Life in 1950s America Essay

Cars in the 1950’s In the 1950’s, one in six Americans were employed in the automobile industry. America was growing rapidly. The 50’s were considered the “Golden Age” of the 20th Century. World War II was over and manufacturing was on a roll. Automobiles became a big part of life. The car industry in the 1950’s were effected by a few key things that happened during that century. As a matter of fact the 1950’s were some of the most influential times in history. World War II ended in…

America in the 1950s was a change for the better. The post World War II America was changing; such as, new technology, cultures, and economic booms. This was the age that America was rising to becoming a better nation, while many Americans were moving up in life by moving to the middle class. The middle class in the 50s was growing as lower classes were fading slowly. Just after World War II America’s culture was changing. With the birth of Rock N Roll a new generation of music was introduced.…

Of all the critical analysis over the 1950’s we discussed in class, I believe Michael Dwyer’s article “Fixing the Fifties” and Stephanie Coontz’s “The way we never were” truly identifies why we view “the fifties” with such adoration. Of course this era so cherished and praised as the ideal time in America, is nothing more that a mythological veil. This obscured reflection has falsely projected a time of complete happiness, low social and economic distress, and even posterized what one should…

The 1950’s are often thought of as a decade of simpler life and prosperity in America. However, this may be considered a misconception of the time period. Pop culture of the 1950’s reflected the reality of the decade where gender roles of men and women were solid in American culture and racism was still prevalent in society. Gender roles in America in the 1950’s were solidified into the culture which was largely represented in the decade’s pop culture. The reality was that women and men had…

thinking about the 1950 's in America, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it black and white episodes of “I Love Lucy,” old-fashioned clothes, and simpler times? There is actually much more to the 1950 's than people may generally think about. Americans were striving for social and cultural growth, as well as soaking in the enjoyments of finally being able to relax after the stress of WWII. There was also an enthusiastic period of financial stability during the mid 1950 's (after the…

back at the past, each decade is transformed by its own noticeable identities and characteristics. Surely, every decade to a historian has its own uniqueness, but to me the 1950's possesses the title of the "Greatest Decade". The prosperity reconstructed during the 1950's reflected the intensified pride and consciousness of America. The feeling of post world war encouraged the American society to adapt a new aspiration of hope, freedom, and happiness. Furthermore, the compelling experiences…

The film Pleasantville depicts an idyllic 1950's community that experiences profound challenges to its unquestioned, taken-for-granted social norms. The movie works well in an introductory sociology class as an allegory about a settled or stable society that undergoes rapid social change following a major disruption in the worldview and widespread norm breaching. Specifically, the film depicts challenges related to the use of language, modes of communication, family formation, sexual norms,…

In the time of the 1950s, there were many factors that contributed to the prosperity that many Americans enjoyed. The 1950s were a time where there were highs and lows, but through it all, it made America what it is today. The past wars were hard on people, and they had to work to make sure they had a life for them and their families. Parents did all they could to support their families. This paper will reflect on how Americans grew to enjoy the prosperity they created by the GI Bill of RIghts,…

self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Amadeo). The American dream means something else to each unique person. The American Dream has changed over the course of the years, but it still maintains the same goal of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit…

Sitcoms are a window into the mindset of mainstream America as they move from a very idealistic portrayal of society to a more realistic one, highlighting how American society is becoming more accepting of difference. Sitcoms are the comedic, thirty minute television shows in which the episodes can be viewed alone and still be understood, as long as one has the basic background of the main characters. This formulation was an instant success with the introduction of I Love Lucy in 1951. Sitcoms…