents becoming more of a part of society after World War II. One of

these things would be the rise of Rock ‘n Roll. Many American citizens gravitated towards this

genre which helped build a connection between the whites and the blacks which had many racial

tensions during that time. Some artists that became prominent of that time were Elvis Presley,

Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Pop music as well was very prominent in this era. Some

successful artists that could be named would be Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Ella

Fitzgerald. Another genre of music that saw an increase in interest was country music. Some

artist names in which many American people enjoyed during the fifties was Johnny Cash, Patsy

Cline, and Gene Autry. The last genre that will be mentioned is Rhythm and Blues, also known

as R&B. This genre of music stemmed from the popularity of jazz music from the 1940’s. Some

notable artists of Rhythm and Blues music would be Ray Charles, Lloyd Price, and The Drifters.

Music has always influenced society and vice versa, which is why the music of this time was

especially important and symbolic of how 1950’s culture was.

The values of this time era were quite different due to the rise of Rock and Roll and the

fruits of the post war booms. Due to the financial boom, many American citizens had an increase

in income allowing them to enjoy more materialistic luxuries. A lot of this allowed the popular

culture to influence the majority of Americans alongside with the invention of television. With

this in mind, the media was able to reach the average American citizen through the comfort of

This study source was downloaded by 100000764757725 from CourseHero.com on 10-18-2021 11:26:30 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/55624429/HUM370-Signature-Assignment-1950s-Americadocx/

Th is

stu dy

re so

ur ce

w as

sh ar

ed v

ia C

ou rs

eH er

o. co

m

1950’S AMERICA 5

their home without much effort on either part. The influence of music, specifically Rock and Roll

stemmed from the music genre of Rhythm and Blues. Themes of this music were very popular

among the younger community. Some of these themes emphasized young love but more

importantly the rebellion against those with higher power. This goes hand in hand with the Civil

Right’s Movement which challenged those in authority in order to have equal rights for all

citizens of America.

Religion in the United States during the 1950’s thrived due to many reasons. The post

war booms also included an expanding variety of religions in which, “would appeal to different

kinds of people. Before the war, organized religion was much more restricted,” (Tucker, 1997).

In the 1950’s “church membership grew at a faster rate than the population, from 57 percent of

the U.S. population in 1950 to 63.3 percent in 1960” (Tucker, 1997). But with growth, comes

conflict. Such conflicts would consist of: “Catholic vs. Protestant, ‘high’ vs. ‘low’ culture,

mainstream vs. underground, liberal vs. evangelical” (Tucker, 1997). Towards the end of the

decade, the noise and growth of religion died down as the generation of baby boomers were on

the rise and had their minds elsewhere.

Post-war gender roles in the 1950’s were the basic nuclear family expectations. Women

who were once put to work while men were off battling in the war, either voluntarily gave up

their careers to keep up the household or they were fired in order to make room in the workforce

for the men returning from war. The percentage of women enrolled into college also declined:

“In 1920 47 percent of college students were women; by 1958 that figure stood at 38 percent

despite the availability of more federal aid to pay for university education” (History, Art &

Archives, 2007). Men on the other hand had the same expectations as before. They were

expected to be the breadwinner for their families in order to provide food, shelter, etc.

This study source was downloaded by 100000764757725 from CourseHero.com on 10-18-2021 11:26:30 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/55624429/HUM370-Signature-Assignment-1950s-Americadocx/

Th is

stu dy

re so

ur ce

w as

sh ar

ed v

ia C

ou rs

eH er

o. co

m

1950’S AMERICA 6

Comparing this to today’s standards, many things have shifted to a more equalized dynamic

between men and women.

In order for one to assimilate and acculturate into this culture of 1950’s America, one

would have to do a few things. Women were expected to stay at home and care for their children

and the household, while men were expected to make some sort of income in order to provide for

his family. Popular culture also was hugely influential during this time, so one would have to

become well versed in the trends going on during this time period which includes staying up to

date with the media via television, political movements, music, etc. But most of all, a huge sense

of patriotism was necessary especially after World War II showcasing the United States of

America’s great military power.

All in all, the United States in the 1950’s was very much a different time than the United

States that we live in now. Men and women have different expectations and are held to different

and more equal standards now, and conformity is not a main priority. Although patriotism is still

a key factor to American citizens, the majority of the population now have a more individualistic

mindset. Throughout all of these changes to the U.S. society and culture, it has only made this

country greater and will continue to culturally develop as time passes.

This study source was downloaded by 100000764757725 from CourseHero.com on 10-18-2021 11:26:30 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/55624429/HUM370-Signature-Assignment-1950s-Americadocx/

Th is

stu dy

re so

ur ce

w as

sh ar

ed v

ia C

ou rs

eH er

o. co

m

1950’S AMERICA 7

References

Britannica, T. E. (2019, May 08). Baby boom. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/science/baby-boom

Editors, H. (2010, June 17). The 1950s. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/cold-

war/1950s

Pearson, S. (n.d.). Music Played in the 1950's Popular Music From the 50s. Retrieved from

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/50smusic.html

Popular culture and mass media in the 1950s. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/postwarera/1950s-america/a/popular-

culture-and-mass-media-cnx

Postwar Gender Roles and Women in American Politics. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/WIC/Historical-Essays/Changing-

Guard/Identity/

The 1950s – Powerful Years for Religion. (2012, April 04). Retrieved from

https://news.usc.edu/25835/The-1950s-Powerful-Years-for-Religion/

Thomson, I. T. (1992, September). Individualism and Conformity in the 1950s vs. the 1980s.

In Sociological Forum (Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 497-516). Kluwer Academic Publishers-Plenum

Publishers.

This study source was downloaded by 100000764757725 from CourseHero.com on 10-18-2021 11:26:30 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/55624429/HUM370-Signature-Assignment-1950s-Americadocx/

Th is

stu dy

re so

ur ce

w as

sh ar

ed v

ia C

ou rs

eH er

o. co

m

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)