During this decade the economy of the United States was highly looked upon based solely on its strength and power. Individual citizens of the United States who had jobs had increased their income as a whole which led to the nation rapidly increasing economically. With the rapid increase in income there was also an increase in taxes, the rapid increase in money caused a lot of government involvement that limited business’ later on with different rules and regulations. Also the percentage of women who worked outside of the house rather than the traditional stay at home wife was 31%.

The labor force as a whole grew a substantial amount, an example of this can be seen as it increased to 142 million and the rates of the unemployed were low. As states previously many women made greater efforts to being part of the employed, and from 1950-1990 the efforts of women would have doubled. “In 1950 the Per Capita Personal Income was pegged at $1,501.00. By 2006 this rose to about $36,600.00. Though marked by huge difference in amount, it can be noted that $1,501.00 in 1950 could by more goods and services than the $36,600 in 2006 as illustrated by the CPI rates for both years.” (Economic Status of the US in 1950) Overall the United States economically increased and as a whole made smart decisions that led to its overall success and many people made more efforts such as the women in the era that helped the common goal.

Education

In the 1950s, education became much more important due to the lack of teenagers leaving to help with the war.  The people who fought in WWII had come home and were starting families, and the large amount of children born were sent to school.  With school-aged children’s population at an all-time high, there had become a large shortage of both schools and teachers.  Additionally, during the 1950s the previous court ruling that had allowed “separate but equal” school had been revisited and agreed that separate schools for African-Americans and Caucasian students were not equal.

     During the 1950s, the average American worker was not someone who had finished high school, and due to this fact their became an increased focus on adult education.  These people could enroll in government-sponsored classes that gave the people training for their jobs and education in areas they needed more instruction in.

     Religion had become increasingly  in the 1950s, and this had a great impact on the education of children.  In 1950, approximately 10% of children were enrolled in Catholic schools.  Several people were against the idea of these private schools, and Roman Catholic nuns were banned from teaching in some public schools.   However, whether you were going to school at a public school or a private school, you still were being taught different lessons from the Bible and praying in school.  Some parents insisted that children be taught differently based on relation to their religion, disregarding whether or not their child went to a public or private school in subject areas such as biology.  Students were allowed to not answer questions on such tests that conflicted with their religious views without punishment.  

     Several southern schools were legally forced to desegregate their schools during the fifties, the result of numerous court cases filed against public schools.  Threatened by the idea of segregation, several schools took drastic measures to avoid this occurrence, even including closing down their schools.  In 1958 however, a law was put in place stating that the schools could not use “evasive schemes” as a means of avoiding segregation. By the end of the 1950s, five states still remained segregated Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina.

     Curriculum made drastic changes during the 1950s.  The previous emphasis on core subjects such as reading, mathematics, science, and history were still existent, however with an additional focus on other classes.  High schools began to offer electives such as photography and childcare.  This was controversial because some claimed these classes to be the weakening of education.  People complained that school was supposed to be more than babysitting, and students should be focusing on the sciences and math. 

• Prior to the 1950s, married women were not allowed the same benefits as teachers as men were, and in 1950 were granted the ability to receive promotions.
• Teachers were allowed to make students read Bible verses for the class each day
• Pope Pius II declared his opposition of sex education in schools
• People with communist beliefs were not allowed to teach
• Decrease in separate in separate men’s and women’s colleges
• Brown vs. Board of Education Case ruling
• Male college graduates were earning about $100,000 more than female high school graduates
• Government conferences began to be held focusing on education 

          Page From a 1950s High School Marriage Class

 In the 1950’s, America developed a new era of fashion that was independent of the rest of the world and mainly focused on the youth. The youth fashions were simple, but very different from the previous decade. For boys, a pair of blue jeans was worn with a white t-shirt, which conveyed the sense of rock and roll at the time. In the 1950s, the waist overalls began to be called jeans, a more relaxed name for pants that were no longer simply work clothes for men. A very popular brand of jeans that were worn during the 50s was Levi jeans. It was the "501" jeans that people meant when they used the term "Levi's." With their button fly and the red "Levi's" tag sewn into the right back pocket, Levi's became the must-have brand of denim jeans in the 1950’s. In the work place, men were not very concerned with fashion. Men usually wore a gray flannel suit, which showed the businessman’s conformity. Men also made the loafer, a slip on leather shoe, very popular in the 50s.

     For girls, a tight sweater, a poodle skirt (long skirt with the image of a poodle), bobby socks (ankle socks), and saddle shoes (shoes with a contrasting color band) were the new rage in fashion. This fashion style was very different than any other past decade in the United States, which made it so notable in its time. If not a poodle skirt, women would just wear either tight or flowing skirts every day. Also, women were known to wear plenty of makeup, and to wear clothing that emphasized their figure. These fashion senses were shown in the 1970’s through movies and TV shows, such as Grease (1978) and Happy Days (1974-84) (“1950s: Fashion.”). 

A large part of entertainment in the 1950s was television.  During this decade, the amount of television watched per week showed a large increase, and during this time television switch from black and white to color.Many families watched sitcoms, portraying the ideas of an ideal lifestyle.  Some popular shows during the time were I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, and Lassie. The people also watched variety shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Lawrence Welk Show. The film industry had been undergoing change due to the popularization of television. Significantly less movies were made, yet the movies produced that were produced were very involved.  Several religious movies were produced, a reflection of the increase in religious activity of the time, some examples being The Robe, The Ten Commandments, and Ben-Hur.  Previously from this decade, there was a board that censored the moral-content of films, and due to the disappearance of this board several new types of films were made.  Hitchcock’s suspense and horror movies gained popularity, and the actress Marilyn Monroe appeared in several movies.  Science-fiction and monster movies also gained popularity, such as The Day The Earth Stood Still and Godzilla.  Hollywood stars of the 1950s included Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, James Dean, and Elizabeth Taylor.     Throughout the 1950s another form of watching movies grew.  In 1948, there had only been about 800 drive-ins throughout the United States, but by the 50s, there were thousands.  People could take their children, didn’t have to dress up, or stand in long lines to see movies.  In a time where cars were the pride of their owners, drive-ins offered a cheaper alternative for those who wanted to go see new or old films.   

Plugin error: That plugin is not available.

In the 1950’s, many Americans still ate at home with freshly-prepared home as before, but a new tradition started to emerge in the decade: standardization and franchising. One of the most famous restaurants that symbolized both of these trends was McDonalds.  Through the McDonalds restaurants, franchising offered individual owners the opportunity to own a profitable restaurant if they would follow the McDonald's business formula. At all of the McDonalds and fast food joints in the 50’s, it was your basic meal of a hamburger, soda, and fries, and this new trend in food created other imitators of McDonalds: Burger King and other diners across America. Teenagers of the 1950’s always gathered at soda shops and diners to eat a famous hamburger and fries, maybe with an ice cream sundae for dessert. Many of these eating habits were shown in TV shows such as Happy Days and films such as American Graffiti, and were represented through actors and actresses in Hollywood.   

     Food was becoming standardized in other ways as well, most notably with the rise of frozen, pre-prepared meals, which were known as TV dinners. These meals were pulled right out of the freezer and could be cooked up in the oven, and then enjoyed in front of your TV, all in very little time and effort. “By 1954, in just the second year of their existence, Swanson sold ten million TV dinners” (Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms: Pop Culture of 20th-Century America).

  Plugin error: That plugin is not available.  

• Beatniks and the Beat Movement- This movement was one created by American writers who sought out real experiences and spiritual pursuits.  This was due to the current culture, which was materialistic and consumer-driven.  The participants would share literature such as poems and books to express themselves. 
• The Catcher in the Rye- Became one of the most important books in the late twentieth century in the US.  This book expresses the end or death of the American dream through controversial themes for which it has been banned and censored several times.  The meaning has been often misinterpreted or misunderstood.

• Dr. Seuss (1904–1991) was and still is a very popular cartoonist and writer of children's books.  Many children even today grow up reading his books and continue to entertain with its odd random humor and nonsensical words.
• Frosty the Snowman was a hit recording created for the 1950 holiday season which told the story of a snowman coming to life and celebrating Christmas.  This song was followed later by books and even a television show illustrating the song. 

• MAD Magazine- This publication created in 1952 was made to deliver humor through satire and absurdity.  It became popular and still is today among teenagers. 

