Examples Of Nonconformity In The 50's

The United States was left booming in economy and as an essential power of the world to the extent that markets expanded through technological advancements and housing. However, the 1950’s was a time of prosperity for whites but not for blacks. Prosperity is the condition of being successful but prosperity during the 1950’s was depicted as the stress-free America but no one experienced the “Other America”. Therefore, the 1950’s was a time of prosperity but at the same time it wasn’t.

When looking into the 1950’s and 1960’s, it is important to look at the many struggles going on back then in order to truly differentiate between the two decades. These two decades experienced many different challenges both socially and politically. In fact, many people have portrayed the 1950s as the decade of prosperity, conformity, and consensus. While others have portrayed the 1960s as a decade of turbulence, protest, and disillusionment. In order to truly differentiate between both the 1950s and 1960s, we must consider the war, civil rights, and social changes.

Post World War II America was a society full of anxiety. In the late 1950s Americans were deeply troubled by so many social shifts. Major changes were occurring both internally and externally. They were in the midst of the Cold War, and were vastly approaching the atomic age. There was a communist scare and fear of Russian expansion. Joseph McCarthy was hunting down major celebrities for their communist involvement and the 'Red Influence' seemed to be everywhere. The move toward suburbia and the growth of multinational corporations were flourishing. People seemed to be pulled in every direction. Another change that would have a major impact on society for years to come was the

The Sixties, by Terry H. Anderson, takes the reader on a journey through one of the most turbulent decades in American life. Beginning with the crew-cut conformity of 1950s Cold War culture and ending with the transition into the uneasy '70s, Anderson notes the rise of an idealistic generation of baby boomers, widespread social activism, and revolutionary counterculture. Anderson explores the rapidly shifting mood of the country with the optimism during the Kennedy years, the liberal advances of Johnson's "Great Society," and the growing conflict over Vietnam that nearly tore America apart. The book also navigates through different themes regarding the decade's different currents of social change; including the anti-war movement, the civil

The 1960’s was a decade riddled with racism and discrimination towards African Americans, especially in the Deep South. Blacks were barred from voting through poll taxes and literacy tests too difficult even for decently educated whites. All public places became segregated after the Supreme Court’s decision in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 and remained separated through the 60’s and even the 70’s. Groups like the Ku Klux Klan terrorized blacks, burning their homes and senselessly lynching thousands of black men, while many city and state governments in the South looked the other way.

The social imbalance in the nation stirred emotions in most American citizens during the mid 1960’s to the mid 1970’s and caused politicians to scramble to make a way to find peace. People nationwide had strong feelings about social injustices and the events that were occurring in daily life, like the Vietnam War, civil rights causes, political scandals, and an upcoming election. The war and the civil rights opinions people held close to heart, defined personalities and separated families by differences that could not be met with compromising. The youth of the era were outspoken and willing to protest and march, causing problems in numerous college campuses nationwide. Members of the community up for the draft, fought the system by any

The 1950s in the United States started to steer into a different course. In this decade conformity became a concept to rebel against. Not only is this seen with racial issues of segregation and the feminist movement pushing for female rights, it also applies to entertainment medias such as novels, movies and television, and art. During this time people changed previous time’s ideals and strove for change which sparked the cultural and social rebellions in the 1960s. Cold War tensions in the 1950s lead to an amazing movement in abolishing segregation and discrimination against minorities in the United States.

The sixties seemed to challenge basic American assumptions; the value of hard work and of traditional family values. “Middle” America formed 55% of the population, earning between $5000 and $15000 p.a. They lived between the city slums and the affluent suburbs, and were usually up to their eyes in debt. They wanted the law to protect them and their property. They believed in good manners, in respect for authority and the flag. The changes of the sixties left many of them confused and angry. They were not sure who to blame for social unrest. They were the silent minority that Nixon appealed to in his election campaign, and they helped him to victory. They were the resentment and reaction byproduct of social unrest. They worked to ensure their property and found it unfair that the government gave money to the people that did not work as much as they did. They wanted law and order. They wanted a state that provided security, response to the insecurity they felt in face of the students movement and the liberal culture. They felt ignored by the democrat government because they did not benefit from the financial help, house and health security.

