The 1950's were mainly a time when Britain was just getting over the war and everyday goods were still being rationed. There was a lot of hardship as Britain was just rebuilding its econemy. There was high unemployment in the early 50's but towards the end of the 60's it got lower. There was a lack of consumer goods, which could only be bought by rich people, in the 1960’s everything changed. People could afford to buy things they had never been able to before, like TV’s and household appliences like Refrigerators and washing machines. There was also less of a class sysyem after the war, instead of only havinh the very rich and the very poor there were more middle class people and the standard of living gerally improved.
It also helped that people were being paid a lot more than they were in the 1950’s and laws were much fairer.
Many of the 1950's values were more conservative values. Young people were now seen differently, in the 1950's they were either classed as 'adults' or 'children'. However towards the end of the 50's and early 60's they were called 'teenagers'.
America also influenced britain a lot during the 1960’s. The American children had a great deal more than the children in Britain. They spent money like it was growing on trees, had the latest clothes and generally lived a more fun-filled life. Mnay britains had flocked to america after the war and it was known as ‘the land of dreams’.
In the 1960’s people also had different veiws on the government, (or establsihment) Several magazines were set up to make fun of the establishment. The profuno affair was an affair between a man called mp John profuno who was having an affair with a young girl called Kristine keeler. It was an incredibly popular topic amoungst magazines and caused great embarrasement to the government at the time.
To conclude during the 1950’s Britain was still getting over the shock of the war; things were slowly getting back together but shortages were still part of everyday life. This was a very dull time, for British youths especially.
