To what extent did an actual consensus exist regarding American life in the 1950s?

The 1950s in America has been characterized by some historians as "The Affluent Society," a period of sustained conformity and consensus regarding Cold War politics, economics, and society. Economic prosperity rose to unseen heights during this period as more and more Americans entered the middle class. Mass media disseminated the image of the middle-class suburban family and pushed a culture driven by consumption. Politically, Americans united against communism to champion democracy and the superiority of America's political system, especially in response to the supposed threat of the Soviet Union. Ultimately, the Cold War consensus rested on two assumptions: 1) that opportunity and affluence was open to everyone due to the strength of American democracy and capitalism and 2) that the Soviet Union posed a dire threat to America's prosperity and security. Other historians have challenged the consensus framework and argued that the "Affluent Society" was much more complicated than earlier historians supposed. The supposed period of consensus, according to these scholars, was also fraught with numerous movements and voices that questioned the assumptions of Cold War consensus and conformity. After reading chapters 25 and 26 in the online American Yawp textbook and analyzing the accompanying primary source documents for each chapter, answer the question: To what extent did an actual consensus exist regarding American life in the 1950s?              

Sample Solution