1950's+Teenagers+WAJZ


 * __ 5 Facts __**

1. A new type of music arose during the 1950s; it was called rock n' roll. This new type of music was aimed towards just teenagers. They could relate to the lyrics in the music because they were about high school sweethearts, crazy parties, hot rods, and most importantly they were sung by other teenagers. This gave them validation that they were part of a new generation. Rock n' roll made people want to dance. One role model that many teenagers looked up to was Elvis, he was known as the king of rock n' roll and for his sex appeal and wild dancing. Adults disapproved of this new type of music, in order to stop them; they enforced new rules and restrictions. For example, at schools dancing to rock n’ roll was banned and the dances were often shut down.

2. In the 1950s, teenagers wanted to have fun and hangout with their friends. They spent their leisure time going to clubs, catching a movie at the drive in, eating some ice cream at the parlor, and shooting pool with their buddies. Many people grew out their hair, wore t-shirts, and jeans; they were called greasers. They drove in hot rods, which were considered extremely dangerous because of a few fatal accidents that happened because of these cars, and motorcycles. Teenagers in the were very defiant during this time period.

3. The teenagers during the 1950s were very rebellious; there was a rise of sexual experimentation and juvenile crime. Juvenile delinquency was a common worry and can be blamed on the up rise of automobiles which allowed teenagers to be free and escape from their controlling parents. This juvenile delinquency did not mean dealing drugs or drive by shootings in a nearby neighborhood but chewing gum in class and talking back to their parents.

4. The 1950s were a time of uniformity for teenagers. At school they were not able to express themselves because of the rule put upon their fashion. This is a leading cause for the rebellious activities that teenagers engaged in during the 1950s. Girls were not allowed to wear pants and boys were banned from wearing jeans and t-shirts. At school, girls had to wear a dress or skirt and boys had to wear a dress shirt and tie. Also, the hair on boys had to be trimmed and no ears showing. Any violation of this could cause them to be expelled from school. This is a leading cause for the rebellious activities that teenagers engaged in during the 1950s.

5. The 1950s is when romance between teenagers began. Previous generations were stuck on the idea of a perfect family. Throughout the 1950s teens began dating and having sex before marriage, even though it frowned upon by their parents and communities. There were punishments if parents found out about such activities, but they continued to do it. Many females began looking up to black rock n’ roll artists which caused a scare for parents because they feared their daughters having an inter-racial relationship.


 * __ 2 Primary Sources __**


 * Board of Education, Buffalo, New York **


 * January 24, 1956 **

//BOYS // ACADEMIC HIGH SCHOOLS AND HUTCHINSON-TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS //Note: // The apparel recommended for boys should be worn in standard fashion with shirts tucked in and buttoned, and ties tied at the neck. Standard of dress for boys, while in school shops or laboratories, should be determined by the school. //GIRLS // ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS
 * Recommended: **
 * 1) Dress shirt and tie or conservative sport shirt and tie with suit jacket, jacket, sport coat, or sweater
 * 2) Standard trousers or khakis; clean and neatly pressed
 * 3) Shoes, clean and polished; white bucks acceptable
 * Not Recommended: **
 * 1) Dungarees or soiled, unpressed khakis
 * 2) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">T-shirts, sweat shirts
 * 3) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Extreme style of shoes, including hobnail or "motorcycle boots"
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Recommended: **
 * 1) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Shirt and tie or sport shirt and tie
 * 2) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sport shirt with sweater or jacket
 * 3) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Standard trousers or khakis; clean and neatly pressed
 * 4) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Shoes, clean and polished; white bucks acceptable
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Not Recommended: **
 * 1) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Dungarees or soiled, unpressed khakis
 * 2) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">T-shirts, sweat shirts
 * 3) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Extreme styles of shoes, including hobnail or "motorcycle boots"
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Recommended: **
 * 1) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Blouses, sweaters, blouse and sweater, jacket with blouse or sweater
 * 2) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Skirts, jumpers, suits or conservative dresses
 * 3) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Shoes appropriate to the rest of the costume
 * <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Not Recommended: **
 * 1) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">V-neck sweaters without blouse
 * 2) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bermuda shorts, kilts, party-type dresses, slacks of any kind
 * 3) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ornate jewelry
 * 4) <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">T-shirts, sweat shirts

During the 1950s the general public was afraid of the up rise of juvenile delinquency in teenagers. The general public encouraged conformity and loyalty to proper social roles in society. On the other hand, they discouraged delinquency and gang behavior in teens. To decrease delinquency in teens, many public schools, like New York academic and vocational high schools shown above, adapted the policy of a dress code. The dress code promoted the wearing of ties and sport coats for boys, while it demoted the wearing of t-shirts and khakis. For girls, the dress code endorsed the wearing blouses, skirts, and dresses, while it denounced the wearing of t-shirts, shorts, and slacks.

