The 1950s were a period of post-war peace and prosperity. The growing economy and baby boom led to a culture of consumerism and growing Cold War tensions led to an embrace of all things American. This student activity includes a number of images reflecting the 1950s (most of them in postage stamp form). After investigating these images and evaluating how they support or challenge conformity, students are asked to research the counterculture that began to develop in the 1950s. The final assessment asks students to create a stamp image reflecting one of the people, events, or movements that pushed back against 1950s conformity.

Guiding questions:

-What caused a sense of American conformity to develop in the 1950s? How was this feeling expressed?

-What challenges to conformity existed in the 1950s?

-Is it more "American" to conform or to rebel?