The Cold War
Divided Europe After WWII France, England, and US restored democracy to the nations they occupied Russia maintained control to spread communism/ protect from an attack Line called “the iron curtain”
Containment US afraid of communism spreading- decide to not fight it but “contain” it from spreading Truman Doctrine issued- US will help any nation resisting communism Marshall Plan- provided economic assistance to rebuild war torn nations- free money Poor nations are most likely to turn communist
Division of Germany After the war all 4 allies took part of Germany US, France, and England all united their portions into West Germany Russia kept it’s portion as East Germany- a part of the USSR Thousands tried to escape to West Berlin
Divided Berlin Capital city of Berlin also divided, West Berlin became an island of democracy Stalin wanted all of Berlin- cut off West Berlin to starve them US authorized Berlin Airlift to drop supplies for 15 mths
Capitalism/ Democracy Assignment Capitalism/ Democracy List 3 defining features Illustrate a scene of what life would be like Communism
Korean War China has communist revolution inspired by Russia Korea was divided between US and Russia on the 38th parallel North= communist South= Democratic June 1950 North invaded the South US sends General MacArthur to fight back
Korean War US pushed North back almost to China China feared they would be attacked next Helped North Korea and pushed US back Truce signed to keep line at 38th parallel
Attitudes at Home Red Scare continues- fear of nuclear war House Un American Activities Committee (HUAC) created to root out communist in government/leadership Joseph McCarthy became famous for investigating government leaders who he claimed were communist Government conspiracy
Post War Culture
Post War Boom GI Bill passed to help veterans pay for college, and low interest loans to buy homes. First time common people could own a house Construction exploded- subdivisions Baby boom College attendance rates rise Becomes the new American dream
National Highway Act Build multi-lane interstates across the nation Allowed people to commute Served as military infrastructure
US Consumerism Economy boomed after WWII- richest nation Families began buying appliances, TVs, cars, clothes, jewelry Credit cards invented TVs allowed for 24/7 News Nixon Kennedy Debate Vietnam war
Space Race US and USSR competing for best technology/ military USSR launched Sputnik in 1957- first satellite US worried and started NASA Boosted Science and Math education in schools 1961 USSR launched first space flight 1962 John Glenn- first US Astronaut 1969- Neil Armstrong walked on the moon
Communications Computers created through NASA Calculator- first computer Cellular Phone
The domino Theory President Eisenhower believed in “the domino theory”- if one nation fell to communism, it’s neighbors would also
The US and Cuba Fidel Castro became the leader of Cuba during the communist revolution in 1959 Killed over 700 who disagreed with him CIA trained Cuban exiles for an invasion Bay of Pigs invasion ordered by Kennedy Huge failure
Cuban Missile Crisis Cuba allowed USSR to put nuclear missiles on Cuba 90 miles from US US sent a naval blockade with nuclear weapons and prepared for invasion 13 days USSR backed down and removed the missiles
Vietnam War Vietnam divided into North (communist) and South (democratic) Communist attacked South and US sends aid US Ships attacked at Gulf of Tonkin Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed- president has power to send military without a declaration of war-1965
Vietnam War By 1968 US had a large military presence Began bombing military targets- lots of civilian deaths North launched Tet Offensive attack- South won but had large losses War was very unpopular in US- public demanded it to end Richard Nixon developed a plan to pull out Paris Peace Accords Immediately after US left, Communist took all control
Attitudes at Home Many citizens supported the containment of communism but upset at the refusal to fight Russia directly- not allowing soldiers to win the war Others viewed the US as becoming a police state- we should not be in Vietnam at all College students protested the war because they were being drafted Veterans hated when the return