[] If the link does not work: 1. Go to Facts on File American History Online in the school library catalog. 2. Type in the search bar, “teenagers” 3. Click Images & Videos 4. Click the third video on the first row; it is called “Teenagers Share a Milkshake”.

The 1950s were a time of experimentation and romance and teenagers did just that. In this video, it shows a boyfriend and girlfriend sharing a milkshake at malt shop. At malt shops, couples listened to rock n' roll and talked with their boyfriend/girlfriend. Many teenagers during this time period went to these malt shops, and other places like drive-in movies, with their significant other after school was finished. Being in a relationship was a new trend that came out during the 1950s, before this, many people only had one relationship and that was when they got married.


 * __ Explain how your research defends the loss of innocence and emergence of identity experienced by many teenagers in the 1950s. __**

The loss of innocence and emergence of identity was experienced by many teenagers during the 1950s. The teenagers during the 1950s were very insubordinate; as a result, there was a drastic rise of sexual experimentation and juvenile crime. A major cause for the up rise of crime was automobiles. Teenagers then wanted to have fun and hangout with their friends. Automobiles allowed them to spend their leisure time going to clubs, catching a movie at the drive in, eating some ice cream at the parlor, and shooting pool with their buddies. The 1950s are when teenagers began to start intimate relationships. Throughout this time period, teens began dating and having sex before marriage, even though it was frowned upon by their parents and communities. In addition to the loss of innocence, the emergence of identity was also experienced by many teenagers during the 1950s. A new type of music genre ascended during the 1950s; it was called rock n’ roll. It was just for the teenagers. They could relate to the songs because they were sung by other teenagers and the lyrics talked about high school sweethearts, crazy parties, and hot rods. Rock n' roll made the teenagers want to dance. Adults disapproved of this new type of music, in order to stop them; they enforced new rules and restrictions; however, the teenagers rebelled and continued to listen. Another way that teenagers in the 1950s began to have an identity was by what they wore. Many boys grew out long hair, wore blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a leather jacket; they became known as “greasers”. This greaser look was created by the "king of rock n' roll", Elvis Presley. On the other hand, girls took up new trends like wearing a dog collar on the right ankle to show that she is single and one on the left ankle to show that she has boyfriend. At school; however, dress codes were <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">implemented to decrease juvenile delinquency. For example, New York academic and vocational schools forced boys to wear dress shirts and ties and girls to wear blouses and skirts. Rock n’ roll and fashion gave teenagers a new identity, while automobiles allowed teenagers to break free from their parents, hang out with friends, and develop intimate relationships. The teenagers of the 1950s were part of a genera <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">tion of new beginnings.

__** Works Cited **__

Board of Education, Buffalo, New York. "Dress Code for High School Students in New York." //American History Online.// Facts On File, Inc. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=E14091&SingleRecord=True>.

"Dress Code for High School Students in New York."// American History Online. // Facts On File, Inc. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=E14091&SingleRecord=True>.

"Fashion Trend for Teenage Girls in the 1950s." //American History Online.// Facts On File, Inc. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=AHI2568&SingleRecord=True>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Goldberg, David E. "teenagers, post–World War II." In Winkler, Allan M., Charlene Mires, and Gary B. Nash, eds. //Encyclopedia of American History: Postwar United States, 1946 to 1968,// Revised Edition (Volume IX). New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2010. //American History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=EAHrIX260&SingleRecord=True>.

Morrison, Craig. "Presley, Elvis." Carlin, Richard, gen. ed. //Rock and Roll,// American Popular Music. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. //American History Online.// Facts On File, Inc. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=APMRR0078&SingleRecord=True>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Teenagers Share a Milkshake." //American History Online.//Facts On File, Inc. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=WPA0534&SingleRecord=True>.

"Teenagers Share a Milkshake." The WPA Film Library. WMV video file. //American History Online.//Facts On File, Inc. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=WPA0534&SingleRecord=True>.