The period that followed the end of the Second World War saw the rise of two new powers, the United States and the Soviet Union. Both had goals of spreading their own government. As the Communism begin to spread throughout the east, the U.S. became more and more convinced that they were trying to take over the world, along with the underlying fear that they already infiltrated the government.
These beliefs culminated into a fear of sticking out and of attracting too much attention. People followed trends. They settled down in their early twenties, they bought a house in a suburb and had two children.
Because this is the time of the Cold War, and it is such a tense and scared atmosphere, the whole country becomes focused on the children they are now raising, because they are the future. People begin to focus on how they are raising their children. Strengthening this focus on the children is growing popularity of Sigmund Freud who wrote about the importance of parents in the lives of children. Anything that went "wrong" (Communism, homosexuality, etc.) with someone, was as a result of one's parents doing something "wrong" (For example, one's mother having a job or anything that will take her out of her correct role of nurturer. An emotionally weak father). Therefore there was stressed importance on gender roles. Because happy families lead to happy and healthy people, which will end communism before it can start.
People also turn increasingly to consumerism because it is is American to do so, because we are a capitalist society. This meant that people were shopping and owning material things, along with the consumption of television and music. It is a period of mass culture.
There is also a greater a emphasis on education, with more growth of completion of high school and greater entry into college. Especially working class and minority students, both groups have greater numbers in high school than ever before.
Finally, it was the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. After all, what good is it to fight a war for freedom, when so many people are being oppressed within your borders? They most famous of these beginning movements was the repealing of segregation in schools with the case of Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954. This incites the beginnings of an organized movements because the tension rise, as people both celebrate and fight the verdict.
These beliefs culminated into a fear of sticking out and of attracting too much attention. People followed trends. They settled down in their early twenties, they bought a house in a suburb and had two children.
Because this is the time of the Cold War, and it is such a tense and scared atmosphere, the whole country becomes focused on the children they are now raising, because they are the future. People begin to focus on how they are raising their children. Strengthening this focus on the children is growing popularity of Sigmund Freud who wrote about the importance of parents in the lives of children. Anything that went "wrong" (Communism, homosexuality, etc.) with someone, was as a result of one's parents doing something "wrong" (For example, one's mother having a job or anything that will take her out of her correct role of nurturer. An emotionally weak father). Therefore there was stressed importance on gender roles. Because happy families lead to happy and healthy people, which will end communism before it can start.
People also turn increasingly to consumerism because it is is American to do so, because we are a capitalist society. This meant that people were shopping and owning material things, along with the consumption of television and music. It is a period of mass culture.
There is also a greater a emphasis on education, with more growth of completion of high school and greater entry into college. Especially working class and minority students, both groups have greater numbers in high school than ever before.
Finally, it was the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. After all, what good is it to fight a war for freedom, when so many people are being oppressed within your borders? They most famous of these beginning movements was the repealing of segregation in schools with the case of Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954. This incites the beginnings of an organized movements because the tension rise, as people both celebrate and fight the verdict.