1950s

The 1950s in America saw a post-World War II economic boom, the dawn of the Cold War and a burgeoning of the civil rights movement. With the help of the G.I. Bill, many (mostly white) returning U.S. veterans drove demand for suburban homes, new cars and other consumer goods. But the decade also brought great conflict and division, as Black Americans increasingly organized to fight discrimination and as the crusade against communism intensified both at home and abroad in the Korean War.

Featured Overview

With countless families moving to the suburbs in the 1950s, fewer Americans could simply walk out onto the street to do their shopping. Shopping malls catered to this new, car-driving demographic, placing all consumer desires in one convenient location. The Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo, California did exactly that, and in 1957, pulled out all the stops to get new customers in the door.

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Elizabeth Eckford on her first day of school. She was one of the nine students whose integration into Little Rock’s Central High School was ordered by a Federal Court following legal action by NAACP.

Bettmann/Getty Images

Featured Overview

With countless families moving to the suburbs in the 1950s, fewer Americans could simply walk out onto the street to do their shopping. Shopping malls catered to this new, car-driving demographic, placing all consumer desires in one convenient location. The Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo, California did exactly that, and in 1957, pulled out all the stops to get new customers in the door.

4:32m watch

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The Korean War

What Caused the Korean War and Why Did the U.S. Get Involved?

The Cold War conflict was a civil war that became a proxy battle between the superpowers as they clashed over communism and democracy.

Tupperware Parties: Suburban Women’s Plastic Path to Empowerment

The parties swept the nation during the 1950s and 1960s—and were more than they seemed.

Actresses Lucille Ball (right) and Amanda Milligan in a classic episode of the television comedy 'I Love Lucy' entitled 'Job Switching,' which aired on May 30, 1952.

The Most Influential Classic Shows from TV’s ‘Golden Age’

Pioneering shows from the 1950s, like 'I Love Lucy,' would help shape the medium for decades to come.

Why Eisenhower Called in the 101st Airborne After Brown v. Board, Little Rock Nine

Why Eisenhower Sent Federal Troops to Little Rock After Brown v. Board

When the governor of Arkansas failed to integrate Central High School, President Eisenhower called in federal troops to protect the Little Rock Nine.

Flashback

Flashback: What Makes A Good Party?

House parties in 1950s didn't really look like those you go to today. This flashback looks at how teenagers had fun in a much simpler time.

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3 Major Events of the 1950s

Queen Elizabeth II Crowned (1953)

Launching a record-setting seven-decade reign as the United Kingdom’s monarch, 27-year-old Queen Elizabeth II was formally crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1953. During her reign, Elizabeth embraced steps to modernize her own image and that of the monarchy.

Nettie Hunt explaining to her daughter Nickie the meaning of the high court's ruling in the Brown v. Board of Education case on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. (Credit: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

Brown v. Board of Education Decided (1954)

In the landmark Supreme Court case, the justices ruled unanimously that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. Brown v. Board of Education became a cornerstone of the civil rights movement, ushering in an era of racial integration.

The Suez Crisis (1956)

The Suez Crisis occurred when Egypt's President Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, prompting an invasion by Britain, France and Israel. The conflict made clear that the old colonial powers of Great Britain and France had been supplanted as the world’s preeminent geopolitical forces by the U.S. and Soviet Union.

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1950s

In the skies above North Korea, a new kind of air war is raging at 500mph. Jet vs. jet dogfighting for the first time in history.

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With countless families moving to the suburbs in the 1950s, fewer Americans could simply walk out onto the street to do their shopping. Shopping malls catered to this new, car-driving demographic, placing all consumer desires in one convenient location. The Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo, California did exactly that, and in 1957, pulled out all the stops to get new customers in the door.

4:32m watch

In 1952, a dozen UFOs outran a team of U.S. Airforce fighter jets flying over Washington D.C. The sighting was not the first of its kind, begging the question: did aliens invade decades ago? See more in this clip from Dark History.

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House parties in 1950s didn't really look like those you go to today. This flashback looks at how teenagers had fun in a much simpler time.

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In the 1950s, cleanliness was king. In this Flashback, learn proper hygiene techniques from Soapy, a talking bar of soap.

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The 1950s were about more than just poodle skirts and rock and roll.

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Scientists demonstrate a solar battery which converts light into power. Though it is a small amount of power, it is a big first for science.

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Korean War veteran William Allen recalls being taken prisoner by North Korea.

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