The 1950s were a time of great change for the world. They ushered in the true
start of the postwar era, were marked by increased economic prosperity, and
saw big changes in terms of people's outlook on civil rights. Significant medical
breakthroughs were also made.
Ten Things That Defined The 1950s. Enjoy! :)
The Baby Boom:
The Baby Boom of the 1950s is thought to be the result of a number of things -
first off, young couples were looking for normality following the end of two
devastating world wars. Older couples that had put off having children for
those exact reasons also began to have children of their own. In addition,
the postwar era, lent its hand to increased feelings of prosperity, with
people feeling they could provide their children with all the things they had
gone without. The Baby Boom went hand-in-hand with the Suburban Boom,
particularly in the United States.
Elvis Presley Shoots to Stardom:
While he had already become regionally famous by 1956, the King of rock 'n' roll
Elvis Presley shot to stardom thanks to his rendition of a song called 'Hound Dog',
first recorded in 1952 by Willie Mae Thornton. Presley's swiveling hips and
suggestive dance moves courted plenty of controversy in the conservative 1950's,
with one journalist stating that his moves belonged in a 'bordello'. Nevertheless,
his female teenage fans screamed at the top of their lungs and swooned wherever he
played.
Poodle Skirts and Conical Bras:
As rock 'n' roll swept the airwaves, major changes were afoot in terms of how
people were dressing. The poodle skirt was a colorful, full, swingy skirt
that was typically cut just below the knee. Usually made of felt fabric, many
poodle skirts were adorned with an image of a poodle, hence its name. The skirt
was a direct result of the desire to move more freely when dancing to rock 'n'
roll. The conical bra rose to prominence courtesy of 1950's screen sirens
Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and Jane Russell, specifically the latter. Her
film, 'The Outlaw', was banned by censors for lewdness, but that was the catalyst
for sparking interest in it, not to mention interest in the conical bra she was
wearing.
Queen Elizabeth II is Crowned:
On June 2nd, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne of the British
Monarchy. In the time since, she has served as sovereign for no less than 32
nations, held 91 state banquets, been on 78 state visits, and served as patron
for 620 charities. In addition, she is the world's greatest landowner and the
longest-serving monarch in the history of the British Monarchy.
Color TV is Introduced:
Although it didn't catch on until approximately a decade later, 1954 marked the
first consumer all-electronic color television set coming to market. The
Westinghouse H840CK15 beat its nearest competitor to the honor by just a
few weeks. The first coast-to-coast color broadcast also occurred in 1954 -
specifically on the first day of the new year. The Tournament of Roses Parade
was broadcast by NBC, heralding the future standard for television broadcasting.
The American Civil Rights Movement Begins:
Two key events served as the catalyst for the initiation of the American Civil
Rights Movement, which sought to bring legalized racial segregation in the US to
an end. The first was a legal case, which was brought against the Board of
Education in Topeka, Kansas. The plaintiffs argued that the segregation of black
children in the public school system was unconstitutional and had a detrimental
effect on them. The second was the infamous incident on a bus in Montgomery,
Alabama. Civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to get up for a white passenger
when instructed by the bus driver, leading to her arrest. The black community in
the city boycotted the buses for 381 days, leading to their desegregation.
Human DNA is Discovered:
The double helix, the twisted-ladder structure of deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA,
was discovered in 1953 by American geneticists James Watson and Francis Crick.
The discovery of one of the fundamental building blocks of life led to the
creation of powerful new scientific techniques, such as genetic engineering,
gene sequencing and the development of monoclonal antibodies. The multibillion-
dollar biotechnology industry of today also has its roots in the discovery.
Furthermore, DNA was first used to aid a criminal investigation by Professor
Jeffreys in 1986 allowing prosecutors now to determine the innocence or guilt of
an individual charged with a crime with a much greater degree of accuracy.
First Satellite is Launched Into Space:
The Soviet Union was the very first world power to launch an artificial satellite
into space. Sputnik 1 entered low Earth orbit on October 4th, 1957, triggering the
space race between the Soviet Union and the United States in the process. Sputnik 1
was only 23 inches in diameter, and featured four external radio antennae to
broadcast radio pulses back to earth. The satellite orbited Earth 1,440 times
during its 92-day mission.
Mount Everest is Summited:
Summiting the highest peak in the world proved elusive - the British alone sent
no less than eight expedition parties in the years leading up to 1953 to attempt
to reach the summit of Mount Everest, but all failed. On May 29th of that year,
New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first
men to stand at the top of the world. The feat was symbolic of man's mastery
over the natural environment and news of it reverberated across the globe. News
of it reached London in the morning and Queen Elizabeth II promptly knighted
Hillary and Norgay in the Order of the British Empire for their stunning
achievement.
First Organ Transplant:
The very first organ to be transplanted in human history was a kidney. The operation
took place on December 23rd, 1954 at Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Ronald Herrick donated one of his kidneys to his identical twin brother, Richard,
for the operation led by Dr. Joseph Murray and Dr. David Hume. The experience gained
from this landmark operation would spark a revolution in transplant operations,
saving countless lives in the decades since.
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