What was in your opinion the best decade of American History?

Any decade when the Cold War was on.

America was the superpower that defeated the other superpower (USSR). Americans want a good fight and that was in abundent supply in so many proxy wars. All the time the other superpower was there for practising the right jab & left hook. All wars that they fought they did them uninvited.

WW II has set into motion an immense technological revolution in Electronics & Communications Engineering, the new born Nuclear technology, Aviation & Rocketry all of which enriched the civil life much beyond the expectations of an average man. The fifties were the home-coming decade from the wars. Sixties started new pathways in all technologies - Semiconductors replaced old fashioned, bulky vacuum tube circuitry, made Nuclear Civilian Electric power generation possible, flying (Aviation) was brought to serve the common man, advances in rocketry made satellite communcations possible. All these made Cinema, TV and such visual media usher in a new world of entertainment that wasn't there before. The finest moment for America was that particular July in 1969 when an American set foot on Moon. Seventies fulfilled the promises of technologies of the previous decade. It also opened a new world, 'Computers' that was a popular appliance, device, gadget, system or whatever. Mind-bogling speed was added to every activity of human endeavour. By eighties the Communist world is on decline. Significant targets were achieved in world dominance with the adversary eliminated at the end of the decade.

All through (ever since 1918) America was the big financier. Bankrupted by the WW II, in 1946 Britain contracted for an American loan of $ 4⅓ billion, the last instalment of which was paid back in 2006.

America was the biggest supplier of arms & weapons with none to challenge its top slot, though others too followed the path America has shown. The erstwhile enemies in the war (Japan, Germany) became trusted allies, partaking in the prosperity of American technology Bonnaza. This 'farmig out' has actuaaly helped America to concentrate on the essentials while being assured of 'supplies' at better rates for its home-industies & technological advancement. This tree has blossomed into a heady efflorescence of arts & culture that the other answerers are so enamoured of (as if that has come on its own).

I think I would choose the fifties because although it was a time of conformity, anti communist paranoia and certain repressive movements, it was also the time that gave birth to rock music, the Beat movement which laid the groundwork for 60's counter culture, telecommunication innovation, Civil rights and women's rights movements. And yes, anything does seem better than what we are going through now but I bet in the future there will be those who call even these the good old days.

The 60's were the best for most of your categories but the 1990's was the best for a few. For the common man, it was the 90's due to the incredible amount of growth potential due to the tech boom with very little racism or obstruction or war.

Now, war and racism is back and music is autotuned.

Before the 60's black people didn't have it so well, it was only good for some.