1954
In the year 1954, the United States was changing rapidly. President Eisenhower, a Republican, was in the midst of his first term. Eisenhower had just announced to the world that the United States had in fact developed and successfully tested the first hydrogen bomb some two years prior. Mamie Eisenhower christened the Nautilus, which was the first submarine to run on nuclear power. The great court decision, "Brown vs. the Board of Education," called for the integration of the country's public schools. Arkansas and Alabama refused to integrate and President Eisenhower was forced to send the 101st Airborne Division to integrate the schools of these states. The phrase "Under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance. Eighteen-year olds were shouting, "If we are old enough to fight and die for our country, why can't we vote?" The teens got a bill into the house but it was turned away by the senate. New fashions were surfacing in both men's and women's fashions. Men were wearing Bermuda pants, baggy pants that were cut off at the knee, while women were wearing capris, tight pants that cut off just below the knee. Men were wearing tailored jackets and making a slight move towards the casual dress of today's workplace. Women were wear
In the sports world, Rocky Marciano retained his boxing title. The Cleveland Indians won the A.L. pennant ending the five-year reign of the New York Yankees. Joe DiMaggio wed Marilyn Monroe. The Cleveland Browns defeated the Detroit Lions to win the NFL championship. Also, a new magazine, Sports Illustrated, made its debut in 1954. A widespread terror of Red attacks and Red spies enveloped the country. The danger of the situation was exaggerated by Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin. Thousands were accused of being communist with no sufficient evidence to prove that they were. McCarthy did not successfully prove any communists had infiltrated the government. McCarthyism began to decline after 1954 because of the end of the Korean War and the condemnation of McCarthy by the Senate. Jack Koslow, the leader of the group, was about six feet tall and he only weighed about 150 pounds. He was well-read and thoughtful and restrained in his speech and behavior. It was Koslow, the eldest at 18, who said without emotion that "park bums are no use to society and better off dead." Koslow seemed very convinced that he should have the right to determine who should live and even alluded to Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment" justifying the murder of an old woman. Melvin Mittman, 17, was a heavy-set youth with blonde hair and a blonde mustache. He was charged with being the brawn and brute of the four. Mittman and Jerome Lieberman, also 17, were both seniors at the Eastern District High School. Both were attaining good marks in their studies. Robert Trachtenberg, 15, was the tallest of the four although he was the youngest. It was Monday, August 16, a hot summer night on the corner of South Fourth and New Streets in Brooklyn, New York. William Menter had spent the evening at a local saloon and had went to the George Washington Monument Park to sleep off a drunk when four youths approached him. Koslow, Mittman, Lieberman, and Trachtenberg approached Menter because they "had an abstract hatred and distaste for bums and vagrants" according to Koslow. Unlike today, in the '50s, teenage violence was not very common. Poverty was looked at as a part of life, not a problem to be fixed. But, just as today, alcohol was a problem. These three factors all come into play in a crime that took place in Brooklyn in 1954. In the entertainment world, On the Waterfron
Some common words found in the essay are:
Allegiance Eighteen-year, Dorado Brougham, East River, Monument Park, Jack Koslow, Lord Flies, Koslow Mittman, William Menter, America Contest, Rattle Roll, william menter, koslow mittman, washington monument park, south fifth street, america fell, south fifth, fifth street, pier koslow, won oscar, women wearing, pier koslow mittman, george washington monument, body menter, east river, america fell love,
Approximate Word count = 1594
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
