Celebrate the Century:
Search the Web for U.S. History of the 1950s
Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat, television sitcom I Love Lucy, and undefeated
boxing champ Rocky Marciano are among the 1950s icons that were honored
on commemorative stamps issued May 26, 1999, in Springfield, Massachusetts.
They join stamp sets highlighting the other decades of the century,
which are all part of the Postal
Service's landmark Celebrate the Century stamp and education program.
The following INTERNET SCAVENGER HUNT will give you an opportunity to
explore sites about the1950's people and events that inspired the stamps.
TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AROUND AT EACH SITE YOU VISIT.
THE '50s
The 1950s were, for the most part, years of peace and prosperity. Millions
of families moved to the suburbs. Americans liked Dwight D. Eisenhower,
their kindly war-hero president. Television became popular; I Love Lucy
and Gunsmoke were hits. Teenagers chose their own fashions and music.
And Elvis Presley thrilled young people and shocked their elders.
The decade also had serious events. The Korean War took more than 50,000
American lives. The first hydrogen bomb was detonated. In 1954, the U.S.
Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
Three years later, President Eisenhower used the Arkansas National Guard
and paratroopers to enforce integration at a Little Rock high school. In
1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat
to a white man.
In January 1959, Alaska was admitted as the 49th state, and in August,
Hawaii became the 50th state. New words appearing in everyday vocabulary
included brainwashing, ballpoint, and high-rise.
THE KOREAN WAR
The Korean War (1950-1953), the first major United Nations military
action, claimed the lives of more than 50,000 Americans. U.S. and other
U.N. forces fought to oppose the invasion of South Korea by Communist troops.
Question 1:
In Washington, D.C., the Korean War Veterans Memorial includes a patrol
of 19 stainless steel statues depicting ground troops in the war. The memorial
was dedicated on July 27, 1995. Why was that date special to the men and
women who fought in the Korean War?
The Web site:
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Korean War Veterans Memorial
home page.
http://www.nps.gov/kwvm/index2.htm
U.S. LAUNCHES SATELLITES
The first successful U.S. Earth satellite, Explorer 1, was launched
January 31, 1958. The second, Vanguard 1, was launched March 17,
1958. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was formally
established October 1, 1958.
Question 2:
Explorer 1 is among the many aircraft that are on display at
the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. That spacecraft provided
evidence that supported "the first major scientific discovery of the Space
Age." What was that discovery?
The Web site:
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Milestones
of Flight Web page.
http://www.nasm.edu/galleries/gal100/gal100.html
POLIO VACCINE DEVELOPED
Polio epidemics peaked in the '50s, with almost 58,000 new cases in
1952 alone. A vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk and federally approved
in April 1955 helped control the spread of the disease when it was administered
nationwide.
Question 3:
Salk's vaccine was released in 1955. Twenty years later -- in 1974
-- how many cases of polio were diagnosed?
The Web site:
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Millennium Cards:
Jonas Salk Web page.
http://future.newsday.com/cards/card0224.htm
DR. SEUSS'S THE CAT IN THE HAT
 The
Cat in the Hat was written and illustrated in 1957 by Dr. Seuss (Theodor
Seuss Geisel). This masterpiece uses repeated syllables, rhythmic verses,
and fanciful drawings to teach children to read and to use their imagination.
Question 4:
Dr. Seuss wrote children's books before he wrote The Cat in the Hat.
His first children's book was rejected by 43 publishers before a friend
published the book for him. What was the title of that first book?
The Web site:
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Hometown Delicatessen
Biography Pages: Dr. Seuss Web page. http://www.massinternet.com/deli/bioseuss.htm
TAIL FINS AND CHROME
Cars of the '50s were large and ornate. Automakers attracted buyers
with annual style changes. Tail fins, dazzling grilles, chrome trim, and
hardtop convertibles were popular, as were big V-8 engines and three-toned
paint jobs.
Question 5:
Only 400 of the Cadillac Eldorado Broughams were built in 1957. That
year, the average new Cadillac sold for $5,539. And you could buy a house
for $10,000! How much did one of the limited-edition Broughams cost?
The Web site:
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Joyrides: A Gallery
of Classics Web page. Click on the Gallery button and scroll
down to the cars of "The Tailfin Era." http://detnews.com/1998/joyrides/classics
DESEGREGATING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
With Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954),
the U.S. Supreme Court declared racial separation in public education unconstitutional.
The ruling initiated the beginning of mandatory integration of public schools.
Question 6:
Click on the Tour button on the Web site listed below and take
the tour of downtown Topeka, site of the historic Brown v. Board.
Write the number on the map that corresponds to each of the following historic
locations:
_____ a. Sumner School -- the school nearest Linda Carol Brown's home,
which she wasn't allowed to attend.
_____ b. Monroe School -- the school for African American children that
Linda Carol Brown was forced to attend.
_____ c. The Brown family's home.
_____ d. The law offices of Scott, Scott, Scott, and Jackson -- the
Brown family's lawyers.
_____ e. The Federal Court Building where the case was heard (now a
post office).
The Web site:
To find the answer to that question, go to the
In Pursuit of Freedon & Equality:
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Web page.
http://brownvboard.org
DRIVE-IN MOVIES
With postwar prosperity, the blossoming of suburbia, and the national
love for cars and movies, drive-in theaters were natural attractions for
new American families. Teenage couples found privacy and sometimes watched
the movie.
Question 7:
Drive-ins became popular in the 1950s, but the first drive-in was built
on the East Coast of the United States in 1933. Where was that drive-in?
The Web site:
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The American Drive-In Movie
Theater Web page and click on Take a Tour.
http://www.americandrivein.com
STOCK CAR
RACING
Races involving stock cars, modified versions of ordinary passenger
cars, attracted drivers and fans alike. The 1950s witnessed a boom in stock
car racing, and the first Daytona 500 was held in 1959.
Question 8:
In the history of the Daytona 500, one racer has one the race more
than any other. He has won the race seven times. Who is that racer?
The Web site:
To find the answer to that question, go to the
CBS Sportsline:
Daytona 500 Web page and click on History. http://www.sportsline.com/u/racing/auto/daytona
ROCK 'N' ROLL
With roots in rhythm and blues, country and western, and gospel, rock
'n' roll crossed racial lines. Some adults found the rhythms rebellious
and threatening, but the lyrics and loud music appealed directly to teenagers.
Question 9:
Since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in Cleveland in 1986, more
than 150 individuals and groups have been inducted. In 1999, ten new inductees
were honored. Which one of the inductees below was not among those
inducted in 1999?
-
Fleetwood Mac
-
Billy Joel
-
Paul McCartney
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Dusty Springfield
-
Bruce Springsteen
-
the Staple Singers
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The Web site:
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Web page. http://www.rockhall.com
I LOVE LUCY
I Love Lucy (1951-1957) was one of the most popular shows in
TV history. Lucille Ball starred as a zany homemaker trying to break into
show business. Her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, costarred as her bandleader
husband.
Question 10:
In Episode 2 of I Love Lucy (October 10, 1951), Lucy and Ethel
want to celebrate the Mertzes' wedding anniversary at a night club. Where
do Ricky and Fred want to go?
The Web site:
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The Lucy Library Web page
and check out the Episode Guide.
http://www.lucylibrary.com
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