Bombs, Beats, and Bus Boycotts: The Turbulence of the 1950s
At the end of World War II , Americans saw prosperity that they had never seen before. The standard of living had risen, and America was racing for world dominance. Moreover , the events that took place during this decade would change the way we look at this era forever. This decade was an era of turbulence, rather than an era of idealism, due to great fear during the Cold War, the rise of rebellious beats, and the Civil Rights Movements taking place in the segregated south. First and foremost, the Cold War that began in the 50s created fear about rise of the Communist threat and nuclear power, a fear that dominates the anxieties of fighting a major war today. A very influent man named Joseph McCarthy led the communist threat. McCarthy brought a new word into America's vocabulary, McCarthyism. The legacy he left can be defined as a time in America's history when the government questioned people about their personal ideologies and brought negative exposure to thousands of people's lives. Communism in America during the 1950's was more like a rumor than a real event. McCarthyism left scars on many people's lives by his slander and should be viewed as a lesson of what simple accusations can do to one's life. Also the nuclear power
Because of their lifestyle choices and the way they expressed themselves, people considered them a threat to mainstream culture. " When they refused to ride a revolution began. In the video " The Beat," Cain said, " that they were out of this world just like the Russian satellite, the Sputnik. All the events that took place in the 1950s led the way into the 1960s. The blacks were verbally and physically abused while trying to enter the school. The beats were also considered Communist. Communism was still heard about during Vietnam War, the beats ideas were carried on by hippies, and the Civil Rights Movement was carried on far into the 60s and beyond. " From another perspective, the 1950s also had its share of good times. This social a!nd political movement showed whites how other whites were acting and exposed these moral scars. " This video also demonstrated how "credit cards made spending a lot easier. During this time of high spending, advertising, and family values, the beats took the time to express the discontent of America youth. Poets such as Jack Keroauc and Alan Ginsberg wrote about their discontent with American society and what it has turned out to be: materialistic and selfish. The death of Emmit Till showed all of America how racist southern Americans were. A San Francisco columnist named Herb Cain put the link between the beatniks and the so-called Communist link in perspective.
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people's lives,
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Acceptance Essays
