Crash Course U.S. History Episode 39: Consensus and Protest: Civil Rights

Introduction to the 1950s

• The 1950s: A significant period in U.S. social history characterized by the advent of television and the rise of the Civil Rights Movement.
• Importance of the era attributed to social movements rather than merely advancements in technology.

Consensus Culture in the 1950s

• Definition of Consensus Culture: General agreement among white males, who largely benefitted during this time.
• Driven by:
  • The Cold War, which discouraged criticism of the U.S.
  • Economic prosperity that reduced reasons to be critical.
• Economic Expansion:
  • From 1946 to 1960, the U.S. saw a significant rise in living standards, with GNP doubling.
  • By 1960, about 60% of Americans enjoyed a middle-class lifestyle (Eric Foner).
  • Access to modern conveniences: TVs, refrigerators, air travel, etc.

Suburbanization

• Rapid growth in housing, with homes doubling in number during the decade.
• Example: Levittown, New York – 10,000 identical homes built rapidly, housing 40,000 people.
• Increased car ownership due to suburban living:
  • By 1960, 80% of American families owned cars, leading to a car-centric culture that influenced shopping and dining.

Critiques of 1950s Society

• Despite the image of prosperity, many critics emerged:
  • C. Wright Mills: Described a power elite controlling the economy and politics, diminishing genuine democracy.
  • David Riesman: Critiqued the conformism and lack of individuality in American society.
  • John Kenneth Galbraith: Questioned the societal priorities of funding for military instead of education.
  • The Beat Generation: An artistic and literary movement expressing disillusionment with traditional values, celebrating freedom over materialism.

The Civil Rights Movement

• While the 1950s were perceived as a golden age for many, African Americans faced systemic inequalities:
  • Rigid segregation in public life and employment.
  • High poverty rates among black families and unequal educational opportunities.
• Early roots of the Civil Rights Movement date back to WWII through A. Philip Randolph’s initiatives and the Double-V Campaign.

Landmark Events and Figures

• Key legal rulings:
  • Mendez v. Westminster (1946): Desegregation of schools in California for Latino students.
  • Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Landmark Supreme Court case that ruled school segregation unconstitutional (Earl Warren's court).
  • The ruling established that segregation in public schools created a sense of inferiority in black children, detrimental to their education.
• Montgomery Bus Boycott:
  • Initiated by Rosa Parks’ arrest on December 1, 1955, for refusing to give up her seat.
  • Parks was a longstanding activist, not just an average citizen fed up with segregation.
  • The boycott lasted 381 days, gaining national attention and spotlighting civil rights activism.
• Emergence of Martin Luther King Jr. as a prominent leader:
  • Helped organize the boycott and later formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to push for civil rights.

Governmental Responses and Ongoing Challenges

• Eisenhower's administration was resistant to civil rights, but intervention was necessary when Arkansas closed schools to resist integration.
• In Little Rock, he sent federal troops to enforce school integration after Governor Faubus’ resistance.
• Despite efforts, by the end of the 1950s, less than 2% of black students attended integrated schools in the South, highlighting ongoing resistance.

Conclusion

• The 1950s may have appeared as a time of consensus and prosperity, especially for white Americans, but the social landscape was marked by significant inequality and civil rights struggles.
• The emergent Civil Rights Movement marked a pivotal challenge to the inequalities of the era. Future discussions will explore the roles of other marginalized groups in the ongoing fight for rights in the 1960s.