Social Studies Curriculum

United States History

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The American Dream (1945-1960)

One week (Week 11)

Enduring Understandings

The students will understand:

1. The evolving relationship between the economic, political, and social systems created a period of prosperity and conservatism, which included a rising middle class.
2. While this period exuded prosperity and conservatism, many groups were excluded from access to the American Dream ideal.

Essential Questions

1. How do social tensions and their outcomes affect society in the post war era?
2. How does a modern economy emerge post WWII?
3. What are the causes and effects of a changing society and its relationship to cultural movements? 

Objectives

• Understand the new prosperity and rising conservatives.
• Understand the benefits and the costs of pursuing the American Dream.
• Understand how mass culture reflected middle class values and how some subcultures dissented from those values. 
• Survey significant cultural movements (literature, art, music, dance, theater, television, film, sports) and their superstars.
• Define essential terms including:  Beat Generation, rock and roll, anti-materialism, down-size, G. I. Bill of Rights, suburbs, nuclear family, extended family, shell-shock, conglomerate, franchise, conformity, baby boom, leisure class, automobile culture, consumerism.
• Reflect on the involvement of the following:  James Dean, Buddy Holly, J.D. Salinger, Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Kerouac, Dr. Jonas Salk, George Burns.

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