It's clear how journalist Tom Brokaw felt about this generation when he wrote a book calling them the Greatest Generation. Published in 1998, this book is a testament to the people who make up this cohort, also called the G.I. Generation. Many of them veterans from World War II, this generation faced many obstacles in their lives, but we're resilient enough to overcome them.

More than most other events they experienced, World War II and the Great Depression greatly influenced this generation. Based on these events, one of the traits associated with this generation is personal responsibility. Part of what made author Tom Brokaw consider this generation the greatest was their values and the ability to take ownership of their role and part in society. According to Brokaw, these men and women didn't fight for fame or recognition. Instead, they realized it was the right thing to do for their families and country.

Who is the Greatest Generation?

The Greatest Generation is the group of people born between 1901 and 1927. Often called the G.I. Generation or the World War II Generation, this group made up most of those serving in World War II.

Members of this generation are the children the Lost Generation had to send off to war and the generation preceding the Silent Generation. Aside from the war, one of the most influential events in their lives was the Great Depression. The Great Depression, taking place from 1929 to 1939, was the worst economic period in the history of the industrialized world. Some of the events that affected the previous generation, the Lost Generation, affected many from the Greatest Generation. An example is the Spanish Flu Pandemic, which began at the end of World War I.

How did they get their name?

Like many other generational names, the Greatest Generation came from a writer who popularized the phrase. Journalist Tom Brokaw published a book in 1998 titled The Greatest Generation. In this book, Brokaw profiles both men who were military heroes and women who fought for justice and equality back home. Brokaw wrote this testament to the Greatest Generation to display their courage and bravery during difficult times. Yet, even the numerous obstacles this generation faced didn't keep them from impacting the world.

Members of the Greatest Generation are typically known for coming of age during the Great Depression and being the sole provider of soldiers during the second world war. As many others have, Tom Brokaw praised this generation for what they did in World War I and for consistently doing the right thing, even when it seemed impossible. Brokaw attended the 40th-anniversary commemoration of the D-Day invasion of mainland Europe in 1976, which inspired him to praise these men and women.

Authors William Strauss and Neil Howe are the creators of one of the most well-known generational theories. In their book, Generations, Strauss and Howe refer to the Greatest Generation as the G.I. Generation. The term "G.I." refers to American soldiers, although the history of how it came about is unclear. During World War I, G.I. was used to refer to anything related to the Army and was the abbreviation of government issue or general issue. The term became more prevalent during World War II when the soldiers referred to themselves as G.I.s, and the cartoonist Dave Breger, who was drafted in 1941, created his comic titled "G.I. Joe."

Strauss and Howe believed that generations go through a cycle that repeats every 80-90 years. As expressed in their book, there are four turnings, and there are also four personas that each generation cycles through. According to Strauss and Howe, the Greatest Generation took on the "hero" persona. Strauss and Howe described the hero as self-reliant, pragmatic, and optimistic.

Characteristics of the Greatest Generation

The Greatest Generation, much like the generation before them, had to deal with challenges in their life. From the Great Depression to World War I, they had to face difficult decisions and obstacles even in their youth and young adulthood. However, they are known for their bravery and resilience. 

The members of the Greatest Generation are hard workers. It's clear that leaving for war in their young adulthood was not easy, but 38 percent of the men serving in the war were volunteers. Facing the Great Depression was another troubling time in their lives, but it taught the members of the Greatest Generation humility and perseverance.

The Great Depression

The Great Depression was a challenging time for people all around the world. The worst economic period throughout the history of the industrialized world, this was a stark contrast to the times of prosperity during the Roaring Twenties that occurred before the stock market crash. 

The optimism during the Roaring Twenties was vastly different from what the members of the Lost Generation were experiencing after their return from World War I. The shift from optimism to hardship during the Great Depression impacted the members of the Greatest Generation who were old enough to understand the challenges their parents were facing.

Since the Great Depression occurred from 1929 to 1939, many members of this generation felt the effects of the depression, while others on the cusp of the Silent Generation were born right before the economic downturn started.

World War II

The Lost Generation had to fight in the first world war and then watch their sons and daughters go to war in the second world war. Most members of the Greatest Generation were either coming of age during World War I and the Roaring Twenties or were children. Those who were coming of age were impacted the most during the contrasting events.

Sixty-one percent of the over 16 million Americans who participated in World War II were drafted. The men from this generation made up the majority of young soldiers. By the end of the war, there were over 670,000 casualties.

After the soldiers returned from the war, there was a baby boom unlike any other, which started the Baby Boom generation. The G.I. bill, or the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, made this possible. This bill provided benefits for war veterans returning from World War II.

Unlike their parents from the Lost Generation, the members of the Greatest Generation kept relatively conservative views. They began to move their families from rural areas into the suburbs to live a more traditional life.

The men who fought in World War II were said to have a sense of duty to their families and countries. But unfortunately, World War II was not the last time many members of this generation experienced war. They also lived through the Cold War and the Second Red Scare, and some fought again in the Korean War.

Korean War

A war between North Korea and South Korea took place from 1950 to 1953. Some members of this generation who already served in World War II put on their military fatigues again for the Korean War. It is sometimes called “the Forgotten War” because it did not receive a lot of public attention, but it still affected the lives of many. 

