Chapter 28: Cold War and a New Western World 1945-1970 Joshua Hall 6th hour 4/28/13
Joseph Stalin (December 18, 1878 – March 5, 1953) Ruled the Soviet Union and was mainly responsible for the spread of communism. Captured Berlin ending WWII in May 1945. Responsible for dropping the “Iron Curtain” over eastern Europe.
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) 33rd President of the United states of America Succeeded Roosevelt after death in April 1945 First major world leader to use nuclear weapons.
Nikita Khrushchev (April 15, 1894 – September 11, 1971) Served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Responsible and in power during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the tensest year of the Cold War.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) 34th President of the United States of America Five-star general during WWII, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe
Cold War 40 year period of extreme nuclear tension between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. The U.S.S.R. controlled the eastern half of Europe spreading communism to all over the occupied countries. Times of severe tension: Cuban Missile Crisis, Korean War, and the Berlin Crisis.
Berlin Wall The wall that separated communist East Berlin from Allied occupied West Berlin. Construction began on August 13, 1961 Symbolized the division of Europe
United Nations Founded The U.N. was founded in 1945 after the end of WWII, replaced the League of Nations. Goal was to keep peace around the world through peaceful negotiations. Now includes 193 member states world wide.
Key Themes and Movements Spread of Communism to Eastern Europe, China, and North Korea. Korean War and the Soviet War in Afghanistan. Creation of NATO and The Warsaw Pact. Creation of the United Nations. The Nuclear Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Truman Doctrine. (Promise of U.S. aid to Turkey and Greece.) The Marshall Plan or European Recovery Plan. (U.S. plan to make Europe prosperous again by modernizing industry and removing trade barriers.)
Cultural and Intellectual Movements Hippies! Or the “Permissive Society” People began to experiment more with their lives. Their was also a huge feminist movement at the end of WWII. The Women’s Liberation Movement fought for equal pay and benefits. Welfare is first introduced as well as Medicare for the elderly. Birth control was made widely available to the public. Also with these new standards came the ideas of sexual freedom. Divorce rates went through the roof, and many married couples engaged in extramarital sex. Pornography was widely sold in these years with the sexual revolution. Playboy also made its first issues in the 1950s.
Necessities 1. The Cold War and the spread of Communism. 2. The Creation of the United Nations. 3. The strategic support plans such as The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. 4. Hippies and “free love.” 5. Women’s rights and breakdown of the traditional family.