Unit 9: The 1950s Vocab

Consumerism

A social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts, prevalent in the 1950s as post-war prosperity increased disposable incomes.

Franchises

A system where private businesses are allowed to operate using the branding and business model of an established company, which grew significantly in the 1950s, leading to the proliferation of fast-food chains and retail stores.

Beatniks

A social and artistic movement of the 1950s characterized by nonconformity and rejection of conventional societal norms, often associated with literature, jazz, and a bohemian lifestyle.

Suburb

Residential communities that developed rapidly in the 1950s, often characterized by single-family homes, and symbolized the post-war ideal of family life.

Multinational Corporations

Large companies that operate in multiple countries, which became more prominent in the 1950s as global trade expanded and businesses sought new markets.

Baby Boom

A significant increase in birth rates following World War II, particularly in the late 1940s and into the 1950s, leading to a demographic shift.

Conformity

The tendency to align attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors with the norms of a group, prevalent in 1950s America as societal expectations pushed for uniformity in lifestyle.

Generation Gap

The differences in opinions and attitudes between one generation and another, which became increasingly evident in the 1950s as the youth began to reject parental norms.

Vaccination

The process of administering vaccines to protect against diseases, which saw increased emphasis in the 1950s with campaigns against polio and other illnesses.

Planned Obsolescence

A policy of producing consumer goods that are designed to be obsolete or unusable after a certain period, which became a common practice in the 1950s as companies sought to maximize profits through repeat sales.

White-Collar Jobs

Occupations that typically involve working in offices and are associated with managerial and professional tasks, which expanded in the 1950s due to economic growth and the rise of service industries.

Affluent

Having a great deal of money; wealthy, a term used to describe the growing middle class in the 1950s as many families experienced new economic prosperity.

Sputnik

The first artificial Earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the beginning of the space race and substantially influencing American education and technology.

Censorship

The suppression or prohibition of speech or writing deemed objectionable, which was a concern in the 1950s amid the rise of Cold War tensions.

Union Shops

Workplaces where union membership is a requirement for employment, which had significant implications during the labor movements of the 1950s.