Homogenizing conformity characterized the 1950s. After the Great Depression of the 1930s and the end of World War II, war-weary Americans, wanted above all stability and prosperity. The exodus of middle-class citizens from cities, the growth of suburbs, the popularity of television, the Cold War, and communist paranoia all contributed to the compelling need to conform to the times. Sometimes, however, persistent social unrest threatened to betray this superficial veneer of normalcy and ultimately culminated in the beginnings of the civil rights movement and the rise of Beat culture. Although the decade of the 1950s was extremely conformist, certain aspects betrayed an underlying rejection of this society that would carry over into the following decades. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The need to conform has permeated almost every aspect of American life. The Cold War created a deep, deep-rooted fear of a perceived communist threat. The duality of this conflict has polarized the population and established an “us” versus “them” mentality. Above all, the Americans sought consensus. Those who did not follow social norms or deviated from them in any way were considered dangerous and a threat to society. Senator Joseph McCarthy's vociferous political attacks on so-called communists, while mostly unfounded, fostered a cultural climate in which any evidence against capitalism was unacceptable and aberrations from "normal" society were unacceptable. communist inspiration. At the height of the Second Red Scare, Communist Party members Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of espionage and executed, although evidence of their involvement in transmitting atomic secrets was tenuous at best (Linder). Even an allusion to communist-related activities was a source of suspicion; many organizations, such as unions, gained the reputation of communist fronts. Extensive media coverage that instilled fear, coupled with the threat of neighbor gossip, or at worst betrayal, forced many to comply. The Cold War created an era of paranoia that resulted in conformity among those who wanted to fit into ordinary life. The omnipresence of television and the increase in advertising have only reinforced this homogeneity. The media exposed Americans to the same ideals and accepted social norms; Hollywood has portrayed typical citizens as middle-class suburban whites with distinct gender roles, as in Father Knows Best or Leave it to Beaver. Advertising agencies also supported the lifestyles and values ​​of white Americans, fueled by the consumerism of the decade. Laws such as the Military Rehabilitation Act allowed veterans to purchase homes in the suburbs with no down payment, prompting many people to leave urban areas in search of cheaper properties and better living conditions. life (“suburbs”). Other laws, such as the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, authorized the construction of 40,000 miles of highways and further contributed to suburban sprawl. However, workers continued to move to the cities and many were unhappy with the uniformity and bureaucracy of their work. The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by writer Sloan Wilson depicts one man's disenchantment with culture.