1950 United States Census

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/1950-united-states-census

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the total population?151,325,798 individuals
2. What is the key technological advancement?First census to utilize electro-mechanical punched card machines for data tabulation
3. How many people were counted in the 1950 census?The census counted over 150 million people.
4. Why was the 1950 census important for the government?It helped decide how many seats each state gets in the House of Representatives and how to give money for schools, roads, and hospitals.

Apportionment: The process of dividing the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states based on population.
Electro-mechanical Tabulation: Using machines with electrical and mechanical parts to sort and count data from punched cards.
Post-war Era: The period following the end of World War II, characterized by significant economic growth and social change.