There has been a great change since the 1960’s era with so much protest of being unfair to a certain race. Until the Vietnam war where more Americans were focused on protesting the war than on each other. Females also began to demand more rights for women during these years and social change in music was introduced differently than that of today. Politics were very violent during the 1960’s where famous leaders such as John F Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. People also dress different during the 1960’s than they do today with long hair in which they called themselves Hippies and wore unusual strange clothing in different fashions. With all these events happening in the 1960’s I believe that America was trying to find a way out from the hate and rejection to certain events that was taking place in order to shape America the way it should be for everyone.

The 1960's were a time of radical change in the society of America. A sense of liberalism could be felt though out the counting during the middle of the decade. The infamous Vietnam War and the new alternative culture were pushing the United States towards a time of liberalism and a nationwide rebellion against the social norms. The first combat forces were sent to Da Nang in 1965, by a formally anti war President, Lyndon B Johnson. The question of why the United States was engaging in a war between North and South Vietnam was raised. Anti war rebellions sprouted up all across the country, all asking the same question, “What are we fighting for?” This alternative culture started to develop though out America. Men, women, youth and

The 1960’s was a decade of change The Civil Rights Movement helped spark predominantly young Americans imagine a world without violence, prejudice, and hatred. Those involved with The Anti War Movement set out to lead mass movement of people to demonstrate peace parades, and sit-ins in order to have politicians recognize war was discouraged by the people. The protester urged the case of saving South Vietnam from communism was not worth the loss of so many lives. The Anti War movement not only started making people think, it caused a mass movement that will change American culture forever. “The popularity of rock and roll, the availability of birth control and mind-altering drugs led to the “hippie” lifestyle.”

How different would our lives be if we were living in the 1950s? Compared to present day, many of our lives would be drastically changed. Throughout my essay i’ll be covering the struggles and goals of many different, and similar social groups such as Native Americans, African American, Latinos and Asian Americans . Many of these social groups’ beliefs and religions were challenged to great extents during the civil rights era, causing bonds to be shared and achievements to become accomplished. Not only were some social groups helping others to achieve their goals but many groups were developing conjoined names and taking pride in their new identities. Although today our laws and rights may be much simpler, before the Civil Rights era, achieving

The 1960’s and 1970’s were one of the most important periods of America’s social history. This golden age era was one where economic expansion occurred. Living standards increased, the gross national product doubled, and the ordinary working class saw their wages rise. Suburbanization continued occurring. Towns such as Levittown were being built and more middle-class Americans were buying their own homes. Consumerism fever took hold of everyone. Most homes had a television and other amenities. Fortunately, the period of consensus during the 1950s was overcome. People were no longer fearful of criticizing America because they didn’t want to be branded communists. Not only did Americans simply agree upon individualism, the respect for private property, and the belief in equal opportunity, but they also fought for it. Because the time prior to this was hardly one of expanding opportunity, especially for African Americans, change was taking place. The amount of conformists was decreasing and new ideas were being produced. Ordinary African Americans fought against oppression during the Civil Rights movement to make America a more inclusive place. Leaders such as Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X all played major roles in achieving equality for all races. In parallel, ran the women’s movement, where leaders such as Barbara Walters, Phyllis Schlafly, and Betty Friedan advocated for the abandonment of traditional gender roles. Though both movements faced many hardships,

The 1960’s was a decade to remember. Hippies, The Draft, Civil Rights, and the Vietnam War were all events that took place in this youthful generation. Drugs claimed numerous lives furthermore the birth rate for young adolescents reached sky high. There was a major turning point on the idealistic life in the sixties its effect tarnished many families. ¶

Throughout recent history, the fifties proved to be the most interesting to me because not only was it a time of great economic expansion; but it was also known as a period where current citizens and leaders of the United States frowned upon. The “Golden Age” proved to be one of the most outbreaking movements of the industrial age. This period in American history gave citizens of the United States access to a better standard of living, transformed American agriculture, and brought the rise of the suburban nation. Remarkably, the employment rate for women had skyrocketed during the year of 1955 proving that