Canadian Culture in the 1950s:

A Changing World

Transformation to a Consumer Society

Economy After World War II Switch to a consumer society from a military society Consumer confidence increases

American Investments in Canadian Economy

Greatly enhances the Cdn. Economy The U.S.A. was more willing to invest in Canada than Conservative Canadians The Branch Plant System 307 set up between 1946 and 1953 Owned and operated by parent firms in the U.S.A. New jobs and products created

However
Profits were largely American Most promising managers were sent to the U.S.A. Management decisions were made by the U.S.A. SO Canadians begin to worry that we are being controlled too much by foreign (American) investment.

The Television and Americanization

Many Canadians lived close to the U.S. border so they could pick up their signals Canadians enjoyed much of the same shows as the Americans did.

Those shows include:

For Your Viewing Pleasure

An Ideal Family

Government and the CBC

1948 CBC gets money to build a national and distinctly Canadian television service Helped link Canadians from coast to coast Wide range of programming: popular and cultural Many Canadians who started at the CBC went on to greater success in the U.S.A.

Why does all of this happen?

The Baby Boom

A sustained birth rate occurs in the post WWII period Statistically evident as a peak in birth curves

Characteristics of the Boom

1. Period of mixed emotions due to Cold War fears and economic prosperity. 2. Automobile becomes symbol of mobility and success. 3. Planned suburban communities provide a less crowded lifestyle. 4. New consumer goods are available for purchase.

How Did This Change Things?

Boomers needed lots of different things to support their numbers like: - schools need to be built to make up for a shortage - hospitals - shopping facilities - playgrounds - community centres - universities - colleges - churches - neighbourhoods/housing - healthcare for aging Boomers

The Age of the Suburbs

With millions of cars produced and used in the 1950s, came congestion Urban planners searched for a solution and came up with public transit TTC is officially opened up in 1954 Planned communities are developed and are built along the subway line

What was a suburb like?

Lots of space not congested Lots of amenities like libraries, community centres, malls etc. Millions opted for this lifestyle preferring to live in green, open, quiet areas outside of the congested city. Sound Familiar?

What Was Life Really Like in the 1950s?

Homelife and the Suburban Sprawl

The Age of the Teenager

Prior to this time, you were either seen as a child or as an adult. With the high number of young people because of the Baby Boom, the stage of life known as the Teens was created. Teens rebelled against adults and developed their own culture with its own language, music and fashion

What was life like?

Youth between the ages of 13-19 Had more disposable time and income than teens before the war With more post-war prosperity, more youth did not go to work at a young age Many finished high school and went to college or university

What to do with Teenagers?

How to Date

The Generation Gap

Difference between adult and adolescent beliefs and attitudes Teenagers rebelled against a conservative, serious, formal and boring conformist society Ironic because they ended conforming to the expectations of their own group This generation gap still exists today