Museum of Modern Art
Mo Ma: Abstract Expressionist New York
Blockbuster exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art underscores the relationship between New York City and the explosion of creative activity among the artists who lived there in the postwar period. Learn why New York became the center of...
Other
Constructing the Past: Shaping the American Women
This article from a history periodical looks at advertising aimed at women in the 1950s. After refuting conclusions made in a study in the 1970s that claimed that women in the 1950s were little more than domestic workers in their home,...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Voices Against Conformity
The decade of the 1950s was kown for conformity. There was an undercurrent of rebellion, especially among younger Americans. Read about the Beat Generation, alternative literature, rebellion in art, and treatment of those who were not...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Land of Television
The advent of increased television programming helped create a national popular culture. Read about the many kinds of television programs offered in the 1950s.
Other
Fifties Web
Explore popular culture of the 1950s and 1960s. Learn about the cars, tv shows, music, fashion, pop history, slang, and celebrities of those eras.
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Changing America" by Barbara Radner
This is an informational article about how Martin Luther King Jr. worked toward changing America in the 1950s and 1960s. It includes a short bio of Dr. King and a reading purpose: As you read, take notes on the problems that African...
Other
Fifties Boulevard: Material Culture of the 50s
A repository of images of 1950s culture. Includes fashion, types of food, cars, home interiors, toys, and comics.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: The Great Society
A quick comprehension check over the "Great Society" of the 1950s.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: The Dark Side of Suburbia
Some background information that sheds light on how suburbia wasn't paradise for everyone especially women and African Americans in the 1950s and 60s.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Poverty in America [Pdf]
Discover the numbers behind poverty in America in the 1950s. Read about those who were in poverty, where they lived, and find out if things have improved over the decades. [pdf]
Other
The Suburbanization of America: Patio Culture
This site offers a discussion on middle class suburban life in the 1950's and 1960's which has been dubbed the Patio Culture.
Read Works
Read Works: Excerpt From "The Fifties": The Affluent Society
[Free Registration/Login Required] Abridged from the full text located at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, this passage provides information about economic wealth of Americans living during the 1950's. Paired texts are...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Fences" by August Wilson
The play "Fences" explores the complex relationships of a 1950s middle-class, African American family and how they deal with issues of financial hardship, infidelity, and insecurities. Selected (7) reading passages (grades 7-11) to pair...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Archive: New Orleans Jazz: Music!
Dozens of audio clips of New Orleans-style jazz music from different time periods: 1920s and 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and the year 2000.
Digital History
Digital History: Sources of Discontent
After World War Two, many women placed a higher priority on marriage and having a family. However, this trend changed during the 1950s and by 1960 more women were attending college, working outside of the home, marrying later, and having...
PBS
Pbs: American Masters: Abstract Expressionism
Provides an article on Abstract Expressionism, "the dominant trend in western painting throughout the 1950s."
Other
Bouwmans of the Northwest: Television at the Sheckler's
Provides short descriptions of various television shows in the 1940's and 1950's.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Civil Rights Movement
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart focuses on the Civil Rights Movement and leaders of the 1950's and the 1960's.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Atomic Fears and the Arms Race
Looks at the nuclear arms race in the 1950s as the United States and the USSR both stockpiled nuclear weapons. Includes 1951 propaganda video showing schoolchildren how to 'Duck and Cover' in the event of a nuclear attack. [9:15]
Country Studies US
Country Studies: Foreign Economic Relations
Exports were the key to South Korea's industrial expansion. Until 1986 the value of imports was greater than exports. This situation was reversed, however, in 1986 when South Korea registered a favorable balance of trade of US$4.2...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Segregation
Steven Lawson, Professor of History at Rutgers, explores how racial segreagation changed from before the Civil War up to the 1950s and the differences in segregation between the North and the South. Students should understand the legacy...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Brown Reactions: Editorials
This sampling of newspaper editorials from the mid-1950s reflects the range of public opinion and responses to the Brown decision.
Oregon State University
Oregon State University: Military Aspects of Atomic Energy: Military Power
Article describes military power in an atomic age and perception at home and abroad during the 1950s.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Korean War
This encyclopedia article from Wikipedia provides a thorough discussion of the Korean War, the 1950s conflict between communist North Korea and anti-communist South Korea.
Other popular searches
- U.s. History 1950's
- 1950's Music
- 1950s Rock and Roll
- 1950's Lifestyle
- 1950's Clip Art
- 1950s Pop Culture
- Red Scare 1950's
- 1950s Activities
- 1950s Culture
- 1950's America
- Consumerism in the 1950's
- 1950s Social Studies