TrialsName: _____________________________Ms. Shen1950s: A Decade of Conformity or Turmoil?Life inPleasantvilleparallels many of the 1950s sitcoms now seen onTVLand. While shows like “Father Knows Best” and “Leave it to Beaver”seem ridiculous to us now, they in fact provide an important tool tounderstanding 1950s values. Using the themes present in the filmPleasantvilleand your knowledge of the 1950s, write a well-written andsupported essay evaluating the truth behind the 1950s image ofconformity. Was life in the 1950s really as perfect as it seemed on theoutside? Why or why not?NOTE: As we just wrote an essay, you are only going to be working on the outline for this assignment. You do NOT need to write thefull essay, only the outline. Also, I am giving you the introduction. You need to write a thesis statement and then outline the remainder ofthe essay.Intro Paragraph:The 1950s were a time of peace and increasing wealth.After World War II, Americans wanted a perfect,quiet middle-class life living in the suburbs.The growth of the suburbs saw the beginning of a decade ofconformity in the United States. Americans had once valued individuality, however, in the 1950s, they tried toconform.Due to the Cold War and fear of communism, Americans worried that if they stood out, they might belabeled as a communist so instead, they followed the norm.Although the media portrayed life in the 1950s aspeaceful and happy, in reality, the Fifties were more complicated than they were portrayed on television.