The Korean War began when soldiers from North Korea invaded the Republic of Korea to the north and south. This military action was the first invasion of the Cold War. The Cold War, which impacted members of several generations, was a time of political tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. It's typically thought to have lasted from 1947 to 1991. With the threat of war ever imminent, it was a time of great difficulty for those in the Greatest Generation.

The United States only entered the war in 1950. Still, the fighting ended in July of 1953 after representatives of the United Nations and the Korean People's Army signed the Korean Armistice Agreement. The Korean War didn't receive as much media attention in the United States as in World War II and Vietnam. Many called it the "forgotten war." In fact, one of the only well-known representations of the war in popular culture is the television series M*A*S*H. This sitcom took place during the Korean War in South Korea. The series ran from 1972 to 1983.

Later life

The difficulties the Greatest Generation faced didn’t stop in their young adulthood. The members of this generation also faced the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and many other instances of political and cultural unrest.

The Vietnam War lasted from 1955 to 1975, impacting the Greatest Generation, the Silent Generation (1928-1945), and some members of the Baby Boomer Generation (1946-1964). This war was a conflict between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

A good portion of the soldiers from the Vietnam War were Baby Boomers. Overall, more than 10 million members of the Baby Boomer Generation served in the armed forces during the 1950s and 1960s. Almost 10 percent of the men in the Baby Boomer Generation went to Vietnam.

The Vietnam War was a different type of war because many back home did not support it. Those who fought in the war didn't come back as Veterans but were criticized by many. Nevertheless, over 2 million American men and women served in the War throughout its duration.

The Greatest Generation faced many cultural struggles in their later life as well. In the 1960s, an anti-establishment movement was picking up pace as the Civil Rights Movement continued to progress. This movement led to a clash between the younger and older generations. The counter-cultural movements were also fueled by the Vietnam War and many citizens' dissatisfaction with it. The younger generations during the 60s started to develop anti-government beliefs, and many in the Greatest Generation couldn't understand why. Overall, members of the Greatest Generation trusted the government and wanted to do what was right for their country.

Popular culture during the Greatest Generation

Art and entertainment become even more significant during great struggles and adversity. Much like the entertainment during the Roaring Twenties, every generation finds the cure to travesty in music and entertainment. Historians even describe the literature, art, and entertainment during the Greatest Generation's adolescence as flourishing.

During the 1930s, big band music and swing bands started to gain popularity. Musicians such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller were well known during this time. In addition, the radio and the jukebox made it possible for music to be accessible to everyone. The Greatest Generation has been called the "swing generation" due to the popularity of swing music during that period.

Movies started to gain popularity during this period as well. The first film that included not just music but actual talking, also known as a talkie, was The Jazz Singer, which initially premiered in 1927. The Greatest Generation experienced the "Golden Age of Hollywood," which refers to a style of filmmaking that developed between 1910 and 1960. The type associated with the mid-1900s eventually became the most popular style of filmmaking in the world.

In the 1940s, a lot of pop culture centered around World War II. Some of the most significant inventions in pop culture in the 40s were color television, slinkies, the frisbee, and Velcro. By the 1950s, many families had a color television in their homes. Two other inventions that have impacted the world today are the aerosol spray can and the Jeep.

The post-World War II era was a time of greater financial prosperity for many Americans. The growth in the economy impacted popular culture because it allowed many to live a life of more leisure. This economic boom sparked cultural changes and inventions, such as the transition from Rockabilly to Rock n Roll.

Overview

Those in the Greatest Generation are the children of the Lost Generation and preceded the Silent Generation. Despite the disillusionment of their parents after World War I, the members of this generation held onto conservative ideals in their life. They are characterized by hard work, bravery, and perseverance. All of the Greatest Generation members lived through the Great Depression, and many of them experienced the battlefield as they fought in World War II.

Journalist Tom Brokaw popularized the name of this generation. In his book, The Greatest Generation, he praised many members born during this period. It's evident that the members of this generation inspired Brokaw. In his book, he wrote about how bravely they fought for their country and the rights of men and women.

Some of the historical events that impacted the Greatest Generation were the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, the civil rights movement, and the Vietnam War.

In a time of great political turmoil, especially during the tension of the Cold War, the Greatest Generation overwhelmingly believed in America and had conservative values.

They experienced some generational conflict during the Civil Rights Movement, and the cultural shifts post the movement. Many younger generations started to develop anti-establishment views, primarily due to the Vietnam War.

Despite the challenges they faced, the Greatest Generation did many great things and stayed true to who they were. According to Strauss and Howe, they were the hero persona, and it's easy to see why.

1. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945): As the 32nd President of the United States, Roosevelt led the country during the Great Depression and World War II, implementing the New Deal and playing a significant role in shaping the post-war world.

2. Winston Churchill (1874-1965): The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, Churchill is renowned for his leadership and inspiring speeches that rallied the British people during the war.

3. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969): A five-star general in the United States Army during World War II and later the 34th President of the United States, Eisenhower played a crucial role in the planning and execution of the Allied invasion of Europe.

4. John F. Kennedy (1917-1963): The 35th President of the United States, Kennedy served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. His presidency is remembered for events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil Rights Movement, and the early stages of the Vietnam War.

5. Rosa Parks (1913-2005): An American civil rights activist, Parks is best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, becoming an international icon of resistance to racial segregation.