An interlude: About the 1950s and a family tree
The 1950s is often synonymous with house wives in big skirts, an explosion of cars and new gadgets. It's also the Korean war (50-53), the start of the Vietnam war (55-75) and an ever growing international tension. So what does this mean for gameplay?
The Korean War:
1,8 million Americans took part of the Korean war, of those 1,5 million were drafted men between the ages of 18-25 while 300 000 were a mix of those already in the military career and volunteers. With men between 18-25 making out roughly 10% of the population, or 15 million, that meant that 10% of those signing up for the draft were actually drafted. In comparison to WWIIs 45% far fewer were affected by the Korean war, and as far as the game goes, only Arthur is eligible for a draft.
Arthur would have to register for the draft immediately after aging up, then there would be a lottery after the Korean war broke out, and if he's selected he'd have to go for medical examinations to see if he was fit for service. There were four groups:
- Fit for service (you were sent)
- Student (you could apply for a deferral but there was a chance you needed to go anyway, especially if you had just started your studies)
- Provider (you could apply for a deferral if you were the sole provider for your family, but again it might not be granted)
- Unfit for service due to medical conditions
The Vietnam War:
Civil Rights Movement:
Conservatism:
Other development:
- TVs, while having been around earlier, exploded in the 1950s. In the US many bought a TV to watch the election debates of 1953. In England it was the coronation of the queen that made people buy a TV and in Sweden the world cup of 1952.
- House hold appliances became a thing, vacuum cleaners, coffeemakers, many housewives even got a washer of their own, and some even had dryers, although that was much more rare.
- The first microwave came, although few had them this early. Same goes for dishwashers.
- The electrical stove, the freezer-fridge combo and lots of small appliances. Kitchens started to look like they do today.
- With toys, we saw the birth of Legos, play dough and future cubes. In 1959 the Barbie was invented.
- Hamsters and small pets became popular.
- New open careers would be scientists (in October 1957 Sputnik was launched into space) and secret agent and covert operator in the military career (CIA was created in 1948)
- High school proms were made popular in the 1950s.
- This was in many ways the decade of the teenager. They got own sense of fashion, their own music that was highly disliked by the parent generation (Elvis, rock'n roll), their own books (Catcher in the Rye) their own movies (Wild one, Rebel without a cause)
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