1950’s Victoria Warren, Kristopher Briggs,

McKenna Adams

SCIENCE- Health

The first Kidney transplant is performed in 1950 by Dr. Richard Lawler

The artificial pacemaker is developed in 1951, and in 1952 the first artificial heart component was used

Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine is proven effective in 1953

The structure of DNA is discovered The oral contraceptive pill is developed in

1955 The measles vaccine in developed in 1958

SCIENCE- Technology

Tritium, a hydrogen isotope, is discovered for use in the hydrogen bomb

In 1951, the first commercially- produced, large scale business computer (UNIVAC) is marketed

In 1954, the first nuclear-powered submarine and train are built

In 1957, Sputnik is launched by U.S.S.R. and orbits the earth while carrying 2 dogs into space

SCIENCE- Technology

Stereo records are introduced in 1958 In 1958, NASA is organized Vanguard, the first weather station in

space, is launched by the U.S. in 1959 The heat seeking missile is developed

in 1959

GOVERNMENT

The 1950 census indicated that for the first time, the population in the United States was over 150 million people.

In November 1952 election, Dwight D. Eisenhower, a new politician, gained an easy win over Adlai E. Stevenson. The Electoral College vote was 442 to 89.

Racial segregation is declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court 1n 1954. It violated the 14th amendment.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, an African American seamstress, refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white person which prompted a boycott. This led to the declaration that bus segregation laws were unconstitutional.

GOVERNMENT

101 congressmen from the Southern states called for massive resistance to the Supreme Court ruling on desegregation in March 1956.

Eisenhower had an easy second term win in the November 1956 election over Stevenson with a 457 to 73 electoral vote. He was inaugurated in January of 1957.

On January 3, 1959, Alaska is admitted to the United States as the 49th state followed by Hawaii on August 21, 1959.

ART Abstract expressionism was a specifically

American post-World War II art movement. It was the first American movement to

achieve worldwide influence and also the one that put NYC at the center of the art world.

Art in the 50’s has an image of being rebellious and anarchic because of the Holocaust, combined with self expression and emotional intensity

ART Action Painting: described painters with

“life energy” being the driving force of the painting. The paintings were irrational, instinctive, and impulsive moments of existence.

Color Field and Hard Edge Painting: extremely large colored areas, no signs, or shapes the eye could see. The colors didn’t have perspective so it seemed to have impressive size.

CULTURE- Television

Television broadcasting was the most far reaching advancement

It was a dominant mass media because of the war with propaganda

CULTURE- Theater, Film, and Radio

Musicals were very well received Dance went through a serious change

during the 50’s The American dance theater featured

all black casts and dance was culturally based

Radios were very popular because of people carrying small transistor radios to listen to rock and roll

CULTURE- Sports

People loved sports in the 50’s Having leisure time and more

prosperity caused people to participate in more athletic activities, and added many more fans to all sports

As television grew more popular, sports like college football got more followers; people also watched the Olympics

VIDEOS

http://www.biography.com/people/rosa-parks-9433715/videos