The society that was the 1940s and 1950s in the United States was an entirely different world than modern day. From the way children were raised to politics and the state of the economy, the differences became more apparent as I interviewed two of my grandparents. The insights I gained from my knowledgeable grandparents allowed me to view the society we are currently living in with a much different, refined point of view.
Biographies
Beginning with my grandfather, Peter Muehr, my mom’s father, I was eager to absorb his viewpoint of the culture in which he was raised. Born on February 16th, 1937, in Racine, Wisconsin, my grandpa had lots to say about his life growing up. Being the oldest of three boys, he set the bar for his younger brothers …show more content…
The 1940s to late 1950s were a time of mixed emotions in the United States, as the Second World War came to an end in 1945. My grandparents were clearly young at the conclusion of the war, so not much content of my interviews consists of WWII. However, the focus of American citizens during the 1940s was on the war. As men were recruited as soldiers, women either took care of their household or worked in factories that manufactured supplies for the war. During the early years of WWII, rationing had a large effect on goods available to U.S. citizens. Ways to escape the stress of war were prevalent during this time, movies being the most popular form of entertainment. Radios were also found within many homes as a way to keep up with the current war news as well as sporting …show more content…
This established a new found independence and optimism for women who didn’t agree with the traditional family dynamic.
Pop culture of this age stimulated a wide array of entertainment options. From Elvis Presley and the rise of rock n’ roll in the music world to the popularity of Marilyn Monroe in the film and fashion industries, there was a great deal of transformation in the way of life within the United States.
The “space race” came into play in the mid to late 1950s. This sparked the beginning of the United States obsession with technology. Part of the reason why the U.S. became so preoccupied with technology at this time was because the U.S. government knew the Soviet Union was developing and testing space satellites, which ultimately lead to the beginning of the Cold War after the Soviets launched Sputnik in 1957, the world’s first space
Biographies
Beginning with my grandfather, Peter Muehr, my mom’s father, I was eager to absorb his viewpoint of the culture in which he was raised. Born on February 16th, 1937, in Racine, Wisconsin, my grandpa had lots to say about his life growing up. Being the oldest of three boys, he set the bar for his younger brothers …show more content…
The 1940s to late 1950s were a time of mixed emotions in the United States, as the Second World War came to an end in 1945. My grandparents were clearly young at the conclusion of the war, so not much content of my interviews consists of WWII. However, the focus of American citizens during the 1940s was on the war. As men were recruited as soldiers, women either took care of their household or worked in factories that manufactured supplies for the war. During the early years of WWII, rationing had a large effect on goods available to U.S. citizens. Ways to escape the stress of war were prevalent during this time, movies being the most popular form of entertainment. Radios were also found within many homes as a way to keep up with the current war news as well as sporting …show more content…
This established a new found independence and optimism for women who didn’t agree with the traditional family dynamic.
Pop culture of this age stimulated a wide array of entertainment options. From Elvis Presley and the rise of rock n’ roll in the music world to the popularity of Marilyn Monroe in the film and fashion industries, there was a great deal of transformation in the way of life within the United States.
The “space race” came into play in the mid to late 1950s. This sparked the beginning of the United States obsession with technology. Part of the reason why the U.S. became so preoccupied with technology at this time was because the U.S. government knew the Soviet Union was developing and testing space satellites, which ultimately lead to the beginning of the Cold War after the Soviets launched Sputnik in 1957, the world’s first space