Reading Worksheet, US.

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The Baby Boomers

The term "Baby Boom" is used to iden fy a massive increase in births
following World War II. Baby boomers are those people born worldwide
between 1946 and 1964, the me frame most commonly used to define
them. There are about 76 million boomers in the U.S., represen ng about
29 percent of the popula on. In Canada, they are known as "Boomies;" six
million reside there. In Britain, the boomer genera on is known as "the
bulge."

When World War II ended in 1945, most members of the armed forces came
home in large numbers. To mix millions of young veterans into the
American economy, the government of the US passed the GI Bill of Rights on
June 22, 1944. The GI Bill gave loans for homes and made higher educa on
a reachable goal by giving money to veterans for college. This cri cal new law had a huge impact on the American
economy. The GI Bill helped create the suburbs and educated a genera on of American men.

Before World War II was the era of

the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl.
Children of that era were a genera on
hardened by poverty; millions were deprived
of a home and job. Then they fought the
greatest war in human history, World War II.
A pent-up demand for achieving the
American Dream was partly sa sfied by the
GI Bill. A large por on of returning soldiers
did four things as soon as WWII was over,
they married, started families, went back to
school, and bought their first homes. Jobs,
especially in the northeast and on the coasts,
were plen ful. In 1947, the GI Bill helped more than a million veterans to enroll in college. More than half the na on`s
World War II veterans benefited from the GI Bill.

With veteran’s benefits the young people found suitable housing in the new areas sprawling on the outskirts of
America`s ci es. Documentaries on the topic indicate that the postwar suburban housing boom began in a suburban
"planned community" called “Levi own," in New York and Pennsylvania. Levi own was a massive suburban
neighborhood that featured mass produced houses that
all looked eerily similar. In fact, large-scale, planned
communi es and housing tracts were being built on the
outskirts of all major American ci es, especially in
California.

It was common that the young wives of virtually en re

suburban neighborhoods were pregnant at the same me.
In short order, new schools had to be built. Farm and
ranch land became seas of similar-looking homes.
Sca ered throughout those new communi es were "strip
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malls," businesses lined up in a row along roadsides,
usually in common and architecturally uninspired
buildings fronted by a large parking lot with li le or no
greenery. The suburbs were rela vely safe, and suitable
for children, perhaps, but a breeding ground for
discontentment and mischief among teenagers.

The 1950s were, in some ways, years of

innocence. The Saturday movie ma nee was only 35
cents on the West Coast. The drive-in theater became
part of the young-family social scene, primarily owing to
cheap ckets. The main movie genres were established:
dramas, westerns, horror films, comedies, and
ac on-adventure films. Musicals and science fic on
movies were popular by the 1950s. Westerns were especially popular with families, and many were created specifically
for teenagers. Popular kid shows most o en followed a serial format, appearing in the a ernoon on Saturdays.

The Baby Boom genera on came of age along with television. In the early days of televisions popular kid TV
shows were Captain Kangaroo, Lassie, and Leave it to Beaver. The I Love Lucy show was unique, it was the longest
con nuously running show in television history. Emula ng war me mothers, postwar American moms began to find
jobs outside the home which led to their children not always having a parent at home. Thus, began an age of
discontentment. Living in seemingly boring neighborhoods empty of urban diversity, many children were le to fend for
themselves a er school. They became known as "latchkey kids", because a er school they would have to let themselves
into their house because no one was home. Television became a subs tute parent.

The 1960s was the decade that defined the Baby Boomers. The music, events, and social changes le a
permanent imprint. The Six es were turbulent, owing to the unrest of civil rights marches, “free love," rock music, drug
experimenta on, long hair and disheveled clothes, and the winds of war in Vietnam. California was a magnet for upset
dreamers, o en called "hippies." They came in masses, many having dropped out of school; they came on the bus and
train; they hitch-hiked from all over the US. Such important rock `n roll performers
as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, and
Pink Floyd heavily influenced the mentality of this genera on.

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1. What is the Baby Boom?
A huge and sudden increase in births after WWII.

2. What percentage of the American popula on do the Baby Boomers account for?

29%.
3. What two things did the GI Bill do for veterans?

Gave money to veterans for homes and higher education.

4. What was the genera on like that came before the Baby Boomers?

They were hardened by poverty from the Great Depression.

5. What four things did returning soldiers do as soon as WWII was over?

Soldiers got married, started a family, went to school, and bought a house.

6. Where did the postwar suburban housing boom begin?

Pennsylvania and New York City.

7. Explain what Levi own was.

A town of only suburbs.

8. What was a strip mall?

A building that housed businesses along roadsides with a large parking lot and no greenery
A line of businesses along roadsides with a communal parking lot.
9. What were the suburbs a breeding ground for when it came to teenagers?

Discontentment and mischief.

10. What became part of the family social scene because of cheap cket prices?

Drive in theaters.

11. When did most popular kid shows come on TV?

Early 1950's.

12. What were three popular TV shows from the early days of television?

Captain Kangaroo, Lassie, Leave it to Beaver.

13. What was unique about the show I Love Lucy?

I Love Lucy was the longest running show in history.

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14. What cause children to be le at home without supervision?
Mothers found jobs outside the household.

15. Why were Baby Boomers called “latchkey” kids?

Baby boomers were often left at home without supervision.

16. What became a subs tute parent for Baby Boomers?

Television.

17. What state was a magnet for “hippies”?

California

18. What were the seven bands/ar sts that heavily influenced the Baby Boomers?
The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones