US W EBQUEST : T HE F IFTIES YOU ARE NOT TO PRINT THIS OUT AT THE LIBRARY

TOPIC #1: The GI Bill of Rights 1. What benefits were included with the 1944 Servicemens Readjustment Act (aka The GI Bill of Rights)? The law provided a bonus for the veterans based on the number of days served. They also got more than a $60 allowance and a train ticket home. When unemployed they still received $20 a week.

2. List ways American society would have been impacted by the GI Bill. Veterans began receiving money while unemployed which was based on the amount of days they served. People had found it hard to make a living before and now bonuses were being handed out. Now society was mainly focused on ending the social and economic struggles. (The bill included education and home loan benefits for familiesnow college is possible).

3. How did the GI Bill contribute to Americas post-war economic expansion?

The bill was seen as a genuine attempt to thwart a looming social and economic crisis. Some saw inaction as an invitation to another depression.

TOPIC #2: Truman and the Election of 1948: An unforeseen victory? 4. Despite a booming economy (and producing 50% of the worlds total output), the USA still had labor unrest/strikes after the Second World War. In fact, this was a one reason why Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act (1947). Research this legislation and then answer: how did the Taft-Hartley Act affect the power of labor unions? It allows the president to appoint a board of inquiry to investigate union disputes when he believes a strike would endanger national health or safety, and obtain an 80-day injunction to stop the continuation of a strike. It declares all closed shops illegal and permits union shops only after a majority of the employees vote for them. It forbids jurisdictional strikes and secondary boycotts and forbids unions from contributing to political campaigns.

5. What policies were included with Trumans Fair Deal? He recommended that all Americans have health insurance, that the minimum wage be increased, and that, by law, all Americans be guaranteed equal rights. Truman also proposed the Fair Employment Practices Act, which would outlaw racial and religious discrimination in hiring 6. The cartoon (at right, Cannon to the Left, Cannon to the Right) refers to the Election of 1948. Which party/leader represented the Third Party? Which party/leader represented the Southern Revolt? (Hint/Note: They are not the same!) Third Party: Henry Wallace Progressive party Southern Revolt: Strom Thurmond Dixiecrats TOPIC #3: The Post-War Baby Boom 7. Define: the Baby Boom. How many baby boomers were there? There are two possible reasons for the baby boom. Some say that we were just trying to outnumber the communists by having more and more children and others say it was more about our want to be normal. By the beginning of the so called baby boom there were another 3.8 million babies born. By the end of the baby boom there had been 76.4 million babies. 8. What year was the peak of the baby boom? What might help to explain this? The year 1957 had the most babies born out of all the other year included in the baby boom. This can be explained by what was going on at this time periodwar had ended and families were being reunited. 9. In what way did Jonas Salk contribute to the lives of children? Salk from a very young age was determines to help children succeed and make their lives easier. He went to college and became interested in medical science where he went on to invent to the polio vaccine. 10. If the US population was 130 million in 1940 and grew to 165 million by 1955, what is the percentage increase of the population? ____79________% 11. Analyze the Herblocks cartoon (Be Sure To Give Mine Special Attention, at right), placing it within the context of the 1950s. In this image the Teacher is sitting in a chair that says there is a shortage of teachers and there are many kids in the room due to the baby boom

12. List at least 2 ways (per category) the Baby Boom/Baby Boomers impacted a. Education? -There are greater opportunities for education due to the bill. -However with the great increase of babies and therefore children there are way to many children per teacher. b. The Economy?
Interested in childrens toys of the 50s? Check out this link. . .and watch the ads for new toys!

-Bonuses are being issued to workers -Economic problems are finally getting the attention they deserve with the end of the war. c. Society?
(Consider both the Suburbs and Boomer Market as well as the Baby Boomer Counterculture piece at this link)

-populations are increasing greatly with the baby boom and families all quickly running out of the necessities that they need. -Houses became a more reasonable idea in terms of living than renting an apt. in the city.
Think outside the box. . .and check out what shows played on the television box during the 50s. Click on this link!

