Identify two positive aspects of America in the 1950s.

The emergence of the American Dream and the Civil Rights Movement were two positive aspects of 1950s culture.

The growth of the American Dream was a vital component of the 1950s. More people were able to realize the dream of finding a job, purchasing a home, and starting a stable life with their families.  The emergence of the American Dream in the 1950s enhanced the post-war prosperity that defined national and personal identity.  As a result, the middle class and suburban growth began to expand. This reality was also reflected in the purchasing power of the American consumer.  Being happy during the 1950s corresponded with pursuing the American Dream, something that more people were embracing.

Another positive aspect of the 1950s was the growth of the Civil Rights Movement.  With the Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education, segregation was deemed unconstitutional.  Racial integration was an emerging reality that helped to define reality in the 1950s. Events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott as well as the Little Rock Nine helped to advance the movement.  

Civil Rights was not fully achieved in the 1950s.  Yet, one of the most positive aspects of this time period was that the discussion about how America could and would be racially integrated began to take form.