Happy+Days?

Click here for videos: Mr. Taft's Happy Days Page That's a great question, don't you think? We will answer it in class on Thursday in a (hopefully) fun activity, but to prepare, we should do a little background reading and watching. R**ead "The Fifties" in __Creating America__ (28-3, pp. 800-803), read over the ABC-CLIO links posted below, and w****atch the videos below.** 
 * FOR HOMEWORK, CREATE A LIST (IN YOUR ONLINE NOTEBOOK) OF POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES CONCERNING LIFE IN THE FIFTIES FOR CLASS ON THURSDAY. WE WILL USE IT TO WRITE SOME DIALOGUE ...**

[|The Cold War at Home] / [|The Economy Booms] / [|The Sky is the Limit] / [|Boom-Time for Babies and House] The Fifties Were Happy Days

-The minimum wage was increased -New government programs were passed; expansion of Social Security; Department of Health, Education and Welfare; Highway Act.. -The economy was booming because of many newly released goods. These goods caused the advertising industry to boom as well. Due to 28 million new citizens, US cities grew larger and industry boomed. Due to the booming economy, more people were getting married and having children; resulting in a baby boom. - By 1952, 65% of the world's manufactured goods were produced by the US -Housing Industry and automotive industry boomed. -There was a lot of new American pop culture; TV, Rock 'n' Roll, Willie Mays.. -Lots of important space and medical advancements; NASA, polio vaccine

The Fifties Were Not Happy Days

Nearly 1/5 of all Americans lived in poverty City life deteriorated, as fewer people remained to pay taxes for important urban services. Illegal immigration from Mexico increased considerably, and all immigrants faced difficult working conditions and low wages. Fear of communism pervaded the lives and mindsets of the American people, and domestic insecurity gradually arose. -African Americans and other minorities were not involved in the "Happy Days" and prosperity of the fifties.