1950S Essay

Absolute conformity leads to absolute corruption. The 1950’s was an affluent time of wealth, power, and social conformity. One could argue that this decade was the “wonder years” oh American history, a utopia of sorts. One could also deduct it as, ‘the calm before the storm.’ It brought on Xenophobia with the red scare and stereotypical family roles. It brought a new sense of prosperity and comfort with the foundation of the suburbs. However, a time of such flawlessness can only last for so long.
The Korean War, at this time, was only a fragment of the past. Dependent on that, America’s economy was thriving. The citizens were living, “the good life.” This ‘good life’ stereotype only portrayed if one fell into the white and middle/upper class parabola. With the economic stimulus in the lumber, glass, steel, and plastic industries were booming. With affects of the economy it revolutionized the United States’ society, with this, emerged suburbia. Towns placed outside of the cities, stereotyped for containing ‘the American dream’. Inside suburbia the most common house style was split level similar houses equipped with new technology, for example dish washers and air conditioning. This led to convenience and luxury (Epstein, 55). Naturally, one would think that living a perfect life would lead to perfect people; however, a thought that is practical is not always realistic.
How much perfection can one society really posses, a perfect house, town, country, but what does that all mean if the people cannot reciprocate and be perfect? Xenophobia, the fear of strangers was all too prevalent during the 1950’s. People lived in fear of nuclear war and the red scare was at a pinnacle. People were so afraid of communism the HUAC or, House Committee of Un-American Activity. This was founded to discover American disloyalty. American disloyalty consisted of any communist influence. The HUAC...