Final answer:
The 1950s in American society were shaped by postwar prosperity, consumerism, suburbanization, the Civil Rights movement, and the Cold War, resulting in both economic growth and the prelude to sociocultural upheavals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1950s in American society were most influenced by a combination of post-World War II prosperity, the rise of consumer culture, and the onset of the Cold War. Significant social readjustments included the move to suburbs, the baby boom, and the beginnings of the Civil Rights movement.
Politically, anti-communism and the fear of nuclear war dominated, leading to McCarthyism and a focus on national security. Economically, the United States saw a time of significant boom, with an increase in consumer goods production and the widespread adoption of television.
Culturally, this era was marked by a focus on the nuclear family, conformity, but also the seeds of counterculture that would bloom in the 1960s. Even though there was a significant sense of prosperity, the era also laid the groundwork for the social and cultural challenges to come.