Dbq Affluent Society In The 1950

Artem Te. Dr. Plane APUSH 11 April 2024.

To what extent did the “Affluent Society” of the 1950s mark a return to traditional ideas about race, gender, family, and “freedom”?

The concept of the “Affluent Society” in the 1950s marked a time period of extravagant economic growth and prosperity, as well as an insurgence of traditional ideas on race, gender, family, and the overall definition of freedom. Through several accounts, society witnessed several experiences that forced a return to tradition. Widespread racial segregation, return to traditional gender roles, notions of freedom, and the concept of a nuclear family all contributed to the factors that led to the concept of the “Affluent Society”. Race in the 1950s was a crucial element to

The colored couple consisted of a black WWII veteran and his wife. The couple were searching for a house to settle in, and were denied due to their race. This is a clear symptom of the racial discrimination in everyday life that directly affected a veteran; a man who served his country and was willing to lay down his life to the very same people that denied him a home due to his physical appearance. This type of scenario went on until desegregation, which occurred in 1964. Pre-segregated America was a difficult environment for colored people to live in, which was presented in document 1. Document 6 also featured a mix of racial and gender discrimination. The white factory workers were unwilling to work or even speak with colored people at the Detroit foundry, which is a telltale sign of racial bias. Women were harshly discriminated against in the 1950s, despite being a vital factor in keeping America running in World War II. The “Affluent Society” marked a return to traditional roles, which was the image of the nuclear family: a homemaker mother, a working father, and the children. This was a gross return to traditional values in the home life post World War II, as women proved that they could be

These traits were specifically targeted towards women, not according to their expertise, but to their physical appearance and mannerisms. Despite the appearance of Rosies in World War II, women were still deemed unfit for the real workplace environment, only seen as a pretty face in the front office. The concept of the nuclear family was introduced alongside the traditional roles of women, which was strongly promoted in the 1950s. The nuclear family as a concept featured the traditions of men and women in their own roles, as well as having children post World-War II to aid the population growth effort. This period saw a large margin of a rise in suburbanization in the 1950s, as well as the growth of the middle class; this time period was seen as a moment of stabilization and prosperity through many factors. Post-war prosperity brought an economic boom through the introduction of the GI Bill, which benefited veterans economically. Suburbanization was a huge part of the ideal family in the 1950s, in turn the population witnessing a significant shift from cities to suburbs. Document 7 features the ideal nuclear family: the home cook mother, working father, and kids. The song is written to