The Post War Years – Cold War and the move to the 21 st Century Central Texas College Fort Knox Kentucky Bruce A. McKain

Cold War Truman announces the American policy of actively supporting democratically elected governments to prevent take over by Communist. Sent U.S. Advisors to Greece to support the government. February 1947

Cold War State Department Employee who first forwarded the idea of preventing Communism from spreading and eventually allowing it to die a natural death. CONTAINMENT

Cold War – Contention over Germany

Cold War Soviet Blockade of Berlin Soviets attempt to starve out the allies to get them to leave the occupied zones of Berlin. Berlin Airlift supplies the people of free West Berlin until the Soviets lift the blockade. Blockade last June 1948 to May See the Movie “The Big Lift” Berlin Airlift

Lt Gail Hovarson – Little Vittles

Berlin Airlift The Soviet Newspaper headline reads “Airlift Useless” used to wrap Bread made with American Flour in Berlin. Berlin Airlift Memorial

Cold War Soviets explode their first Atomic Bomb September This sets off the Arms Race. U.S. Hydrogen Bomb November Soviet Hydrogen Bomb August 1953 “They are catching up”

Cold War

There is a fundamental shift in the way Americans and the rest of the world viewed international relations. No longer can one country ignore the actions of a nation on the other side of the world.

Cold War/ Red Scare Senator McCarthy hearings on Communism results in a “witch hunt” to root out hidden communist in America. Richard Nixon served on the committee. McCarthy ends up being Censured by the Senate. Dies shortly after of heart attack.

Cold War/ Red Scare

Spread of the Cold War - Korea 25 June 1950 North Korean army invades South Korea. Task Force Smith. UN pushed North back above 38 th Parallel. 26 November 1950 Chinese enter war in support of North Korea. April 1951 MacArthur relieved. June 1953 Armistice.

Cold War North Atlantic Treaty Organization Formed April Organized as an attempt to protect member states from aggression. Soviet response is to form the Warsaw Pact, which had the same “goal”. Stalin’s Soviets

Shift in Soviet Leadership

Cold War Attempts at Pacification Fail UN formed April- June 1945 as an attempt to prevent future war –U.S. spends $2,000,000, to support Nationalist Chinese Government and maintain stability. Communist China formed Mao Zedong

Vietnam French Indo-China End of WWII British control French Indo-China, but return it to France shortly after war French request assistance in dealing with Viet Cong problem. Eisenhower refuses aid. July 1954 country split into North and South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam U.S. Involvement President Kennedy sends 2,000 advisors in 1961, this grows to 16,000 by November After Kennedy is assassinated in November 1963 President Johnson continued with the Kennedy plan of Support. Military Regions

Vietnam U.S. Involvement 1965 President Johnson initiates “Rolling Thunder” strategic bombing of North Vietnam to destroy the war materials being used against American troops in the South. Rolling Thunder

Vietnam U.S. Involvement 184,000 troops in 1965 grows to 538,000 in During TET Ceasefire 31 January 1968 a coordinated attack all over South Vietnam, results in a cry from the American people for a quick end to the war in Vietnam. This also results in LBJ’s withdrawal from the 68 Presidential Election. (31 Mar 68) TET 68

Vietnam U.S. Involvement Vietnamization – Nixon’s plan to turn the over to the South Vietnamese Government. Cambodia –April 1970 increases troop strength by 150,000. Nixon Briefing the Press

Vietnam Kent State Protest The Results

Vietnam U.S. Involvement Paris Peace Talks Summer 1972 U.S. Combat Troop withdrawal 29 March South Vietnam falls to the North April Vietnam Falls

Space Race

Apollo Missions Man on the Moon

Space Race Challenger Columbia

Civil Rights Events Freedom Riders James Meredith at Un of Mississippi. 28 August 1963 March on Washington 1964 Civil Rights Act Voting Rights Act. Selma to Montgomery March March March on Washington

Civil Rights LBJ Signing 1964 CRA Little Rock Nine

Civil Rights Hispanic Activism 3,000,000 in 1960 grows to 20,000,000 by 1980, expected to become largest minority by end of this decade. Cesar Chavez – UFW gains recognition in – Grape and Lettuce Boycotts. Native American Activism American Indian Movement – Dennis Banks – Russell Means – Wounded Knee

Post Vietnam America – Jimmy Carter

Post Vietnam America Camp David Accords Iranian Hostage Crisis

Post Vietnam America Reagan at the Wall Signing SALT

Balkan Wars Shelling of Parliament 1995 Srebrenica Massacre

Positive Changes F.W. De Klerk Nelson Mandela

Post Vietnam America The Gulf War Sadly Insane

Post Vietnam America – Bill Clinton

Post Vietnam America – George Bush

Post Vietnam America Iraq War Sadly Insane Again

Era of Change President Obama Economic Meltdown

Obama’s Legacy?

World Economy?

The Next Frontier