The Rise of Teenage Culture in 1950s America

Who conceived the idea of adolescence as a distinct psychological state in the early 20th century before there was a sense of a "teenage" demographic or culture?

• Erik Erikson

• Carl Jung

• Sigmund Freud

• G. Stanley Hall

Up and until the Second World War, the teenage demographic and culture was non-existent in America because so many teenagers had to work to help support the family and this "middle ground" between child and adult did not really exist in a "cultural" way.

• True

• False

What did the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 prohibit, which led to fewer teens working full time?

• Men working on Sundays

• Women working more than 40 hours a week

• Employment of minors in oppressive child labor

• Employment without health benefits

At the same time (early to mid 1900s) that teenage labor was declining, what was on the rise that contributed to creating a "teenage culture"?

• Military Service

• Involvement in organized sports

• Compulsory Education (mandatory school attendance)

• Teens working in white collar jobs (office positions)

What was the main theme of the 1945 New York Times article titled 'A Teenage Bill of Rights'?

• Economic policies affecting teenagers

• Rights and responsibilities of teenagers

• Teenage involvement in politics

• Educational reforms for teenagers

Which magazine published a photo essay entitled 'Tulsa Twins' and what did the article suggest?

• National Geographic - that teens are just like "animals" that need to be studied carefully.

• Life - that teens had a common culture and should "conform"

• Vogue - that teens have a fashion sense that clothing retailers should pay attetion to.

• Time - that teens influence the votes of their parents and will soon become voters themselves.

What was a major factor in the creation of teenage culture in the post-war period?

• Growth of suburban life

• Decrease in educational standards

• Reduction in media consumption

• Increase in agricultural jobs

What did the 1953 films 'Rebel Without a Cause' and 'The Wild One' famously depict?

• The life of a soldier

• Teenage rebellion

• Corporate America

• Historical events of the 1800s

Which publication first appeared in 1952 and targeted teenage cynicism and rebellion (in a humorous way)?

• The Atlantic

• Reader's Digest

• The New Yorker

• Mad Magazine

What was the estimated annual retail value of the juvenile market in 1957 according to Life magazine?

• 15 billion dollars, about the same as it was in the 1920s when there was prosperity in the U.S.

• 33 billion dollars, a DRAMATIC increase from previous decades.

• 20 billion dollars, a slight increase from previous decades.

• 50 billion dollars. Which was consistent with what it had been throughout the 20th century.