The Eisenhower Era?

Question

In my history textbook, the author calls the fifties the Eisenhower Era. I don't think that is a very good title at all for the decade, but cannot decide what I would call it instead. What do you think would be a good title for the 1950s?

Answer 1

From an American point of view, I think "the Eisenhower Era" is perfectly appropriate. His policies re: Korea and civil rights, for instance, were not substantially different from those of Truman, so those areas can be ignored. Think about what a huge impact his admiration of the German autobahns impacted our society. Can you imagine how different the U.S. would be without the Interstate highway system? And you must remember that a massive percentage of the population had been under arms only a few years before, in WW II, and Ike represented their mind-set quite well. And his intellect and strategic world view are all too easy to discount now. I think he was and remains under-appreciated.
I anticipate people will disagree, citing tail-gunner Joe or the beatniks, but I don't think these should detract from the argument. For the most part, except for McCarthyism, perhaps because of the memory of WW II, people were much more able or willing then to disagree without being disagreeable, and even here he was an example.

Answer 2

I've heard it called the "American Decade" because America was the affluent world power. People moved from apartments in the cities to private homes in the suburbs, the Interstate Highway System was started (it has been called the biggest public works project in history, still be worked on), and people had an idealist view of the country (look at TV: "Leave It to Beaver", etc.), while many problems were swept under the carpet. This latter is what led to the Counterculture of the 1960s, the young people stopped buying it.

Answer 3

The Ra Rah Era.
The college "letter" era
The I-me Era.

Answer 4

Cold War Era
Post-War Boom

Answer 5

the Rock 'n' Roll era. thats when it was born.