Contrasting The 50s Essay

Submitted By seanoconnell12
Words: 477
Pages: 2

Sean O’Connell
Hr.5
Mr. Witcombe
The Nuclear Family

As the tensions mount in the Korean Peninsula, with the nuclear mounting in North Korea old fears are renewed. For those of us who grew up during the 1950’s and 1960’s the fear of nuclear attack was scary. Nothing matched the fear of a cold war turning hot. It was a time when most Americans assumed the U.S. and the Soviets stood on the brink of nuclear war. The government provided lots of snappy phrases like, “Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow”. In case of an H bomb blast the Atomic Energy Commission offered some easy advice. People in fall out areas can protect themselves by following some simple rules they suggested reassuringly. The news of an H Bomb attack will be announced over the radio and most people will know about it before the veil of stinging dust comes settling down out of a clouded sky over farm, forest and village. So until then, enjoy the freedom to live as you please.

Race mixing

African Americans began to make some progress in their struggle for equality. Part of it was because African Americans returning from fighting as soldiers in WWII who fought in WWI came home and stood up for their rights as Americans. They'd seen a desegregated world in places like France, they fought, killed, and sacrificed for freedom in Europe. When they came back, they wanted their freedom too. After WWII, President Eisenhower desegregated the armed forces for good. The Montgomery Bus Boycott, centered around Rosa Parks refusal to give up her seat to a white man, and led by Martin Luther King Jr. set the civil rights ball rolling for real he was a great leader for black people and I believe he was the main reason to end segregation. Segregation on buses went out the window, and