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Book burning in Nazi Germany
The German Student Union called for "Action against the Un-German spirit" Where they would organize ceremonial book burnings. The books burned were from authors whose views undermined the nazi party. 34 University towns across Germany took part in the event of "cleansing" Germany from opposing ideologies -
Development and incedents of the atom bomb
Days before the start of World War 2, Albert Einstein writes to President Roosevelt telling of Nazi Germany's efforts to purify uranium which could be used to build an atom bomb. Thus starting the Manhattan Project researching the production of a viable atom bomb. After six years and $2 billion dollars the first test proved a successs after "The Gadget" detonates in New Mexico. Only two nuclear weapons have been used in the course of warfare, both were dropped on Japan by the US in World War 2. -
Nazi Germany surrenders
On May 7th, 1945 Nazi Colonel General Alfred Jodl signs the instrument of surrender ending Nazi Germany’s involvement in World War II at Allied headquarters in Reims, France -
The Cold War
Though the start of the war is up for debate between historians, most agree the start was after World War 2. It was a time of great military and political tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. The two superpowers never fired shots at each other but both prepared heavily for an all nuclear world war 3. In 1957 the Soviets launched the first satellite, Sputnik, into orbit starting the Space Race between the two superpowers. -
Enterainment industry blacklists
Blacklisting in the entertainment industry was the practice of denying employment of actors, screenwriters, directors, and musicians with alleged ties to Communism.The roots of the Blacklist can be found in the 1930s, when a fear of communism began to arise in America. The blacklists affected the careers of many people in the entertainment industry. -
The Hiss Affair
in 1948 Alger Hiss, US government lawyer, was accused by Whittaker Chambers, writer and former Communist Party courier, of passing secret state documents to Russia. Taken to trial on May 31, 1949 and later convicted in 1950 Hiss was imprisoned for 5 years. Hiss died in 1996 maintaning his innocence -
Loyalty Oath Controversy
University of California President Robert G. Sproul presented to the Board of Regents a draft of a special oath to be taken by all university staff. Despite the controvery regents of the university voted to dismiss any academic staff members who refused to sign the oath of loyalty. A group of non-signers went to the courts to appeal against the action. The non signers won a landmark victory when the California Court of Appeal ordered the University of California to reinstate the fired academics -
Comic book bans in the 1950's
Censorship of comic books began with the rise of graphic horror comics. The publishing of the notorious book Seduction of the Innocent fueled the comic hating angry parents. The book was published by child psychologist Fredric Wertham, now known as one of the most iconic censors in history. Wertham asserted that the comic books were corrupting youth with negative influences and they were teaching children to commit violent and criminal acts, -
Korean War
The war between the UN supported Republic of Korea (South) and the Soviet supported Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North). The Korean War began when 75,000 soldiers in the North Korean People’s Army poured across the 38th parallel, the boundary between the Soviet-backed Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the north and the pro-Western Republic of Korea to the south. This invasion was the first military conflict of the Cold War. By the end some 5 million soldiers and civilians died. -
Development of new technologies
March 31, 1951 The UNIVAC I was the first mass produced American computer designed for business and administrative use. Throughout the '50s new inventions eased every day life. Televisions changed everything allowing every major event to be seen for all in the comfort of their living rooms. In the '50s passenger planes allow any one with a ticket to travel all around the world in the fast man made travel ever. By 1954 the transistor radio became the most popular communication devices in history. -
Brown Vs. Board of Education
In 1951 a class action suit was filed against the Board of Education In the city of Topeka, Kansas.The suit called for the school district to reverse its policy of racial segregation. The plaintiffs were 13 parents of children in Topeka. Oliver L. Brown was convinced to join to lawsuit. The case was named after Brown as a legal strategy to have a man at the head of the roster. The Supreme Court declared state laws establishing segregated schools to be unconstitutional. -
Rise of Suburbia
William J Levitt is often considered the creator of the modern American suburb. The construction began in Pennsylvania Febuary 1952 and finished after 1958 . The homes were built using an assembly line type method with 26 steps. This process allowed for a home to be built in only 16 minutes. What set this town apart was that they were built as complete communities set with baseball fields, parks, playgrouds and olympic sized swimming pools. -
The McCarthy Hearings
The McCarthy hearings began in 1950 when Senator Joseph McCarthy charged there were over 200 known communists in the Department of State. Even without specific proof the accusations placed hundreds of people under so much suspicion that they were eventually fired and unable to get employment for years to come. This made McCarthy known as the most famous, or infamous and feared communist hunter in the country