•  National Enquirer - A tabloid magazine which was popular during not only the 1950s but during a great part of the 20th century.  It drew people in through themes which caught people's attention such as blood and gore, or gossip.
• On the Road- This book was what lead young people in the Beatnik movement.  It was considered as their bible and illustrated the lifestyle that Beatniks strived for- free, on the go, and exciting.  
• The Organization Man - This book expressed views of how Americans moving away from blue collar jobs to white collar jobs goes against the American dream.  The cost of moving towards these jobs is to give up American ideals.
• Peanuts - This comic was very popular and still is today.  The humor and style employed influence many writers and entertain readers.
• Playboy- In response to the repressive nature of people during the 20th century, Playboy was released and succeeded as the first accepted skin magazine. 
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1892–1973) is a famous author who wrote bestselling books such as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. 
• TV Guide - As demand for television rose, more TV stations started.  The expansion of television showed the need for an organized way for people to see what TV stations were playing and what they would play later on. 
• Science fiction- This style or theme in writing was very popular during the 1950s.  The people during these times had an interest in space and extraterrestrial life. 
• Tabloid journalism - This type of journalism gained popularity in the 1950s as can be seen in the National Enquirer.  Tabloid journalism gained its popularity by catching or drawing the audience's attention through things like gore, gossip of celebrities, and scandal.  

     Sports have become completely integrated into the American culture. Television and magazines such as Sports Illustrated brought sports into people’s homes. Sports Illustrated became a must read for a sports fan. In 1954 Sports Illustrated had around 350,000 subscribers and grew to a million by the end of the fifties. Sports Illustrated helped cultivate the sports industry to grow to the multi billion industry today. Sports illustrated not only covered the big sports such as baseball, football, basketball, and hockey, but also covered boxing, tennis, and  golf. Its yearly swimsuit edition helped pave the way for the supermodel.  

            An important individual that refined the sports industry was Jack LaLanne. Jack LaLanne was an exercise advocate that spread his ideas on the television. He televised an exercise show that showed him performing stunts to draw attention to his goal.

            On the other hand the gaming industry has grown as well. LEGOs became a multimillion company. Its straightforward different colored blocks captured countless children’s imaginations. LEGOs offered countless different combinations to inspire the minds of young children. Eventually LEGO evolved from basic building blocks to more specialized sets that built different models.

            Another popular new toy of the 1950s was the Etch a Sketch. The Etch a Sketch was a toy that had a small screen and two knobs, one to make a horizontal line and one for a vertical line. This allowed the user to create pictures. To clear the screen the user would simply need to shake it. The Etch a Sketch was invented by a French man Arthur Granjean. He originally named it “The Magic Screen”. Later it was bought out by a toy company and became the Etch a Sketch.

 Music in the 1950s was dominated by the genre of rock and roll. This new genre was very different to America than other genres before the 1950s, because rock and roll combined elements of rhythm and blues, pop, R&B, and hillbilly music. Rock and roll music was very popular with young people, where they gathered onto dance floors and record stores in multitudes. There were many famous rock and roll singers that a lot of young people enjoyed, the most famous being Elvis Presley (1935-1977). Though black performers like Chuck Berry (1926–), Little Richard (1935–), and Fats Domino (1928–) were other famous rock stars in the 50’s, it was Elvis Presley who transformed rock and roll into a musical form for mass audiences. Rock and roll was not only a musical force, but also a social force, where blacks and whites were integrated through bands, songs, and radio stations in the era. 

     Rock and roll was made popular by a new kind of radio programmer called a disc jockey. Disc jockeys chose the music that they wanted to play and helped introduce new rock bands to thousands of listeners across America. The disc jockeys helped make the rock and roll stars songs’ become more famous, and the disc jockeys themselves became stars too.

     Also, the genre of jazz was undergoing a transformation in the 1950’s. The jazz of the 1940s was heard in nightclubs, most often in black neighborhoods. In the 1950s, jazz was brought out of the cities and into popular jazz festivals, but didn’t last long and jazz players went back to playing in front of small audiences. One of the most popular and successful blues singer/guitarist was B. B. King.     

Government and politics during the 1950s was eventful with issues ranging from school segregation to using television advertisements for campaigning. 

Electoral Campaigns- Elections during the 1950s showed the culture of the times and current issues.  Television advertising was a popular medium as it was trending and could give the audience a more personal view of the runners.  An issue runners had to face were the African Americans.  Due to their now great percentage, they were key in the winning of elections.  This was such an issue, that the democratic party appealed to them in order to gain support.  As a result of this, southerners declined in their support of the democratic party. 

