A Year in Review: 1957

In many ways, 1957 was a transformative year in American history. Major cultural shifts, fueled by unprecedented post-war economic prosperity led to a fundamental redefinition of what it was to be an American. For most, there was a very real sense of optimism and exuberance reflected in everything from large car tailfins to a new, youth-led music movement known as rock and roll. For others, a sense of hope for a better future began to take root with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 along with the courage displayed by the Little Rock Nine in challenging then-prevalent school segregation.