19501959

1950–1959 denotes the decade spanning 1950 through 1959. It was a period of postwar reconstruction, Cold War tensions, and rapid social, cultural, and technological change around the world.

The Korean War (1950–1953) ended with an armistice in 1953. The Suez Crisis of 1956 demonstrated shifting influence in the Middle East. Decolonization accelerated across Asia and Africa, leading to the emergence of new nation states. The Space Age began with the launch of Sputnik in 1957, and the United States established NASA in 1958 to coordinate the civil space program.

Economy and society: Western economies experienced sustained growth and rising living standards. The Bretton Woods system and the expansion of mass production underpinned growth, while consumer culture expanded with television, automobiles, and housing. Civil rights movements gained momentum in the United States, with Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–56) signaling a push for racial equality. Alaska and Hawaii joined the United States in 1959.

Science and culture: The structure of DNA was elucidated in 1953, influencing biology and medicine. In music and popular culture, rock and roll rose to prominence, and television reshaped entertainment and information dissemination.

Legacy: The decade helped shape the Cold War order, decolonization, and the global development of science and technology, setting patterns for the 1960s.