Dramatic Changes in American Culture During the 1950s
Dramatic Changes in American Culture During the 1950s
The United States began to change drastically in the 50s. Many people began coming out to stand up to old ways of life. This started the wheel turning for the civil rights movement. Some people though were swept up in a hysteria of accusations caused by the tension of the Cold War. Many were accused as being traitors for their beliefs. Americans also became swept up in social conformity causing a new American Dream to take shape. During the 50s, America experienced many new changes in its way of life. New problems arose like The Cold War and new social issues changed American conformist ideals and fortified civil rights.
In the 50s, blacks began standing up for their civil rights. It started with blacks speaking out in literature like “I, Too” by Langston Hughes, but quickly evolved into the Civil Rights Movement. In 1954, the decisive ruling in Brown vs. Board led to the slow integration of southern schools. In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white woman so she was arrested. This started the Montgomery Bus Boycott in which blacks successfully gained integration of the busses in Montgomery. Dr. King was elected to lead the Montgomery boycotts. His motivational speaking style became very popular. Soon came the sit-ins at lunch counters that were not integrated like in Greensboro where students had sit-ins in Woolworths. Black students would sit in at non-integrated lunch counters and often be harassed by whites. Dr. King stressed to blacks that they should be non-violent, so they did not lower themselves to the level of the racist whites. New groups of black students formed to stand up for civil rights. The student nonviolent coordinating committee (SNCC) was one of these groups that motivated young blacks to speak out at the beginning of the 60s. By the end of the 50s, blacks began to see some equality but there was still a long road ahead.
After World War II, tensions grew between America and the Soviet Union. The two countries economical and political systems were incompatible. Problems during the war led to unrest between the nations. Stalin formed communist governments in Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland, which were later...