Were+the+50s+really+happy?


 * __WERE THE 50'S REALLY HAPPY?__**
 * POSITIVE:**

-in the post war period, Americans began to feel more prosperous - with the economy booming, Americans were getting married and having children -the growth of families also made a growth in suburbs -as suburbs grew, car sales also boomed -life in the suburbs was the American Dream -popular magazines, films, and television programs praised women for their roles as home-makers -the advertising industry encouraged customers to join the spending spree -Hollywood was bringing out many new movies, musicals, and romances -There were many famous new shows on tv such as I Love Lucy - Rock n Roll music for example Elvis was very popular at the time -poets and writers -Kennedy was elected: his youthful energy and confidence helped him to win -many technological advances -baby boom -civil rights movement starts


 * NEGATIVE:**

-Not everyone prostered in the 50s. In 1957, nearly one out of every five Americans lived in poverty. -Many of the nation's poorest were in cities. -The forgotten poor were the people left behind as more well-to-do Ameicans headed for the suburbs. Shops also moved to the suburbs. -Fewer people stayed in the city to pay taxes, and most affected were the Africans Americans and Latinos. Many couldn't afford homes in the suburbs. -Immigration from Mexico increased greatly, and many people crossed the border illegally. -The illegal immigrants earned low wages and endured difficult living and working conditions. When the program ended giving them jobs, they were fearful to be sent back to Mexico, so they continued to work for low wages. -Critics worried that Americans were being forced to fit into suburban life, and that in business offices and suburbs, people felt pressured to agree with the beliefs and ideas of the majority. -Women were called "keepers of the suburban dream, but some women didn't like this role. -McCarthy was a prominent person in the 50s, and he criticized Americans. -Names of suspected communists were kept on a "blacklist"