Be Sure To Have A Clear Thesis Statement You Should Source

Be Sure To Have A Clear Thesis Statement You Should Source Your Refer

Be sure to have a clear thesis statement, You should source your references in Chicago Style. Your assignment is to be 5-7 pages. Question: How did the new consumerism society affect democracy, did the nation become more of less democratic during the 1950s? Be sure to the answer the questions throughly, this assignment should include specific examples to prove the thesis statement. Be sure to follow the rules for writing in this History class.

Chicago Manual Styles citations are required for this assignment. Rules to follow 1. Always have a thesis statement 2. Be sure your evidence answers and proves your thesis statement. 3. No 1st or 2nd person writing in a historical assignment. (do not put yourself in the assignment) 4. Past tense writing only!!! History happens in the past so only write in past tense. 5. Be sure to mention the book and document before quoting from it. 6. The name of the book and document should be in italics. 7. When you quote someone be sure to acknowledge who you are quoting, use correct punctuation, close the quote and insert a footnote. 8. Be sure to use Chicago Manual style 9. Standard rules for the assignment: 1 inch margins, Times New Roman, 12 font and double space. 10. Use a header not a heading. Name-Class-Date 11. No contracted words. 12. No abbreviations Use this link as well as credible sources ending in .org, .edu, and .gov for information: make sure to only look at volume 2

Paper For Above instruction

The 1950s in the United States marked a significant period characterized by rapid economic growth, emerging consumer culture, and profound shifts in societal norms. Central to this era was the rise of new consumerism, which not only transformed individual lifestyles but also had profound implications for American democracy. This paper argues that the advent of consumerism in the 1950s played a crucial role in both reinforcing and challenging democratic values, ultimately leading to nuanced changes in the nation's democratic fabric. While consumerism fostered economic prosperity and individual freedoms, it also contributed to social conformity and political passivity, which had mixed effects on democratic participation and governance.

The post-World War II economic boom catalyzed mass production and consumption. According to The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith, the "massive increase in productivity and income during the 1950s enabled Americans to buy a plethora of goods that symbolized material success" (Galbraith, 1958, p. 33). This surge in consumer goods extended to housing, automobiles, and household appliances, thereby fostering a culture of consumption that emphasized individual fulfillment through material wealth. The proliferation of suburban neighborhoods and shopping centers exemplified how consumerism reshaped American social landscapes, promoting a sense of belonging and national progress. Such economic expansion was seen as a freedom in itself—the ability to acquire goods—and was often linked to democratic ideals of liberty and personal choice.

Yet, this consumerist society also had implications for democratic participation. The rise of mass media, especially television, played a pivotal role in shaping public discourse and political engagement. As David Halberstam describes in The Fifties, television became the primary medium for political communication, which both democratized access to information and also tended to promote a culture of celebrity and spectacle. This phenomenon created a paradox: while television purported to foster informed citizenry, it often emphasized entertainment over critical political discussion (Halberstam, 1993). Consequently, political engagement sometimes diminished to passive consumption, reducing the active participation that traditionally characterized American democracy.

The consumer culture also influenced social and political attitudes through the promotion of conformity and consumer identity. Advertisements and mass marketing campaigns reinforced societal norms and expectations, encouraging individuals to conform to a standardized consumer identity. According to The Culture of Affluence by T. J. Jackson Lears, this emphasis on consumer choice resulted in a ‘psychological conformity’ — where individuals sought to express themselves through their possessions but in a way that ultimately reinforced societal conformity (Lears, 1981, p. 45). This phenomenon could be seen as both a form of democratic expression and a constraint—limiting diversity of thought and political dissent.

Furthermore, the economic abundance of the 1950s contributed to a sense of political complacency among many Americans. With rising standards of living, citizens often felt less motivated to scrutinize government policies or engage in civic activism. The media's focus on consumer success, coupled with political stability, created an environment where democratic vigilance waned. Scholars like Robert Caro argue that this complacency facilitated the entrenchment of political inequalities and the quiet erosion of democratic accountability (Caro, 1974). Nevertheless, this period also witnessed significant civil rights struggles, indicating that democratic ideals persisted amidst societal conformity.

In conclusion, the consumerist society of the 1950s had complex and dual effects on American democracy. On the one hand, it expanded economic freedoms, reinforced national identity, and increased access to consumer goods—hallmarks of democratic liberty. On the other hand, it fostered social conformity, media-driven passivity, and complacency, which arguably diminished active democratic participation. Therefore, during the 1950s, the nation experienced both a strengthening and a weakening of democratic principles, revealing the intricate relationship between consumer culture and democratic integrity.

References

• Galbraith, John Kenneth. 1958. The Affluent Society. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
• Halberstam, David. 1993. The Fifties. New York: Villard Books.
• Lears, T. J. Jackson. 1981. The Culture of Affluence. New York: Pantheon Books.
• Caro, Robert. 1974. The Years of Lyndon Johnson. New York: Knopf.