Unit 13 – Chapter 13 – The Cold War Begins Cold War Conflict Democracy vs. Communism

U.S and Soviet aims around the world Soviet Union Encourage Communism in other countries as part of the worldwide struggle between workers and the wealthy. Transfer the industrial equipment of Eastern Europe to the Soviet Union to help rebuild its war-ravaged economy. Control Eastern Europe to balance the US influence in Western Europe. Keep Germany divided and weak, since the Germans had waged war against Russia twice in 30 years and had caused most of the 20 million Soviet deaths in WWII. United States Encourage democracy in other countries to help prevent the rise of new totalitarian governments. Gain access to raw materials and markets for its booming industries. Rebuild European governments to ensure stability and to create new markets for American goods. Reunite Germany, believing that Europe would be more secure if Germany were productive and less bitter about defeat.

A Deadly Equation Communism vs. Democracy (Capitalism) + Nuclear Weapons = COLD WAR

Cold War Terms to Know Terms Associated with the Soviet Union Satellite Nations – Countries dependent upon the SovietUnion for all forms of existence. Iron Curtain – Communist stronghold in Europe…a term coined by Winston Churchill. (Separates democratic and Communist Countries) Warsaw Pact – Military alliance between the Soviet Union and other Eastern European nations.

More Cold War Terms to Know Terms Associated with the United States Containment – The U.S. policy of blocking or stopping the spread of Communism. (Or democracy…Soviet Union) Truman Doctrine – U.S. plan to support any nation or government opposed to Communist rule. Marshall Plan – U.S. plan to economically and industrially rebuild Europe with U.S. funds. NATO – Military alliance between the U.S. and other non-Communist nations.

The Cold War Heats Up

China and Taiwan A Civil War breaks out in China between the NATIONALISTs led by Chiang Kai- Shek and the COMMUNISTS lead by Mao Zedong. Chiang Kai-Shek (Nationalist) Mao Zedong (Communist) Who will the U.S.A support?

Chinese Civil War A. U.S. and Soviet Support - The United States supports the Nationalists and Chiang-Kai Shek - The Soviet Union supports the Communists and Mao Zedong. We support the Nationalist despite some of the negative policies they have towards their own people. EX) Having a grain tax during a famine. B. Outcome - The Nationalists are forced off the Chinese mainland to the island of Taiwan.

Chinese Civil War continued… C. The United States’ Reaction to Communist Takeover 1) Americans were stunned that CONTAINMENT had failed and further worried that other countries would fall to Communism. (DOMINO THEORY) 2) The Fear of Communism was increased and would only get worse after events in Korea a year later.

The Korean War (Police action) - Jun 25, 1950 – Jul 27, 1953 At the end of World War II Japan had surrendered Korea to both the Soviets and the US. The dividing line was the 38th parallel…Communism to the North, Democracy to the South. The 38th Parallel – Dividing line between Communist North Korea and Democratic South Korea.

The Korean War (Police action) June 1950 North Korea invades South Korea June 1950 – South Korea’s capital is captured September 1950 – North Korea pushes South Korea to the tip of the peninsula. October 1950 – UN (mostly US) troops push North Korea back towards China January 1951 – Chinese troops force UN troops back to the 38th parallel.

Outcome of Korean War (Police action) 54,000 U.S. casualties 2) Increased fear of Communist aggression and prompted a hunt for spies on whom to blame Communist gains around the world. 3) Creation of HUAC (House Committee on Un-American Activities) Led by Joseph McCarthy BLACKLISTING – Condemning of a person for having Communist sympathies or background.

The Rosenbergs Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were tried and convicted of giving the Soviet Union information about the United States atomic bomb. (The Russians were able to test and atomic bomb 3-5 years before the US anticipated they would be able to) The Rosenberg’s pleaded the 5th and claimed they were being persecuted because they were Jewish and minor members of America’s Communist party. - The couple was executed in the electric chair in June of 1953.

McCarthy Witch Hunt Hearings McCarthyism – Attacks on suspected Communist in the early 1950s. (It almost always included accusing people of being Communist with very little evidence) - Senator Joseph McCarthy claims that the U.S. Government is being taken over by Communist and the Democratic Party was a Communist friendly organization. - Millions investigated, jailed and forced to quit labor unions. - McCarthy’s downfall: Made accusations against the U.S. Army, lost support because of this and his performance at the televised Senate hearings that followed.

Life in the 1950s

What changed in American society after WWII? The Baby Boom - More children are born in the 1950s than any other decade - At its height there was a child born every 6.9 seconds The main reasons behind this were… Reunion of families after the war Decreasing marriage age…down to about 21 for women and 23 for men Advances in medicine Desire for a large family Economic Prosperity

What changed in American society after WWII? Rise of the suburbs GIs (General Infantry) returning from war purchase homes outside of the urban cities Sub-developments became popular and the idea for the “cookie cutter” home was born Worked on the ideal image that the man worked and the woman raised the family

What changed in American society after WWII? Leisure becomes important to those who survived the difficulties of the Great Depression and WWII Peak of comic book production and sales Little baseball reaches its zenith Bowling alleys open in almost every city in America Boy and Girl Scouts numbers reach all time highs Swimming pools become popular at both homes and public locations

What changed in American society after WWII? Business Icons of the 50s - Franchises begin…McDonalds opened its first doors in Illinois in 1955 - Disney Land opened in California in 1955

What changed in American society after WWII? The automobile culture Cruising…teenagers start to drive around Road trips The drive-in…thousands of drive-in theaters open around the nation The drive-thru…fast food restaurants served patrons on roller skates The interstate highway system…over 60,000 miles of highway are constructed Every interstate highway has a stretch every 7 miles that a plane could land on in case of war or invasion

What did all of these changes to America? Consumerism The nation became much more consumer driven This was the decade of the “American Dream” - A house, 2 cars, and a family of 4

Life at Home worrying about Communism and a Nuclear Attack Individuals build bomb shelters near their houses.

2) Schools and students prepare for a nuclear explosion with drills.

1950’s Popular Culture

How did mass media change in the 1950s? TV Hours of viewership went up from 3.2 hrs./day to 7.7 hrs./day TV Shows I Love Lucy starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz - TV’s first interracial couple Bonanza - Western Gunsmoke Leave it to Beaver - Idealized American family The Twilight Zone - 1st Sci-fi program

How did mass media change in the 1950s? Drive-thru and cinemas pop up around the nation (avg. price for a show = $0.05) Movies of the 1950s Rebel without a Cause starring James Dean The Ten Commandments starring Charlton Heston Vertigo starring Jimmy Stewart Invasion of the Body Snatchers starring Kevin McCarthy

How did mass media change in the 1950s? Music The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is created - Rock and Roll is born - Elvis Presley - The Four Tops - Buddy Holly & the Crickets - Little Richard - Chuck Berry

How did mass media change society? The beat movement - The Beatniks - Earliest form of hippy communal lifestyle in America - Lived without material goods (including furniture & new clothing) - Grew long beards and grew their hair out and women wore NO make-up - Created the terms “bread” and “pad” What is the difference between a beatnik and a hippie? The major difference between the hippies and the beatniks is that the hippies were more aggressively political and public than the beatniks were. The beatniks were a smaller group that was centered around art and artists. They were typified by poets such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac.