answersLogoWhite

0

What was life like in the 1950s?

Updated: 9/11/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Best Answer

Not nearly as idyllic as Happy Days and similar shows would have you believe. There was a lot of tension and fear, with the Cold War and worries about Communism, and also a recession during the decade that nobody wanted to talk about. The fact that there was another war (Korea) following World War II, which was supposed to be the "war to end all wars", was a major disappointment to many people. The A-bomb (atomic weapons) and later the H-bomb (thermonuclear weapons) were supposed to be deterrents against any future warfare. That didn't happen.

The Civil Rights Movement and Women's Liberation were in their infancy, the Gay Rights movement didn't even exist, marijuana was considered a "dangerous narcotic", and there were numerous restrictive laws against nearly everything that came to be accepted in later years (interracial marriage, cohabitation, divorce on grounds other than adultery, recreational and non-missionary styles of sex, open discussions about sex and relationships). Cigarette smoking was considered harmless, and driving drunk was actually a legitimate legal defense, if one got into an accident.


Life was rough in the 1950s. At school students would get beat with shoes, rulers, sticks, and hands if they were punished. Only some kids from each neighborhood went to school. Some Catholic school had uniforms but the public schools didn't.
User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What was life like in the 1950s?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What was life like in Liverpool in the 1950s?

Life in Liverpool in the 1950s was grim


What was life like in the 1950s in America?

Life in the 1950s in America consist of a population of 151,684,000. The number of unemployed was 3,288,000 and the average salary was $2,992.


What was critical to life in the suburbs in the 1950s?

In the 1950s, the expansion of highways and automobiles played a critical role in shaping life in the suburbs by facilitating easier commutes to cities for work. Additionally, the availability of affordable housing and the GI Bill's support for veteran home loans helped fuel suburban growth. The rise of consumer culture and the development of shopping malls also played a significant role in defining suburban life in the 1950s.


What technology propagate consumerism and uniformity of American life in the 1950s?

television


Which two laws helped transform American life in 1950s?

The Federal Highway Aid Act of 1956 and the GI Bill (also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act) helped transform American life in the 1950s.


What were classrooms like in the 1950s?

they looked dull and boring


What was the fashion like in the 1950s?

big outgoing clothes


Is a 1950s penny good luck?

there is no luck it just depends how you live life


What consumer goods became an important part of American life in the 1950s?

Televisions


What was it like to live in the 1950s?

Living life in he 1950s was a little easier than it is today. The average person working a full time job was able to support their entire family and purchasing power was up greatly. People were optimistic, the suburbs were growing, and society was upwardly mobile.


What was life like for teens in America in the 1950s?

Life was different, very different!The word 'Teenager' was born in the 1950s as kids were repealing from their parents, this was due to infulences like Elvis Presley, Marilyn monroe etc.Only the rich could afford a television so usually teens where more active, playing a lot of sports staying healthy. Also getting up to mischief which will never change regardless of what year it is.


Work life in 1950s?

work life in the 1950's were not equal because women got less than men