Learn about United States in the 1950s

Cold war tension with the Soviet Union and the United States policy of containing communism worldwide led to war in Korea in 1950, and the deaths of over 33,000 United States troops in that conflict.

At home there was a witch haunt for communist within the government as the loyalty of many prominent Americans was called into question. “Are you a member of the communist party or have you ever been a member of the communist party?” For most Americans the 50s was a time of growth and prosperity. Larger houses with more open space were built on the perimeters of the Nation’s cities and for the first time population expansion shifted away from urban centers.

Driving this change in lifestyle was the automobile which made it possible for millions to get to these new suburbs from jobs in the city centers. Prosperity brought more modern conveniences to more Americans than ever before and the television brought the world into their living rooms dramatically changing the way they spent their leisure time.


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