American Society in the 1950's

The GI Bill of Rights

• only applied to those men ages 18-25

• helped veterans by providing benefits such as loans for building homes and unemployment payments if they could not find work

• only helped around 2 million veterans and did not make that much of a difference on society

T or F: The American economy shifted away from consumer goods during the 1950's.

• True

• False

Which of the following was a major contributor to the migration of people to the Sunbelt?

• fear of Soviet attacks on NYC and Washington D.C.

• interstate highways

• growth of the computer and internet

• air conditioning

T or F: The baby boom was a period of rapid growth in the U.S. birth rate as seen by 25 million + births from 1946 to 1952.

• True

• False

TV programs in the 1950's often

• gave equal air time to minority groups

• did not use advertising via commercials

• showed families with the father as the breadwinner and the mother as the homemaker

• started what became known as "reality" tv

The Interstate Highway Act

• was passed by President Truman in order to connect Washington D.C. to major cities in the northeast

• was passed in order to connect the major cities as well as provide easier transportation for the military

• developed the need for states to create tollways and toll bridges

• was partially funded by the Canadian government in order to connect he two countries

How many Americans moved to the suburbs from 1940 to 1960?

• 25 million

• 10 million

• 40 million

• 80 million

The rise of the "car culture" led to the

• depreciation of the price for cars

• American public being even more segregated

• spread of fast-food restaurants, hotel chains, and drive-in movie theaters

• decline of shopping malls

During the 1950's. American consumers

• purchased labor-saving appliances, usually on credit

• had less money to spend

• did not appreciate the rise of commercial advertising

Who authored the book "Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care", which many parents bought in order to get expert advise on raising children?

• Rachel Robinson

• Billy Graham

• Martin Luther King

• Benjamin Spock