Name: ______
Period: ______
The 1950s:
Postwar Confidence and Anxiety
Chapter 17 Overview
Section 1
1. Witness History, page 546 – What was one benefit of the G.I. Bill?
2. Chart, page 547 – Approximately what year did the birthrate of the Baby Boom reach its height?
3. Infographic, pages 548-549 –
a. How many women were in the workforce by 1950?
b. What was the increase in the U.S. GNP between 1945 and1960?
4. Key Term (in boldface), page 549 – Define the term Taft-Hartley Act and its effects.
5. Presidential Election of 1948, page 550 – What is the discrepancy between the newspaper headline and the election results? How did this happen?
Section 2
6. Witness History, page 552 – What is Levittown? How did the advertisements attract homebuyers?
7. Car Ownership, page 553 – What was the increase in car ownership between 1950 and 1965?
a. Do you think increased car ownership may have had any negative effects? Explain.
8. Infographic, page 554-555- Name 2 to 3 characteristics about the new suburban lifestyle that reminds you of your life today.
9. Migration Patterns, page 556 – Name two significant population shifts in the 1950s.
10. Key Term (in boldface), page 558 – Define the term franchise business and give one example.
11. Education is Democratized, (subsection of reading) page 559 - How was higher education made more accessible to more Americans?
Section 3
12. Witness History, page 560 – Steven Spielberg talked about the craze over Davy Crockett when he was in third grade. What are some fads that are popular today that you think will fade away at some point?
13. Key term, page 560 – Define the term Median Family Income. What was the amount during the 1950s?
14. Photo, page 561 – Based on the photo and caption, what was expected of a 1950s homemaker?
15. History Makers, page 562 – Why was Jonas Salk one of the most important figures of the 1950s?
16. Infographic, page 563 – How did American culture change due to the Baby Boom?
17. A New Entertainment, page 564 – What were some popular TV shows in the 1950s?
Quick Study Guide, page 572
18. Looking at the web titled “Life in America, 1950s,” which characteristics of the 1950s do you think still apply to today’s United States?