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1950's Social Changes

Decent Essays

During the 1950’s many new cultural, political, and social standards were set that people conformed to. There was a new want for civil and equal rights to women and minorities, including things that seem so common now, like voting, and going to public schools. These are things that we do everyday now that many people were not allowed to do back then. Our political leaders saw this want for rights during this time period, and used that to their advantage. Many of them campaigned for equal rights and cultural and societal reform. Because of this during the 1950’s our country was changed forever, in a way that would benefit us still today. There were many problems along the way though, and although it was a bumpy road it’s a trip our country will …show more content…

People stood up for their rights, and they weren’t going to back down until they got the rights they deserved. Peaceful protests, boycotts, and sit-ins were very common during this time period. Anti-racism groups were formed to fight for the cause, and people were starting to take notice. In the south it was another story. People fought for segregation and racism. White people refused to accept them as human equals. There were different facilities, water fountains, bathrooms, and even public transportation set apart for people that were “colored”. There was one instance, in 1957, where federal troops were sent to a Central High School in Little Rock, …show more content…

Board of Education, stating that colored people were allowed to go to the same school as white people. Although it had now been a federal law for three years many schools had not even started the process of desegregation, meaning that there were still separate schools for whites and colored people. But in Little Rock, Arkansas, it was a bit of a different story. The federal government had implemented a plan to desegregate schools by putting in small groups of colored kids in set increments of time to help ease the people of the south into the process of desegregation. When the state government of Arkansas heard this was happening the governor at the time, Orval Faubus, sent in the national guard to prevent colored kids from entering the Central High School and getting the education that they rightfully deserve. When eisenhower heard what was happening he immediately sent federal troops to overrule the state government and every colored kid was escorted to class by a soldier. It was instances like these that inspired people to hold hold protests all across the

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