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  • Tag Archives: World War II Facts for Kids

    An Independent Country, Late 20th Century

    The 1950s: Peace and Prosperity

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    The end of World War II brought new financial opportunities to many American families. During the war, men and women had been paid high wages working in factories and other industries. They saved most of the money they earned during the war and were now ready to spend.

    Television advertisements introduced Americans to new, exciting products. People had more time for entertainment, and after the hard years of the Great Depression and World War II, they were ready to relax.

    Fun Facts

    • Television became a huge influence during the 1950s. Almost every family owned a television set and enjoyed watching programs like Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, and Leave It to Beaver. Television shows influenced popular culture more than almost anything else.
    • When soldiers came home from the war and started families, they had a hard time finding homes. A housing shortage spurred a huge building trend. Thousands of Americans left the cities and country to move to suburbs, small neighborhoods near the edge of larger cities.
    • For many years, debt was seen as a bad thing. In the 1950s, using credit to make purchases became more acceptable. The GI Bill gave veterans low-interest loans to buy houses or go to college.
    • Fads developed and spread quickly through television commercials. Barbies became popular toys that children still play with today. Hula hoops, bubble gum, and coonskin caps were other fads of the 1950s. Girls began wearing blue jeans and ponytails. Boys wore blue jeans with white t-shirts.
    • Teenagers loved listening and dancing to the new music, “rock and roll.” Singers like Elvis Presley, Debbie Reynolds, and Pat Boone rose to stardom. People loved going to drive-in movie theaters, as well as indoor theaters. The Sound of Music was a favorite movie.

    Vocabulary

    1. Fad: something that becomes very popular and then usually fades away
    2. Suburb: neighborhoods that lie in between rural areas and larger cities
    3. Veteran: someone who has served in the military

    Questions and Answers

    Question: Were the 1950s a peaceful time?

    Answer: Most people view the 1950s as a peaceful, idyllic time. More people than ever before could afford a new home and car (the American Dream). Their children played in safe neighborhoods and went to new schools. It was a time of great growth for America. During the 1950s, people were very interested in science too. This interest fueled new innovations, but also trickled down to everyday life. For example, women became very interested in using packaged, scientific food products, such as cake mixes, gelatin, and frozen dinners.

    An Independent Country, Late 20th Century

    A Man on the Moon and Other Achievements

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    During World War II, rapid scientific and technological advances helped win the war. These advances, such as nuclear power, had the potential to both benefit and harm society. In general though many people were excited about the possibilities these new ideas seemed to create.

    Fun Facts

    • In 1961, a Russian cosmonaut orbited around the earth. The U.S. scrambled to catch up with the Soviet Union’s space program, sending John Glenn, Jr. into space in 1962. On July 20, 1969, Apollo astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr. made history when they walked on the moon. Over 600 million people around the world watched the lunar landing on television.
    • Nuclear power was used to create the atomic bomb and could also be used to make other devastating nuclear weapons. This same power could provide inexpensive electricity. The first nuclear electric plant opened in Shippenport, Pennsylvania.
    • Computers took over the jobs many people previously did. For example, in factories, computers could run the machines that assembled cars. These technologies allowed products to be made more quickly and cheaply, but they forced thousands of people to find new jobs.
    • New technologies changed the way food is produced. New packaged convenience foods, such as frozen meals or cake mixes, became popular. More than half the foods available in 1970 did not even exist in 1950, according to the Children’s Encyclopedia of American History by David C. King. Farming even changed. Instead of small, family-owned farms, most farms were and are owned by large corporations. These farms rely on large, specialized equipment, fertilizers, insecticides, and hybrid seeds to produce reliable and consistent crops.

    Vocabulary

    1. Lunar: related to the moon
    2. Convenience food: a food that is already prepared and can be reheated quickly
    3. Specialized: something that has a specific, limited purpose

    Questions and Answers

    Question: Were Americans afraid of the new technologies?

    Answer: Most people felt excited and enthused by technological advances, similar to the excitement and energy people felt during the Industrial Revolution. Similar to the shock and disappointment people felt after the sinking of the Titanic, though, we have since learned that technology has its limitations.

    Learn More

    Visit NASA to see photos of the first moon landing.

    An Independent Country, Late 20th Century

    The 1960s: Big Cultural Changes

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    During the 1960s, many families became more prosperous than ever before. They had good jobs and could afford to buy comfortable homes and cars. After the hard times of the Great Depression and World War II, older people appreciated the prosperity they (and their parents) had worked so hard to achieve.

    The teenagers and young adults of this time saw things differently. They heard about the poverty and racism some people experienced. They saw their parents’ generation as greedy and materialistic. Many young people rebelled against their parents’ values. This breakdown between parents and children became known as the generation gap.

    Fun Facts

    • The younger generation referred to the older generation and especially authority figures as “The Establishment.” They believed The Establishment was responsible for the country’s problems.
    • As the young people rejected their parents’ values, they adopted a counter-culture lifestyle. Many dropped out of school, marched in antiwar demonstrations, or traveled the country attending music festivals.
    • Some moved to counter-culture communities, such as Berkeley, California or Greenwich Village in New York. Drug and alcohol abuse was a common part of the counter-culture lifestyle.
    • Artists like Andy Warhol and folk singers, such as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Peter, Paul, and Mary, became popular. These singers often sang about peace and love.
    • Before the 1960s, people believed that married couples and families created strong, stable societies. During the 1960s, young people chose not to get married. Instead, they lived together or moved freely from one partner to another.

    Vocabulary

    1. Prosperity: To enjoy comfort and abundance
    2. Reject: to dismiss or turn away from
    3. Counter-culture lifestyle: a lifestyle that goes against the prevailing cultural norms

    Questions and Answers

    Question: Did the 1960s change America?
    Answer: The 1960s drastically altered American family life. This generation rejected traditional family relationships, religion, work ethic, and education ideas. Many of the ideas and values that are part of today’s culture began in the 1960s.

    Learn More

    Learn more about 1960s culture at PBS.

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