Teens+in+the+'50s+SDAS

=**Teens in the 1950's**=

**Facts:**

 * 1. Due to the baby boom there were many teenagers in this time period. But the social and economic autonomy of these teens changed. There was an increase in domestic unrest characterized by a rise in juvenile crime, sexual experimentation, and a general aura of youthful rebellion. The group that was once known as the "silent generation" was know known as the Beat Generation.**


 * 2. Hollywood filmakers would create teen idols that al the teenagers of the time would try to act and resemble him. His name was James Dean, he rode a motorcycle, he wore leather jackets, had grown his hair out, and displayed an antiheroic mistrust of authority. I thought this was important because teens in the 50's were know to be rebellious and this guy James Dean was the perfect example of that. So after they watched his movies they would try to resemble him. And that caused a commotion because many parents didn't approve of that type of behavior and fashion sense.**


 * 3. A new type of music had emerged in the 1950's. It was called Rock 'n Roll and it drove the teenagers crazy. Before this music came out kids would listen to things that their parents wanted them to listen too. A lot of people say that this music is a reason that the teenagers acted the way they did, because with all music there is dancing. And with this music the dance let the teens express themselves and showed there freedom. That is why parents hated this music because their kids would become more and more rebellious. They hated it so much that they banned Rock on many radio stations and canceled concerts in some cities. Rock 'n Roll is still around and because of those teens being interested in it it is a normal thing for the teens of this generation.**


 * 4. A big thing that teenagers in the 50's did was dating and being in a relationship. Before then it wasn't that big of a thing because parents didn't approve of it. But since they were teenagers and cars were a normal thing for a family to have it made going on dates much easier. Since parents didn't approve of this they tried to make it harder for them to use the car by putting restrictions on it. When they did go on these dates the most popular places they would go were places like ice cream parlors, pizza parlors, drive-ins, bowling alleys, coffee houses and record shops. Also going to school dances or going to a sock hop was another place where teen couples would go. When the couples would say "Going Steady" it meant they were seriously on the path to marriage. Because these teens dated, teens in our generation find dating and being in a relationship a normal thing.**


 * 5. Teenagers had to follow many rules when they went to school. By rules i mean uniforms. The boys had to have a dress shirt, a tie, standard trousers, and shoes. They weren't allowed to where things like t-shirts, stylish shoes, or unpressed khakis. Girls had to where the same uniform in academic and vocational schools. They had to where the same type of uniform as the boys. But the thing was they were restricted to more things like the type of dresses they wore, their jewelry, and wearing a v-neck sweater with out a blouse. So in school they weren't really able to express themselves the way they wanted to. Many people think that could of been a reason of their rebellious attitude.**

**Primary Sources:**
// BOYS // ACADEMIC HIGH SCHOOLS AND HUTCHINSON-TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL 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 1.Dungarees or soiled, unpressed khakis 2.T-shirts, sweat shirts 3.Extreme style of shoes, including hobnail or "motorcycle boots" VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS 1.Shirt and tie or sport shirt and tie 2.Sport shirt with sweater or jacket 3.Standard trousers or khakis; clean and neatly pressed 4.Shoes, clean and polished; white bucks acceptable 1.Dungarees or soiled, unpressed khakis 2.T-shirts, sweat shirts 3.Extreme styles of shoes, including hobnail or "motorcycle boots" // 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 1.Blouses, sweaters, blouse and sweater, jacket with blouse or sweater 2.Skirts, jumpers, suits or conservative dresses 3.Shoes appropriate to the rest of the costume 1.V-neck sweaters without blouse 2.Bermuda shorts, kilts, party-type dresses, slacks of any kind 3.Ornate jewelry T-shirts, sweat shirts
 * Recommended: **
 * Not Recommended: **
 * Recommended: **
 * Not Recommended: **
 * Recommended: **
 * Not Recommended: **

// This letter was addressed by the Board of Education in Buffalo, New York. In this letter it talks about the dress code required in New York High Schools. The reason I chose this was because Teenagers in the 1950's had to follow many rules. And this dress code was a good example of these strict rules they had to follow. For the boys the dress code was different in Academic Schools and Vocational High Schools. For the Girls it was the same in both Academic and Vocational schools. Both Male and females were restricted to many things. //

“But don't you step on my blue suede shoes. You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes.

Well, you can knock me down, Step in my face, Slander my name All over the place.”

// These Lyrics were sung by Elvis Presley, who is currently know as the King of Rock 'n Roll. In the 1950's a new song style came out and it was called Rock 'n Roll. Many teens listened to this music. Adults thought this music would make kids rebellious and rise juvenile activity. So for a while they banned his music of of the air, also they canceled his concerts in some cities. I thought this was important because he talks about blue suede shoes. And in many dress codes those types of shoes were not allowed. //

// - //


 * The research i did shows a lot of the loss of innocence and emergence of identity that teenagers in the 1950's experienced. They did a lot of new things that parents didn't really approve of to help them loss their innocence. They did things like go on dates and listened to the new music that only teenagers like, it was called Rock 'n Roll. The way teens showed of their identity was there style. By style i mean the type of cloths they wore and the way the boys wore there hair, they would grow it out. A lot of boys would try to resemble a teen hollywood actor, James Dean. He was the typical guy that all parents didn't want their kids to be like. This was the age that all the teenagers emerged and broke from the cycle that their parents were putting them in. If it wasn't for them our generation could be completely today.**



**Work Cited:**
"Blue Suede Shoe Lyrics- Elvis Presley." //LyricsFreak//. LyricsFreak, 2010. Web. 13 Nov 2011. .

Goldberg, David. "teenagers, post-World War II." //Facts on File American History Online//. Facts on file, n.d. Web. 14 Nov 2011. .

Douglas, Clayton. "Presley,Elvis." //Facts on File American History Online//. Facts on file, n.d. Web. 14 Nov 2011. .

Bailey, Beth. "Teenage Dating in the 1950s." //The Beat Begins:American in the !950's//. N.p., 2000. Web. 14 Nov 2011. . ||
 * "Dress Code for High School Students in New York." //American History Online//. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE52&iPin=E14091&Sing leRecord=True (accessed November 15, 2011).