Politics: During the fifties and what was the post WWII period in America, the face of the nation changed greatly under the presidency of Truman and Eisenhower. When WWII ended, Americans were left in the hands of Harry Truman. Truman, known as an aggressive Cold War fighter, led Americans against the rise of Communism. During Truman's time in office the United States would join South Korea in the war against North Korea. Truman would also order the Atomic Energy Committee to develop the hydrogen bomb. You could say Truman went out with a bang as he fired General Douglas MacArthur and sent more U.S. troops to a war that would end with nothing accomplished but dead bodies. General Dwight D. Eisenhower would later step in as president in 1953. As the United States President, Eisenhower or Ike, as the world liked to call him, brought a rush of optimism and better days. Ike did the best job possible to heal the political wounds created during the Truman era.
Culture: It was a wonderful time to be alive. After the grim years of the depression the fifties brought a wave of happiness and good times. Girls could be found playing hopscotch, jacks, jumping rope or trying their skill at the hula hoop. Boys played cowboys and Indians. The poodle skirt and pony tail were the usual attire for the girls. The guys on the other hand showed their attitudes with blue jeans worn like James Dean. As far as music wentElvis Presley rocked the fifties with his music hits and good looks. Marilyn Monroe was a premier sex symbol of the decade. The new excitement of this decade brought expansion and created new jobs as Americans began spending money on luxuries and other things besides their basic needs.
