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With deliberate speed, the 1950s saw the reintegration of the white major leagues. Even years after Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby, Hank Thompson, Willard Brown and Dan Bankhead reintegrated the white major leagues, the United States was still under the dogma of “separate but equal” imposed by the 1896 Plessy v.
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only the United States possessed atomic weapons, but in 1949 the Soviet Union exploded an atomic bomb and the arms race began. Both countries continued building more and bigger bombs. In 1952, the United States tested a new and more powerful weapon: the hydrogen bomb.
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In the 1950s and 60s, fast food chains – epitomized by McDonald's – revolutionized the restaurant industry and changed farming and food distribution businesses.
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Levittown was designed to provide a large amount of housing at a time when there was a high demand for affordable family homes. This suburban development would become a symbol of the "American Dream" as it allowed thousands of families to become home owners.
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In 1950s America, it was expected that men would marry and work to support a family. Women were expected to marry, have children, and devote themselves to maintaining a home and being the primary caretaker of the children. -
The suburban family life of the 50s gave parents peace of mind. When children were inside playing with toys, they were safe from outside influences and perceived dangers parents feared, such as widespread communism or a surprise nuclear missile attack.
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In the 1950s, cars evolved with sleeker designs, powerful engines, and innovative features such as automatic transmissions and power steering. They became symbols of status, freedom, and mobility for the burgeoning middle class.
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In the 1950s, more and more households received electricity. Some families were already able to afford a refrigerator, a freezer, or even a dishwasher. A considerable time-saver for housewives was the purchase of smaller appliances, such as blenders or toasters.
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McCarthyism, also known as the Second Red Scare, was the political repression and persecution of left-wing individuals and a campaign spreading fear of communist and Soviet influence on American institutions and of Soviet espionage in the United States during the late 1940s through the 1950s.
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Sea of heartbreak by Don Gibson
Be My Guest by Fats Domino
Apron Strings by Billy The Kid
Devil Women by Buddy Knox
Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley
Finders Keepers by Johnny Burnette
You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry
Just A Little Too Much by Ricky Nelson
Forty days by Ronnie Hawkins
Bloodshot Eyes by Jimmy Justice. -
The 1950s were marked by the emergence of a distinct teen culture. Seeking to distance themselves from the culture of their parents, teenagers turned to rock and roll music and youth-oriented television programs and movies—all packaged for them through new marketing strategies targeting their demographic. -
From the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, the two superpowers were embroiled in a bitter competition over who could 'conquer' outer space first. Beginning with the launch of the first satellite and culminating with a joint mission between the two superpowers, the space race was a unique period in space exploration.
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1950's fashion was casual yet formal and elegant. Shoulder lines became more softened, corset waists became smaller, and rounded hips with long skirts became popular. The iconic gray felt poodle skirts emerged with white bobby socks and saddle shoes.
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The Twilight Zone is an American fantasy science fiction horror anthology television series created and presented by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS.