Life in the 1950s

Comparing with today, life in the 1950s was simpler and was slower paced. Families lived closer; people seemed to have had more time for each other and were kinder.

Harry Truman was the president from 1950-1952. In 1950, he approved the production of hydrogen bombs and sent the air force and navy to Korea participating in a war. The Korean War killed more than 30,000 American soldiers. In 1952, the Immigration and Naturalization Act was signed, removing any racial or ethnic restrictions for immigrants to become U.S. citizens. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the president of the United States from 1953-1961.

Racism was still present in the 1950s. Major changes were made in 1954, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Even so, problems still remained and forced black people to take actions to reach equality. A good example was in 1955; Ms. Rosa Parks refused to give her seat to a white man on a public bus, which resulted in a national debate. Ms. Rosa Parks became a well-known activist for human rights.

Many interesting and important inventions were made during the 50s. These inventions had profound influences on modern day lives. In 1950, telephone answering machines were created by Bell Laboratories and Western Electric. In 1951, the first commercial computer was invented, signaling the arrival of the computer age. The Atomic Energy Commission produced electricity from atomic energy, opening a door to energy revolution. In 1952, Sony, a brand new Japanese company, introduced the first pocket-sized transistor radio, which was the predecessor of the “Walkman” we are using today. In 1953, people were surprised, but excited to see the first 3-D movie: Arch Oboler's Bwana Devil. People were also excited to watch TV in color for the first time. In 1954, the solar cell was invented by Chaplin, Fuller and Pearson. In the field of medical science, Harvard physicians successfully performed the first kidney transplant in the U.S. Many things invented during 1955 and 1956 are still being used in our everyday life, such as TV remote control, microwave oven, computer hard disk, and videotape recorder.

In the 50s, a name became a sensation in everybody's life: Elvis Presley, the King of Rock "n" Roll. Rock "n" Roll was a new form of music becoming very popular in the 50s. This type of music combines a variety of musical styles, including rhythm, blues, country music and gospel. Elvis brought Rock "n" Roll to the hearts of millions of American fans. Without a doubt, Rock "n" Roll had a deep influence in language, fashion, and lifestyle of the people in the 50s.

Jobs in the 1950s for men mainly were manufacturing and agricultural jobs. There were more manufacturing and food processing jobs with a lot more farms around. Many women did not have jobs and were obligated to the role of housewife. Those who had jobs commonly were secretaries, receptionists, nurses, or teachers.

Censorship in the 50s was a big problem. One form of censorship came from McCarthyism, which showed serious anti-Communist suspicion in the United States from late 1940s to the late 1950s. Many films, books, and articles touching the topic of communism were censored. Hundreds of suspected communists were prosecuted between 1941 and 1957. By 1957, over 140 leaders and members of the communist party had been charged.

In conclusion, the 1950s was a colorful decade with many changes and inventions. Harry Truman was the first president during the 50s, but was soon replaced by Eisenhower. Racism was still a major problem at the start of the 50s. Censorship was also a major factor that limited people's freedom. Rock "n" Roll music became popular and gave people a new way to express their feelings.