Baby Boomer history begins in the Mid 20th CenturyThe end of the Great Depression and World War II ignited Baby Boomer history However, the roots of Baby Boomer history actually date back to the end on World War I to the Treaty of Versailles. Lingering German resentment against this treaty led to World War II, which ended the Great Depression and directly spawned the Baby Boom in the post World War II prosperity boom. Higher education led to more prosperity and higher birth rates The U.S. G.I. Bill of Rights enabled a record number of people to attend college. This was a critical development for Baby Boomer history. In many cases, this was the first college degree ever earned in their extended families. Higher education raised family incomes bringing the prosperity to raise larger families. The Baby Boomers history is entwined with the technology of television and rock & roll music. The Boomers were the first group to be raised with televisions in the home, and television has been identified as "the institution that solidified the sense of generational identity more than any other." Starting in the 1940s, people in diverse geographic locations could watch the same shows, listen to the same news and laugh at the same jokes. Television shows such as Father Knows Best and Leave it to Beaver showed idealized American family settings. Later, the Boomers watched televised scenes from the Vietnam War and the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. The Boomers discovered rock and roll music was a unique expression of their generational identity. Rock & roll was epitomized by Elvis Presley, and was totally new and revolutionary and captivated the generation. Our elders were scandalized by "Elvis the pelvis", his overt sexiness, and showmanship. Music had never had such a profound influence on a generation. Rock & roll is a central theme of Baby Boomer history. Transistor technology meets rock & roll The invention of the transistor led to the development of revolutionary electronic technologies. Transistor radios became the new personal technology devices that allowed teenagers to listen to the rock & roll music of Elvis, The Beatles and The Big Bopper. The result was more music and more technology. Transistors and electronic technology are central in the Baby Boomers history and cultural experience. Early Baby Boomers were born from 1946 to 1955. Younger Baby Boomers were born from 1956 to 1964. This group is sometimes called Baby Boomer generation x or Generation Jones. To learn more about these generations and Baby Boomers history go to Baby Boomer generations. Return to About Baby Boomers
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