THE '50s
The 1950s were, for the most part, years of peace and prosperity. Millions of families moved to the suburbs. Americans liked Dwight D. Eisenhower, their kindly war-hero president. Television became popular; I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke were hits. Teenagers chose their own fashions and music. And Elvis Presley thrilled young people and shocked their elders.
The decade also had serious events. The Korean War took more than 50,000 American lives. The first hydrogen bomb was detonated. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Three years later, President Eisenhower used the Arkansas National Guard and paratroopers to enforce integration at a Little Rock high school. In 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man.
In January 1959, Alaska was admitted as the 49th state, and in August, Hawaii became the 50th state. New words appearing in everyday vocabulary included brainwashing, ballpoint, and high-rise.
THE KOREAN WAR
The Korean War (1950-1953), the first major United Nations military
action, claimed the lives of more than 50,000 Americans. U.S. and other
U.N. forces fought to oppose the invasion of South Korea by Communist
troops.
Question 1:
What did President Harry S. Truman believe would happen if the United
States did not stop Communist aggression in Korea? Visit the Korean War
Veterans Memorial and read about the origins of the Korean War.
The Web site:
http://www.nps.gov/kwvm/war/origins.htm
To find the answer to that question, go to the Korean War Veterans
Memorial home page and select The Cold War Heats up.
U.S. LAUNCHES SATELLITES
The first successful U.S. Earth satellite, Explorer 1, was
launched January 31, 1958. The second, Vanguard 1, was launched
March 17, 1958. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
was formally established October 1, 1958.Question 2:
Explorer 1 is among the many aircraft that are on display at the
Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. That spacecraft provided
evidence that supported "the first major scientific discovery of
the Space Age." What was that discovery?
The Web site:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/galleries/gal100/exp1.html
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Milestones of
Flight Web page.
POLIO VACCINE DEVELOPED
Polio epidemics peaked in the '50s, with almost 58,000 new cases in
1952 alone. A vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk and federally approved
in April 1955 helped control the spread of the disease when it was
administered nationwide.
Question 3:
Why did Jonas Salk refused to patent his vaccine?
The Web site:
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/sal0bio-1
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The Hall of
Science and Exploration Web page.
DR. SEUSS'S THE CAT IN THE HAT
The Cat in the Hat was written and illustrated in 1957 by Dr.
Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel). This masterpiece uses repeated syllables,
rhythmic verses, and fanciful drawings to teach children to read and to
use their imagination.Question 4:
How many words did Dr. Seuss use to write The
Cat in the Hat?
Visit Suessville and then select Biography. Then read
about his early career
The Web site: http://www.randomhouse.com/seussville/
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Suessville Web page
and read about his early career.
TAIL FINS AND CHROME
Cars of the '50s were large and ornate. Automakers attracted buyers
with annual style changes. Tail fins, dazzling grilles, chrome trim, and
hardtop convertibles were popular, as were big V-8 engines and
three-toned paint jobs.
Question 5:
The 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Broughams was available in 4 colors. What
were they? Go to The Cadillac database and find out.
The Web site:
http://www.car-nection.com/yann/Dbas_txt/Eld53-55.htm
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The Cadillac
Database Web page.
DRIVE-IN MOVIES
With postwar prosperity, the blossoming of suburbia, and the national
love for cars and movies, drive-in theaters were natural attractions for
new American families. Teenage couples found privacy and sometimes
watched the movie.
Question 6:
Drive-ins became popular in the 1950s. Visit the Drive-in Theaters
Appealed to all Ages Page. 1958 was the peak year when it came to the
most Drive-in theaters in the United States. How many Drive-ins existed
that year?
The Web site:
http://www.epcc.edu/ftp/Homes/monicaw/borderlands/14_drive_in_theaters.htm
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The Drive-In Theater
Page
DESEGREGATING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
With Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954),
the U.S. Supreme Court declared racial separation in public education
unconstitutional. The ruling initiated the beginning of mandatory
integration of public schools.Question 7:
Click on the Tour button on the Web site listed below and take
the tour of downtown Topeka, site of the historic Brown v. Board.
Write the number on the map that corresponds to each of the following
historic locations:
_____ a. Sumner School -- the school nearest Linda Carol Brown's home, which she wasn't allowed to attend.
_____ b. Monroe School -- the school for African American children that Linda Carol Brown was forced to attend.
_____ c. The Brown family's home.
_____ d. The law offices of Scott, Scott, Scott, and Jackson -- the Brown family's lawyers.
_____ e. The Federal Court Building where the case was heard (now a
post office).
The Web site:
http://brownvboard.org
To find the answer to that question, go to the
In Pursuit of Freedon & Equality:
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Web page.
ROCK 'N' ROLL
With roots in rhythm and blues, country and western, and gospel, rock
'n' roll crossed racial lines. Some adults found the rhythms rebellious
and threatening, but the lyrics and loud music appealed directly to
teenagers.
Question 8:
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame cites 500 songs that shaped Rock and
Roll. Now we all know that every single song recorded by the Beatles
should be on the list however the curators of the museum felt it was
necessary to include some other songs. How many Beatle songs made the
top 500 list?
The Web site:
http://www.rockhall.com/exhibitions/permanent.asp?id=658
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Web page.
I LOVE LUCY
I Love Lucy (1951-1957) was one of the most popular shows in TV history. Lucille Ball starred as a zany homemaker trying to break into show business. Her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, costarred as her bandleader husband.
