Most Americans would argue that there is no definitive set of values they possess. They believe that everyone is unique, so making such generalizations might be wrong and offensive. In fact, it proves that non-conformity and individualism are some of the core American values. Looking back at the history of the United States, it is safe to assume that certain beliefs and traditions disappeared, while others were simply repackaged. Work orientation morphed into a slightly different, more toxic version of itself as consumerism was introduced to the American public in the 1950s. The level of patriotism has decreased after America decided to abandon its tradition of nonintervention and participated in multiple military conflicts. Hence, the first half of the twentieth century became one of the most polarizing periods in U.S. history, shifting the American mindset and values.
Genocides, ethnical killings, and holocausts associated with WWI and WWII cemented American notions of freedom and personal dignity. However, they seemed to apply only to white male Americans as racism, and a quest for global domination led American troops to Japan. Hiroshima and Nagasaki disregarded the concept of the sanctity of human life, in general. Moreover, anti-Japanese propaganda reached its peak.1 Americans condemned Japanese martial traditions and considered them racially inferior as well.
On the other hand, traditional societal roles began to shift. As white men were deployed, more women and people of color became a part of the American workforce. The expansion of gender roles during WWII was inevitable. As a result, women enlisted in the military, worked in the war industry, and provided logistical support for the soldiers. Even though the effects of such liberation were quickly diminished after the wars ended, it gave women the courage to demand change decades later.
The 1950s were a time of a tremendous economic rise, which led to overall financial stability and eventual suburbanization. Social conformity resulted in marriage rates rising.2 Those young couples gave birth to the largest generation in U.S. history, a phenomenon called a ‘baby boom.’ However, stability became the generation’s weakness as the 1950-60s represented unnatural stagnation and conventionality.3 The American tradition of change and non-conformity was threatened. The rise of corporations and white-collar labor meant disciplinary regulations and strict regulations that indirectly affected the daily routines of average American families as well.
The cruelest and most violent century in American history questioned the concepts of freedom and equality of opportunity commonly shared among its citizens (primarily white men). Turmoil and unpredictability of the first five decades of the 1900s resulted in overall stagnation and the rise of consumerism culture. American understanding of its core values adjusted to the realities of that era, while the constant drive for change subsided and stability became a priority.
Bibliography
Corbett, P. Scott, Volker Janssen, John Lund, Todd Pfannestiel, Sylvie Waskiewicz, and Paul Vickery. U.S. History. Houston: OpenStax, 2014. Web.
Bouk, Dan. “Generation Crisis: How Population Research Defined the Baby Boomers.” Modern American History 1, no. 3 (2018): 321–342. Web.
Footnotes
- P. Scott Corbett et al., U.S. History (Houston: OpenStax, 2014), chap. 27, Web.
- P. Scott Corbett et al., U.S. History (Houston: OpenStax, 2014), chap. 28, Web.
- Dan Bouk, “Generation Crisis: How Population Research Defined the Baby Boomers.” Modern American History 1, no. 3 (2018): 322, Web.