Mt. Carmel High School

THE '50s

The 1950s were, for the most part, years of peace and prosperity. Millions of families moved to the suburbs. Americans liked Dwight D. Eisenhower, their kindly war-hero president. Television became popular; I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke were hits. Teenagers chose their own fashions and music. And Elvis Presley thrilled young people and shocked their elders.

The decade also had serious events. The Korean War took more than 50,000 American lives. The first hydrogen bomb was detonated. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Three years later, President Eisenhower used the Arkansas National Guard and paratroopers to enforce integration at a Little Rock high school. In 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man.

In January 1959, Alaska was admitted as the 49th state, and in August, Hawaii became the 50th state. New words appearing in everyday vocabulary included brainwashing, ballpoint, and high-rise.

THE KOREAN WAR

The Korean War (1950-1953), the first major United Nations military action, claimed the lives of more than 50,000 Americans. U.S. and other U.N. forces fought to oppose the invasion of South Korea by Communist troops. President Harry S. Truman addressed the nation about Korea on April 11th 1950. In his speech he quoted a Communist agent who said "Our forces, are scheduled to attack South Korean forces about the middle of June .... The coming attack on South Korea marks the first step toward the liberation of Asia."

Question 1: What does President Truman say the real meaning of liberation is?
 

The Web site:
http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3351
To find the answer to that question, go to the Miller Center at the University of Virginia and read Truman's address to the nation.

U.S. LAUNCHES SATELLITES

Question 2:
Explorer 1 is among the many aircraft that are on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. That spacecraft provided evidence that supported "the first major scientific discovery of the Space Age." What was that discovery?

The Web site:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/galleries/gal100/exp1.html
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Milestones of Flight Web page.

POLIO VACCINE DEVELOPED

Polio epidemics peaked in the '50s, with almost 58,000 new cases in 1952 alone. A vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk and federally approved in April 1955 helped control the spread of the disease when it was administered nationwide.

Question 3:
Why did Jonas Salk refused to patent his vaccine?

The Web site:
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/sal0bio-1
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The Hall of Science and Exploration Web page.

DR. SEUSS'S THE CAT IN THE HAT

Question 4:

How many words did Dr. Seuss use to write The Cat in the Hat?
Visit National Public Radio and read about the process Dr. Seuss went through to write The Cat in the Hat
The Web site:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7651308
To find the answer to that question, go to the NPR  Web page and read about Dr. Seuss.

TAIL FINS AND CHROME

Cars of the '50s were large and ornate. Automakers attracted buyers with annual style changes. Tail fins, dazzling grilles, chrome trim, and hardtop convertibles were popular, as were big V-8 engines and three-toned paint jobs.

Question 5:
The 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Broughams was available in 4 colors. What were they? Go to The Cadillac database and find out.

The Web site:
http://www.car-nection.com/yann/Dbas_txt/Eld53-55.htm
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The Cadillac Database Web page. 

DRIVE-IN MOVIES

With postwar prosperity, the blossoming of suburbia, and the national love for cars and movies, drive-in theaters were natural attractions for new American families. Teenage couples found privacy and sometimes watched the movie.

Question 6:
Drive-ins became popular in the 1950s. 1958 was the peak year when it came to the most Drive-in theaters in the United States. About how many Drive-ins existed that year?  

The Web site:
http://www.drive-ins.com/aboutdt.htm
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The Drive-In Theater Page

DESEGREGATING PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Question 7:
Visit the Brown v The Board of Education website and read about Myths and Truths. Which myth surprised you the most? Explain.

The Web site:
http://brownvboard.org/content/myths-vs-truths
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Myths vs. Truths Web page.

ROCK 'N' ROLL

With roots in rhythm and blues, country and western, and gospel, rock 'n' roll crossed racial lines. Some adults found the rhythms rebellious and threatening, but the lyrics and loud music appealed directly to teenagers.

Question 8:
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame cites 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll. Now we all know that every single song recorded by the Beatles should be on the list however the curators of the museum felt it was necessary to include some other songs. How many Beatle songs made the top 500 list?

The Web site:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2989110/500-songs-that-shaped-rock-and-roll
To find the answer to that question, go to the
500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll Web page.

I LOVE LUCY

I Love Lucy (1951-1957) was one of the most popular shows in TV history. Lucille Ball starred as a zany homemaker trying to break into show business. Her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, costarred as her bandleader husband.