The 1950s
The 1950's were marked by conformity to social norms. Consensus about political issues and conformity in social behavior were safe harbors for Americans troubled by the foreign ideology of communism. At the same time the consumer culture blossomed. The decade of the 1950s deserves its reputation as an age of political, social, and cultural conformity.
The 1950s was an age of political conformity. For example, President Eisenhower accepted and even advanced in the New Dealish programs. During his presidency, Social Security benefits were extended and the minimum wage rose to $1.00 and hour. He also backed a $27 billion plan to build 42,000 miles of sleek, fast interstate highways. The construction of these modern roads created countless jobs and speeded the sub urbanization of America. This shows that president Eisenhower's conservatism and acceptance of the New Deal made the 1950s an age of political conformity.
The 1950s was a decade of social and cultural conformity. Diner's club introduced the plastic credit card in 1950, and four years later, the first McDonalds's hamburger stand opened in San Bernardino, California. These innovations were indications of an emerging new life-style of affluence that was in full flower by the 1950s. In 1946 virtually every American home had a television . Popular music was also transformed and accepted in the 50s. The chief revolutionary was Elvis Presley. Fusing back rhythm and blues with white bluegrass and country styles, he created a new musical idiom known forever after as rock and roll. Americans were well on their way becoming free-spending consumers of mass-produced, standardized products, advertised on the electronic medium of television and often sold for their alleged sexual allure. Despite of television and music Americans read more than ever. Paperback books were selling almost a million copies a day by 1960. Organized religion also expanded dramatically after World War II with the building of...
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