The GI Bill of Rights, also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of
1944, was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 22,
1944. The bill was designed to help returning World War II veterans
transition to civilian life.
1. Describe the purpose of the GI Bill. What are some of the policies it
calls for to assist veterans?
2. Of the parts shown in the GI Bill, which is the most important to the
improvement of the lives of veterans? Why?
Ron Kovic is an American anti-war activist, author, and United States
Marine Corps sergeant who was wounded and paralyzed in the Vietnam
War. His best selling 1976 memoir Born on the Fourth of July was made
into the film of the same name which starred actor Tom Cruise as Kovic,
and was co-written by Kovic and directed by Oliver Stone.
1. Describe how Ron Kovic’s experiences in his youth reflect the idea of a
‘normal’ American life.
2. What do you think Ron means when he says he wants “to be a hero”?
How does the context about discussing communism shape his view of
heroicism?
The Baby Boom in the U.S. was a period of rapid population growth following
World War II, marked by high birth rates and the creation of a new generation—
Baby Boomers—who would go on to shape American society in the decades
that followed. This demographic shift had wide-ranging effects on the
economy, culture, and infrastructure, and the legacy of the Baby Boom
generation continues to impact the country today.
1. How did the birthrate change from the 1920s to 1940s?
2. Theorize why there would be a boost in the birth rates post WWII.
Adlai Stevenson II (1900–1965) was a prominent American politician,
diplomat, and intellectual leader of the Democratic Party. He is best known
for his two unsuccessful bids for the U.S. presidency against Dwight D.
Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, as well as for his influential role as U.S.
Ambassador to the United Nations during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1. Summarize what Stevenson told the college graduate women their place in
life was.
2. Explain if you agree or disagree and why.
Paul Goodman (1911–1972) was a multifaceted American author, social critic, poet,
and public intellectual known for his influential writings on society, politics,
education, and psychology. A key figure of the 1960s counterculture and anarchist
thought, he is often remembered for his radical critique of modern society and his
advocacy for personal freedom, creativity, and decentralization.
The Beatniks were a subcultural group in the late 1950s and early 1960s associated
with the broader Beat Generation literary movement. The term "beatnik" was coined
by journalist Herb Caen in 1958, combining "Beat" (from the Beat Generation) with
the Russian suffix "-nik" (inspired by Sputnik), hinting at Cold War countercultural
rebellion.
1. Summarize what Stevenson told the college graduate women their place in
life was.
2. Explain if you agree or disagree and why.
Time Magazine is one of the most influential and widely read weekly
news magazines in the United States and globally. Founded in 1923 by
Henry Luce and Briton Hadden, it has been a key source of news,
analysis, and commentary on politics, culture, science, business, and
current events.
1. How did Life describe the ‘modern teen’?
2. How does the depiction of teens in this article from the 1950s so
similarities and differences to teens today?
Betty Friedan is remembered as one of the architects of modern feminism. Her
work challenged cultural norms and helped spark legal and societal changes
that advanced women's rights in education, employment, and politics. She is
widely regarded as a pioneering figure who expanded the conversation about
women's liberation beyond traditional boundaries. Friedan's landmark book,
The Feminine Mystique, exposed the widespread dissatisfaction of women who
felt unfulfilled by the restrictive roles of housewife and mother imposed by
post-World War II American society. The book became a catalyst for the
feminist movement and is considered one of the most influential nonfiction
works of the 20th century.
1. According to Betty Friedan, what was the status-quo for women of the day?
2. Describe the experience for young women. What happened more frequently
for women in the 1950s?
