What were Americans doing in the 1950s? Dancing the stroll, listening to Elvis Presley, gathering around the television, watching satellites orbit Earth, and much more. from the Korean War to the Cold War, Americans also were concerned about serious national and international events. They feared nuclear annihilation and communist spies in the U.S. government. the decade's newsmakers included President Dwight D. Eisenhower, civil rights pioneers known as the Little Rock Nine, artist Robert Rauschenberg, and tennis player Althea Gibson. They helped set the tone for a decade of change, upheaval, and excitement. from abstract art to desegregation, from rock and roll to poodle skirts, read about this fascinating decade from start to finish.