Postwar Prosperity

The events in The Catcher in the Rye occur in 1946, just a year after World War II ended. Adults during this time had endured the Great Depression and the numerous atrocities of the war. Ironically, the war that caused so much suffering also propelled the nation into an era of immense prosperity. In the postwar years, the gross national product soared to $500 billion, up from $200 billion in 1940. People started purchasing homes, television sets, second cars, washing machines, and other consumer goods in unprecedented numbers. It’s no surprise the nation wanted to leave the past behind and embrace new beginnings. This celebration manifested in a surge of materialism and extreme conservatism. Traditional values dominated society, and people were not interested in hearing from the likes of Holden Caulfield and J.D. Salinger. They were in a state of blissful denial.

Holden has distanced himself from this society enough to see it from a different viewpoint. He despises the banality and hypocrisy he perceives in the adult world and is thus hesitant to engage with it. His behavior, while typical of an adolescent asserting his identity, also symbolizes the perceived superficiality of people and society. The fears Holden expresses reach their peak in the 1950s, a time when conservatism, rigid morality, and paranoid self-righteousness dominated the nation. It’s no wonder that parents in the 1950s attacked Salinger's novel when it appeared in bookstores and libraries in 1951. The book undermined their core beliefs and threatened to disrupt their serene yet contented lives, which were sustained by their animosity towards an external enemy—communism.

Cold War Concerns

Despite the material prosperity of the 1950s, many people were anxious about an uncertain future. The Soviet Union had developed nuclear technology shortly after the war, and the successful launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, in 1957 seemed to give the Russians a significant advantage over the United States. Americans also began to question their educational system, believing it had failed them in the space race. The fear of nuclear war became so widespread that students were regularly trained on how to "duck and cover" in the event of an attack, and many families constructed bomb shelters in their backyards, stocking them with food and other supplies to survive a potential catastrophe.

Education

In 1950, around ten percent of all children attended Catholic schools, which received federal funding at the time. This sparked a debate over whether private institutions should benefit from taxpayer money. Public schools employing Roman Catholic nuns as teachers also faced controversy, especially in states like Wisconsin, which denied these schools public support. The National Education Association backed such actions, taking a firm antireligious stance. Conversely, the National Catholic Educational Association argued that Catholic citizens supported public schools and thus it was unjust to withhold funding from parochial schools that were achieving the same educational objectives. During the 1950s, religion was more integrated into public education; religious subjects were regularly taught, students listened to Bible readings (mandatory in twelve states and the District of Columbia), and many students had "released-time" breaks, allowing them to leave school for an hour each week to attend religious classes.

Pressure to Conform

In the 1950s, social pressure to conform was intense, affecting not only politics but also the educational system, which benefited from substantial government funding. A college education became a key to prosperity, especially after the G.I. Bill of 1944 helped finance higher education for war veterans. Corporations expanded rapidly to meet growing consumer demands and absorbed the increasing number of skilled workers. Dress codes and entrenched corporate cultures suppressed individualism. Jobs for white males were secure, while women typically stayed home to raise the numerous children born during the postwar "Baby Boom."

The Growing Generation Gap

The "Baby Boom" led Americans to pay more attention to the younger generation. Although Catcher in the Rye was slightly ahead of its time in this context, its themes became particularly relevant in the years following its publication. Lifestyles began to shift dramatically as teenagers started dating and becoming sexually active at younger ages. Teenagers grew more rebellious, a trend their parents blamed on a new, decadent form of music called rock 'n' roll. This rebellious attitude was epitomized by Hollywood actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando, the bohemian lifestyle of the beatniks, and later in the works of authors like Jack Kerouac and Alan Ginsberg. Juvenile delinquency emerged as a significant social concern, with teens skipping classes and committing crimes, causing parents to worry about their children's lack of respect for authority.

1950s: Religion is a fundamental part of many classrooms. Bible readings and regular lessons on religious topics are included in the curriculum.

Today: The separation of Church and State is strictly enforced, and children do not study religious texts. Prayer in schools becomes a contentious issue, with increasing pressure from religious groups to have educators teach creationism alongside Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

1950s: Approximately 58% of students graduate high school, but job opportunities are so abundant that employment rates remain high. Employer loyalty is the norm, with employees often staying with one company until retirement.

Today: Most employers offering living-wage jobs require college degrees, even for entry-level positions. Frequent layoffs and downsizing reduce company loyalty, making it common for workers to change jobs and even careers.

1950s: Classroom curricula focus on basic skills such as reading, writing, and arithmetic. However, the inclusion of science becomes increasingly important as the educational system prepares students for a more technology-driven world.

Today: Educators strive to provide students with well-rounded educations that include sex education and an emphasis on multicultural studies. Parents worry that children are not learning basic skills and that high school graduates lack reading proficiency. Educators also recognize the need to train students in computer use, leading to computers becoming standard equipment in classrooms and libraries.

1950s: Postwar prosperity leads to a focus on material goods as the middle class enjoys unprecedented buying power. Children begin to rebel against this materialism and conservatism, making nonconformist icons like actor James Dean popular.

Today: Adults who were the rebellious children of the 1950s and 1960s yearn for a return to the "family values" of the 1950s. "Family values" becomes a campaign slogan for politicians as Americans revert to conservative beliefs.