It can be safe to say that coming into the 1950s Americans had to be content with the outlook of their futures. The 1940s had been bloody, and the scars were only beginning to heal from the devastation of the Second World War. Our soldiers had returned to fan fare and victory celebrations, but also a changed country. These changes took awhile to appear and that’s what the 1950s were, an era in which change and growth in our country can be seen more readily, and on a macro scale evermore than before.

The year 1950 did present several setbacks that may have stifled growth at the beginning of the decade. The communist threat that terrified the United States was plaguing Americans, not only from a far, but also

The American dream was again being realized. The family car, the house with the white picket fence, and a good paying job were all fairly attainable with a little hard work. Commodities were on the rise and there were more and more “wants” available that could be attained. The television, new foods and consumer products were hitting the stores. The growth in urban areas were incredible with the development of planned living centers, namely the sub-division, allowing for the quick and efficient construction of many homes for new families.

from with in. Outside of our borders the Korean War began in June of 1950 and would last for a full three years. Americans, again, were sent over seas to fight in foreign lands in the pursuit of restoring peace and prosperity. This three year war would truly end in a stalemate, with no land being lost or gained and one of the largest demilitarized zones being created. This would set a precedent; however, unlike in the past where America had tried at times to stay out of world affairs, particularly after the First World War, the United States would now truly be a world power. This was not the first step but it was an important one along the road to being number one in the world.

The terror of communism came along hand in hand with the fear of nuclear war. Bomb shelters were being built and added not only to commercial, but also residential buildings after the discovery that the Soviets had attained such weapons. “The discovery of fallout provoked a shelter craze. Bob Russell, a Michigan sheriff, declared that ‘to build a new home in this day and age without including such an obvious necessity as a fallout shelter would be like leaving out the bathroom 20 years ago” (Nash 889). This fear of nuclear war was crippling, as an outside force posed a threat to our peaceful life and much more our peace of mind.

When it comes to the lifestyles of the 1950s and the way an American would live, there are many aspects to examine. First off, the baby boomers were entering into the world. “A baby boom brought unprecedented population growth” (Nash 840). An entire generation would be created in a very short period of time. They would be a group of individuals that would lead America in a new direction that many would have considered unheard of in the past. This generation is currently the majority of the population in the United States, and because of this fact, things are going to change. Social

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