How Rock and Roll Changed America

1919 Words4 Pages

Rock and Roll was the start of a new revolution in America. It introduced the world to many of the famous artists that continue to be a part of our lives today. "Artists who became popular in the 1950s such as Elvis, began to pave the way for others such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly" (The History of Rock 'n' Roll until 1960). With the introduction of rock 'n' roll, there came many new changes to the lives of many Americans. Rock and Roll was a major contributor for the change in teens' behavior in the 1950s because it encouraged new freedoms for teenagers, encouraged new fads among teenagers, and caused a generation gap.
Before the big evolution of rock and roll, the United States was heavily involved in World War II. In this era, teens were expected to grow up at a very early age. Going to school was not one of the main priorities for these young adults during this time, and because of that "teens were expected to take life seriously. [Meaning,] the young men were expected to join the military or go get a job to support their family or their future families, while the young women were taught to take care of the household and prepare themselves to be a dutiful wives and to take care of their [future] children," (Cox). Even though they were expected to grow up early, “teens had very little economic power, freedom, independence, and input into [many of their own] decisions" (Cox).
The way these teens dressed during this time was very conservative. Due to the restrictions of World War II, "clothes were much [more] simple and less fabric was used because few materials were available” (Mathieson). Many teens during this time period were much more respectful and would not go out of their way to cause a corruption. Te...

... middle of paper ...

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Cox, Erika. Rewind the Fifties. Teenage Life in the 1950s. 2009. 30 January 2014.
Howell, James C. Gangs in America's Communities. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications,
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Mathison, Lindsay. Teenager’s Lives Changed Throughout the Century. December 1999. 30 January 2014.
Powers, Richard. The Life of a 1950s Teenager. 2010. 30 January 2014.
"The History of Rock and Roll Until 1960." The History of Rock and Roll Until 1960. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.
"Rock and Roll's Influence." The Impacts of Rock and Roll Music on American Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Mar. 2014.
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