Korean War- This war illustrates the US' fear and hate of Communism.  What happened to provoke the Korean War was an invasion upon North Korea by Communist forces (Democratic People's Republic of Korea- or North Korea, the People's Republic of China, and the Soviet Union).  The UN and American supported the Republic of Korea and they would be to intervene if  help was needed.  This was necessary and turned what in essence was a civil war into a war between communism and democracy. 

The war ran into stalemate and an armistice was held.

The Korean War brought up issues such as the use of the Atomic bomb.  Even though it was promised that its use would be over, it was favored as it could end communist occupation in Asia much quicker.  The bomb ultimately wasn't used, but it portrayed to what point America wanted an end to communism.

The Little Rock Nine-  A historical event and important issue, the Little Rock Nine illustrated to what extent racism was a concern in the US.  This event was the start of school integration.  It was such a large issue due to media coverage, and the overall way people reacted.  The extent to which the integration went was that the students acquired protection from the US army against angry whites.  

During the 1950’s there were many roles of leadership that took place over this time period, including the Presidents, Government, and Civil leaders throughout the United States. The president that lead the nation at the beginning was Harry Truman, who was after FDR after he passed away. This was at the beginning of the 1950’s but then after Truman was President Dwight Eisenhower. Also many African American leaders were revealed within this time period and how they defended their rights.

Through this time period many people feared the threats of communism that were over other parts of the world and therefore Truman made many decisions against other countries to protect the United States in his best judgment. In one of his past decisions at the time, he dropped the atomic bomb but many individuals who helped in this decision regretted this.  Also one of the points of Truman’s terms was his Doctrine, it stated in summary that the United States would not join in aiding any other country in fighting against Communism. The reason for this was based on his goal of limiting Communism to the best of his ability especially in the United States. Also due to the USSR Eisenhower created the doctrine that is called the New Look Doctrine which was intended to balance out the USA’s war efforts with its economy.

Overall through this time period of the 1950’s there was much more criminal activity that was shown and many people got involved within them. Also many threats were uprising with communism so many people were fearful and quick to believe any accusations that they heard. For example with one of the major senators at the time Joseph McCarthy,  he created many false accusations and claimed that others were of the communist party or believed in communism. A lot of what he believed seemed in contrast with what Truman believed.  McCarthy during this decade was man who gained great power at the misfortunes of others that he caused, his accusations attracted more people’s beliefs and then he could target others and the public would follow.

 Focusing on religion was highly popular during the 1950s.  In a search for something strong and safe after WWII, many turning to religion to be a stable part of their lives.  There was such as high increase in people turning to religion this time is sometimes referred to as “The New Awakening”.  Over half of American citizens were attending religious services once a week.   Several religious themed books became bestsellers during this time and Hollywood produced several popular religious movies.  The adoption of “In God We Trust” happened during this time along with the “under God” part was added to the pledge of allegiance.  With the popularization of television, many families could watch religious programs without ever leaving their home.
     Due to a large amount of European immigrants, Catholicism gained higher popularity than ever before in the 1950s.  This raised conflicts between the previously large group of Protestants in America.   Working in a very different way, Martin Luther King Jr. used his religion as a means to ending segregation in the United States.   He told others to “love your enemies” as the Bible says in one of his sermons.  Religion was segregated also, most cities having both a White church and an African-American church for each different religion.

The Advertising Council assured the public that "The family that prays together stays together" and encouraged people to "Attend the Church of Your Choice on Sunday."

Positive Political Cartoon

insert image

Negative Political Cartoon

As the 1950s came along, people were desperate for some hope after the World War II. The American dream was never sought after more. The ideal lifestyle was portrayed in numerous sitcoms that include The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy. Many watched popular films in drive in movies. Also music such as rock and roll influenced daily life in the 50s. People dressed in blue jeans and a white top in efforts to imitate their favorite rock singers. Fast food restaurant franchises such as McDonalds and Burger King allowed people to be served and eat quickly. The hamburger and French fry became immensely popular. Authors transfixed audiences with classic favorites such as Peanuts and the Lord of the Rings. Science fiction became enormously popular with their readers. Celebrated jazz singers played the souls in everyone’s hearts and rock and roll singers such as Elvis Presley captivated audiences throughout America. Segregation took a gigantic step forward. Integration in schools helped people more fully understand and accept African Americans.

Plugin error: That plugin is not available.