Proxy War dWar/ProxyWar.html dWar/ProxyWar.html dWar/ProxyWar.html dWar/ProxyWar.html

Korean War

Sputnik At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. and Soviet Union are locked in a nuclear standoff. “We can't even recreate the terror and the fear that existed at that time.” – Susan Eisenhower In October, 1957, the Soviets stun the world by orbiting the first Earth satellite, Sputnik. Sputnik signaled a fundamental shift in the Cold War arena. Previously to this, the U.S. had been viewed as having the upper hand; not so much anymore. Sputnik was defined, not as a Soviet success, but as a U.S. failure. At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. and Soviet Union are locked in a nuclear standoff. “We can't even recreate the terror and the fear that existed at that time.” – Susan Eisenhower In October, 1957, the Soviets stun the world by orbiting the first Earth satellite, Sputnik. Sputnik signaled a fundamental shift in the Cold War arena. Previously to this, the U.S. had been viewed as having the upper hand; not so much anymore. Sputnik was defined, not as a Soviet success, but as a U.S. failure.

Sputnik

Domino Theory The domino theory, which governed much of U.S. foreign policy beginning in the early 1950s, held that a communist victory in one nation would quickly lead to a chain reaction of communist takeovers in neighboring states. In Southeast Asia, the United States government used the domino theory to justify its support of a non-communist regime in South Vietnam against the communist government of North Vietnam, and ultimately its increasing involvement in the long-running Vietnam War ( ). The domino theory, which governed much of U.S. foreign policy beginning in the early 1950s, held that a communist victory in one nation would quickly lead to a chain reaction of communist takeovers in neighboring states. In Southeast Asia, the United States government used the domino theory to justify its support of a non-communist regime in South Vietnam against the communist government of North Vietnam, and ultimately its increasing involvement in the long-running Vietnam War ( ).

Domino Theory

Mutually Assured Destruction The doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) assumes that each side has enough nuclear weaponry to destroy the other side; and that either side, if attacked for any reason by the other, would retaliate without fail with equal or greater force. The expected result is an immediate irreversible escalation of hostilities resulting in both combatants' mutual, total and assured destruction. The doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) assumes that each side has enough nuclear weaponry to destroy the other side; and that either side, if attacked for any reason by the other, would retaliate without fail with equal or greater force. The expected result is an immediate irreversible escalation of hostilities resulting in both combatants' mutual, total and assured destruction.

Who wins???

WWIII? "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."— Albert Einstein "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."— Albert Einstein "The only winning move is not to play"— War Games "The only winning move is not to play"— War Games

Truman Doctrine/Containment President Truman's policy set forth in a speech on March 12, 1947 stating that the U.S. would support Greece and Turkey with economic and military aid to prevent their falling into the Soviet sphere. It became a policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology. President Truman's policy set forth in a speech on March 12, 1947 stating that the U.S. would support Greece and Turkey with economic and military aid to prevent their falling into the Soviet sphere. It became a policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology. Historians often consider it as the start of the Cold War, and the start of the containment policy to stop Soviet expansion. Historians often consider it as the start of the Cold War, and the start of the containment policy to stop Soviet expansion.

Truman Doctrine

HUAC House Committee on Un-American Activities House Committee on Un-American Activities 1947– was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. It was created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities on the part of private citizens, public employees, and those organizations suspected of having Communist ties. 1947– was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. It was created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities on the part of private citizens, public employees, and those organizations suspected of having Communist ties.

HUAC

Baby Boom Almost exactly nine months after World War II ended, “the cry of the baby was heard across the land,” as historian Landon Jones later described the trend. More babies were born in 1946 than ever before: 3.4 million, 20 percent more than in This was the beginning of the so-called “baby boom.” In 1947, another 3.8 million babies were born; 3.9 million were born in 1952; and more than 4 million were born every year from 1954 until 1964, when the boom finally tapered off. By then, there were 76.4 million “baby boomers” in the United States. They made up almost 40 percent of the nation’s population. Almost exactly nine months after World War II ended, “the cry of the baby was heard across the land,” as historian Landon Jones later described the trend. More babies were born in 1946 than ever before: 3.4 million, 20 percent more than in This was the beginning of the so-called “baby boom.” In 1947, another 3.8 million babies were born; 3.9 million were born in 1952; and more than 4 million were born every year from 1954 until 1964, when the boom finally tapered off. By then, there were 76.4 million “baby boomers” in the United States. They made up almost 40 percent of the nation’s population. A baby booms signify good times and periods of general economic growth and stability. A baby booms signify good times and periods of general economic growth and stability.

U.S. Birth Rate

Babies!!!

Beat Movement The Beat Generation was a group of American post-World War II writers who came to prominence in the 1950s, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired. Central elements of "Beat" culture included rejection of received standards, innovations in style, experimentation with drugs, alternative sexualities, an interest in Eastern religion, a rejection of materialism, and explicit portrayals of the human condition. Allen Ginsberg's Howl (1956), William S. Burroughs's Naked Lunch (1959) and Jack Kerouac's On the Road (1957) are among the best known examples of Beat literature. The Beat Generation was a group of American post-World War II writers who came to prominence in the 1950s, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired. Central elements of "Beat" culture included rejection of received standards, innovations in style, experimentation with drugs, alternative sexualities, an interest in Eastern religion, a rejection of materialism, and explicit portrayals of the human condition. Allen Ginsberg's Howl (1956), William S. Burroughs's Naked Lunch (1959) and Jack Kerouac's On the Road (1957) are among the best known examples of Beat literature.

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