MU121 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Mattel, Roaring Twenties, Anti-Communism
Document Summary
After roaring 20s, depressed 30s, and war-ravaged 40s, the 1950s seemed a kinder, simpler, more innocent decade. Many conservative values reflected in popular tv shows. Decade saw birth of the modern civil rights movement, playboy magazine, and rock and roll. Time of great contradictions that existed in same time and place: During ww2, americans and soviets were allies against germany. Americans convinced communists were trying to infiltrate culture and overthrow us government. Wave of communist paranoia called the red scare. Senator joseph mccarthy lead anti-communism campaign similar to witch hunt. Campaign investigated and sought to expose communists among us citizens. Soviets launched first satellite sputnik into space in 1957. Fuelled fears and intense race for technological superiority between 2 countries. American won when they landed first man on moon in 1969. Out of strange brew of technology, spaceflight, and communist paranoia arose a distinctly american passion for science-fiction stories and movies.
