The 1950’s was a time of great prosperity in the United States. The economy flourished, military strength was at its peak, and Americans were very happy. Although America was prosperous, there were underlying problems like the civil rights movement leading to conflict and division in society. Some figures that had a strong impact on this decade were Dwight D. Eisenhower, Rosa Parks, and Marilyn Monroe. The actions of these individuals helped shape society and the government, leaving a lasting impact on future generations.
An important figure in the 1950s was President Dwight D. Eisenhower. His decisions in government had a powerful impact on society, and set up a strong basis for future generations to come. Eisenhower became president in 1953 leading the republican party. He had a strong military background and was a general in World War ll, leading many invasions to help end the fighting. This helped him gain popularity with the American people. After a successful military career President Harry Truman assigned him to control the North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Europe. He worked to protect the US from communist militaristic aggression. Eisenhower than successfully ran to be the 34th president of the United States. Eisenhower had approached domestic affairs different than presidents had in the past with a manner called ‘dynamic conservatism’ which put an emphasis on the welfare of the individual rather than state economic interference. He continued ideals from policies like the New Deal and Fair Deal programs to strengthen individuals rights in government. He vouched for the people and created the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. He also strengthened Social Security and raised minimum wage. He believed in his policies to benefit individuals, and then benefit the mother country. President Eisenhower went on to create the Interstate Highway System which was the largest public works project in history. He helped construct over 41,000 miles of roads across the country. This drastically improved the economy and everyday life for Americans. Although Eisenhower was reluctant to support certain civil rights movements he ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional and passed laws to protect black voting rights. Eisenhower also had strong foreign policy. At the beginning of his presidency he ended the Korean War by passing an armistice. He rarely sent forces into active duty throughout his presidency. Eisenhower said "Arms alone can give the world no permanent peace, no confident security. Arms are solely for defense — to protect from violent assault what we already have. They are only a costly insurance. They cannot add to human progress." He did not want to further war after being a soldier and fighting so long before his presidency. To undertake Communist plans across the country he accredited the CIA to help foreign nations. Eisenhower wanted to mend relationships with the Soviet Union after Stalin’s death, he proposed an “open skies” policy so both countries could inspect each other’s military tactics. The Soviet Union was not in favor of this policy, but it was advocated for internationally. With impending communist threats from the Soviet Union Eisenhower strengthened NATO and SEATO to dismiss these threats.
Overall, President Eisenhower had a strong impact on the US and set models for future presidents to follow. His Eisenhower Doctrine set up the US to be able to aid countries that were threatened by armed aggression from other countries. Eisenhower was willing to send troops to the middle east to disarm the spread of communism and nations taking over. This helped keep communism out of the middle east and was brought into action and proved effective in 1958 in Lebanon.
Another important person in the 1950s was civil rights activist Rosa Parks. She helped initiate the civil rights movement in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. The “negroes-in-back” policy was incredibly degrading and after a longs day of work she was not going to conform to this demeaning law. In Parks autobiography she said “People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired,” “but that isn’t true. I was not tired physically… No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” Even though others sitting in the “colored section” complied and stood up when asked to she was not going to concede to the bus drivers unnecessary racist actions. She was arrested for defying the segregation laws and convicted of the crime. This led to a group of civil rights activists to lead a bus boycott that lasted almost a year. During this time Parks lost her job and suffered many consequences for standing up for what she believed in. The US Supreme Court eventually ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional. However, the boycott and new laws angered the white community in Montgomery resulting in violence. This didn’t faze the boycotters and they continued the protest and spread their movement across the country. The bus boycott ended the day after the law was passed ending segregation on buses but Parks experienced harassment well into the rest of her life for being “the mother of the civil rights movement”.
Rosa Parks dignity and willpower to defy authority lead to the spark of the civil rights movement and future equality for the black community. Without her courageous actions the Supreme Court wouldn’t have ruled segregation on busses unconstitutional. Her actions lead to many other protests and a fourteen year movement demanding equality. After receiving many threats and harassment Parks moved to Detroit and carried out her movements there. She wrote an autobiography and received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor a civilian can receive. She was also the first woman to lie in state at the US Capitol after her death in 2005. Furthermore, Rosa Parks was nationally renowned as a symbol of strength and pride in the fight to end racial segregation.
Marilyn Monroe was a prominent feminists in the twentieth century and left behind a legacy that still lives on today. Monroe was tired of only being cast as mediocre sex-roles and wanted to create a more serious reputation for herself and her career. Monroe said “I don't mind living in a man's world as long as I can be a woman in it.” She wanted to be her own face of a company so she could get full credit for her accomplishments. Monroe was the second woman to start her own production company called Marilyn Monroe Productions. She formed this company with her photographer Milton Greene being her vice president. Other production companies she had worked for were outraged and sued her for forming her own company, she revised her company and made a deal with Fox. Although this is not what she wanted it helped further her career with being part of such a well-known studio. Her company produced two projects and she was awarded the David di Donatello Prize for Best Foreign Actress of 1958 and the Crystal Star Award for Best Foreign Actress of 1959. Owning her production company gave her much more power than other actresses at this time. Her contract allowed her to have script, director, and cinematographer authorization. Creating her own company in the 1950s showed other actresses in this time they were capable of creating their own brand.
Monroe is still a prominent figure in society today. Not only her impact as an actress heading her own company, but as a model has set the standards for today’s industry. It is seen more today that Marilyn Monroe was a true feminist of her decade especially after starting her own company. She backed away from roles that she was only chosen for because of her appearance and set her own path. She is still prevalent in society today through art. Her cutouts and photographs are still seen in stores throughout the streets of Manhattan. Andy Warhol also continued her legacy in a series of paintings of Monroe after her sudden death. His work was in color and black and white depicting her life and death.
Thus, the 1950s was a time of prosperity and advancement in American culture. The following individuals significantly impacted the nation and left behind legacies. Without these important individuals things would not be the same in today’s society. While he US still had its problems to face American people were improving the country as a whole.