MYP Question: Answered

MYP Unit Question: How did culture, events and leadership shape and reflect post-WWII America?

            The 1950s was a decade of change. During the 1950s, the baby boomers were growing into young adults, and the scope of the country was finally starting to change. The values of the nation were shifting as well, changing from ideas of frugality and prudence to spending, consuming, and promiscuousness. The morals and commonly held American ideals were shifting as well, from the ideal family to the reckless wanderer, lavishly spending whenever it was possible.

      Several wars fought in foreign countries and an increase in business prowess led to an increase in paranoia among the people. As well, the United States was facing communist threats outside of home. The Cold War fought with Russia increased governmental suspicion of communism, and fear that communism would spread all over the world with America as the last democratic stronghold. Along with this, the increase in business prowess of the United States, a clear difference from decades previous, a growing number of labor unions came into existence. These labor unions, along with the economy, increased in power which led to a governmental fear of communist actions. When President Truman sent troops to stop a steelworkers’ strike, the paranoia of the people and the government only increased further. A senator, Joseph McCarthy, only aggravated this concern. He started accusing people of being communists, people in the government, people famous in the media, he accused any person who had or did not have influence among the people. The evidence against these people was circumstantial and foolish at best. Nevertheless, his actions inspired a raging paranoia among the people, who feared another world war.

       Many of the different forms of artistic expression changed the face of America during the 1960s. Outfits were made by the young, the children from the generation of baby boomers birthed soon after the war. Clothes were specifically tailored to fit comfortably. These clothes were either made very simply, or with complex patterns and bejeweled items. These more complex fashions made the young feel as if they could connect to movie stars and be more like them. This change in clothing styles attributed to an increase in “youthful” values, such as an increasing readiness to party and consume goods. The music industry changed to fit the needs of the younger generation. Rock-and-roll music became the new fad, to fit the teenage population. This music was set to themes of adulthood and rebelling from the standards of society, which many children were influenced by. Additionally, literary movements spurred a dissent in the younger people, a dissent with society and the way American culture was run. As these changes were made, the younger and the elder generation split. The elder generation believed that these changes were ruining their society, and the younger generation felt as if their elders were endeavoring to ruin them.

            Not only were the foundations of American ideals breaking in the 1950s, racial prejudices were slowly breaking down as well. Questions of race and how far segregation should be taken were challenged by the cases of Emmett Till, Rosa Parks and several other influential African Americans at the time. No longer were they willing to sit down and agree to all of the injustices charged against them. During the second half of the generation, they began to make a difference. With the case of Brown vs. Board of Education, the law of “separate but equal” was broken, making segregation anywhere in the United States illegal. Peaceful protests made a large impact as well, forcing American citizens to face the problem of segregation and racial issues.

          The 1950s was a decade in which Americans felt the effects of World War II. Technology became better at home because of advancements made for the war effort. The population grew drastically as war veterans returned home. Paranoia was increased about the Soviet Union bombing America (after the Americans initiated nuclear warfare in WWII) and people built bomb shelters and had drills in case the Soviet Union did decide to attack. The American economy was completely different than that of the 1930s (the Great Depression) and the War had a definite impact on this. However America in the 50s was different than America in the 40s. Ideas about how society should be run were beginning to change. Ideas about segregation, sex before marriage, America's perspective on the Soviet Union, and music (with Rock'n'Roll) all set the 50s aside as a unique decade.

A3 1950s Rokicki or FrontPage