TOPIC #4: Levittown, USA 13. What was the average cost for homes in America during the 1950s?
specific link to home prices for you!)

(Here is a

Homes varied in cost, with many in the high $20,000 or low $30,000 range. These were considered some of the finest homes of the times and were located near schools, a garden park and other local conveniences. 14. How did Levitt and Sons help to make homes more affordable? Levitt and Sons continued to purchase land and build new homes throughout the Depression. With each new development, their construction methods became more and more efficient. Returning servicemen were entitled to low-interest, insured "GI Loans," which would make the new Levitt homes easily affordable and, therefore, highly attractive. 15. How much did Levitt and Sons charge for their homes?
(Look for the ad on the linked page!)

Larger and more modern houses, called "ranches" were put for sale at $7,990 16. Why might a Levittown be the perfect setting for Sloan Wilsons best-selling book, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit? (Tip: This question requires you to research the topic and meaning of Wilsons book and then apply it to your understanding of Levittown!.) It would be a perfect setting because the houses were inexpensive mass-produced homes for veterans and their families which would fit the characters of the story perfectly. 3

TOPIC #5: Disneyland 17. Why was Disneyland's construction put on hold and relocated from its original 8 acre site in Burbank? World War II put the plans on hold. During the war, Walt had time to come up with new ideas, and creations for his magical park. It was soon clear that 8 acres wouldn't be enough. 18. Why did Walt Disney see the area of the park known as "Main Street, USA" to be so important? Walt wanted to relive the typical turn of the century city Main Street 19. The Disneyland theme park is divided into different park areas. About what park area did Walt Disney say, All of us have a cause to be proud of our country's history, shaped by the pioneering spirit of our forefathers. . .Our adventures are designed to give you the feeling of having lived. . . during our country's pioneer days? Frontierland

20. About what area of the park did Disney say, right when we do [it], it will be outdated? Tomorrowland 21. Disneyland had a number of issues on opening day (1955). List 2 of these problems! -Most of the tickets were counterfeit. -A 15 day heat wave raised temperatures up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, due to a plumbers strike, few water fountains were operating in the hot weather and asphalt was still steaming. 22. In what way(s) does Disneyland reflect the changing post-war population trend of the USA? It appeals more to the children and families of America. 23. Bonus: Which Disney attractions/rides were based upon popular movies and television shows known to the Americans in the Fifties?

TOPIC #5: Lingo 24. The Fifties came with its own vernacular language (lingo). Define the following words: a. Bent Eight = 4

b. Duck Butt = c. Fream = d. In Orbit = e. Reds = f. Beatnik =

YOU ARE NOT TO PRINT THIS OUT AT THE LIBRARY

1950s References/Websites to Consider

On the GI Bill: http://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/history.htm http://www.history.com/topics/gi-bill http://www.history.com/videos/joseph-heller-on-the-gi-bill#joseph-heller-on-the-gi-bill On the Truman, the Taft-Hartley Act and the Election of 1948: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1667.html http://www.history.com/topics/taft-hartley-act http://vi.uh.edu/pages/buzzmat/tafthartley.html http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/modern/jb_modern_fairdeal_1.html http://www.historynet.com/american-history-harry-truman-and-the-1948-us-presidential-election.htm http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h898.html http://www.history.com/topics/elections-1948 On Baby Boomers and their impact: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2061.html http://www.history.com/topics/baby-boomers On Levittown: http://tigger.uic.edu/~pbhales/Levittown.html http://www.levittownhistoricalsociety.org/history.htm On Disneyland: http://www.justdisney.com/disneyland/history.html

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/experience/overview?name=1955LandingPage&bhcp=1 http://www.disneydreamer.com/history/disneyland.htm http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/fr_CA/experience/overview?name=1955LandingPage http://www.disneymouselinks.com/disneylandhistory.aspx The Fifties. . .and Slang: http://www.history.com/topics/1950s http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decade50.html http://www.fiftiesweb.com/fashion/fads.htm http://www.fiftiesweb.com/fashion/slang.htm http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1950s.html

YOU ARE NOT TO PRINT THIS OUT AT THE LIBRARY