The+social+and+political+aspects+of+the+1950's

**T **ransportation became highly accessible, as cars became cheaper to produce, and cheaper to buy. Because society was in an uplift, after coming out of the [|WWII] and the [|Great Depression], family values were really enforced. For the first time ever the idea of the "teenager" was introduced as well. Because of the shift in professions, focus for teens went from the farm, to school. [|Fashion] during this era was very conserved and bland. Males feared to stand out at work, so each wore plain black suits and dull colored ties. Women's attire consisted of either long skirts or dresses, and nothing was ever revealing.
 * D **uring the 1950's American citizens percieved society from two totally different sides. This age was known as a time of assimulation, and comformity. During the fifties, society transgressed into a beat the Jones enviorment. At home, males upheld the traditional role of the provider, while wives stayed at home to clean, cook and take care of their children. Homes were produced just as fast as the women gave birth to new born babies.
 * (Male suits)**

(Elvis Presley) ** I** n the light of entertainment, the new faces and places that were established set a bench mark for further generations. People like [|Elvis Presley], and [|James Dean] swept the music industry, while Disney Land created it's first nationally renouned resort. However some people were excluded from this burst of resorces and life. During the 1950's there was a population shift, from the city to the [|suburbs]. The shift created a rift between races and income levels. During the 1950's the belief of racial equality was just starting to take movement, and [|Martin Luther King] was just starting to take a stand. Women were still oppressed, and blacks were forced to reside in the slums of the city.

**O** n the political front the 1950's became not only an arms race but a race for national stregnth. Two types of goverments fought internationally; [|communism] v.s [|democracy]
 * (This was a typical poster of the Era disputing political beliefs)**

**O** n the home front Americans feared communism's potential. [|McCarthey] began to black list individuals while society as a whole began to protect itself. Soon families began to build bomb shelters as the arms race heated up. Internally, president Eisenhower stregnthened our nations highway system.

While touring [|Eisenhower] learned that Germany had inter-connecting roads. These systems of roads allowed their country to still function, even if the path was bombed or destroyed. Realizing the lack of mobility our roads had, the president spent over 90% of our public works budget on improving highway systems. The arms race not only caused our country to become more mobile, but more intellegent. For the first time, standardized testing was manditory in schooling, and science and math became highly emphasized. Our nation's race for intellegence helped to shape our goverments space program.The space race was just as important to win as the arms reduction. Who ever successfully went into space first (Russia or America) truely demonstrated their intellectual superiority.

(President Eisenhower giving a speach)

sources: http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/1756.html Mr. Leaf Notes....3/31/08 (discussion of media and 50's)