Changing Societies Main Idea Reading Focus The Cold War brought tremendous economic and social change to North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Reading Focus What were the major social changes taking place in North America after World War II? How did Western Europe recover economically in the postwar era? How did Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union change after World War II?

Civil Rights Groundwork for Future 1954, U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education segregation of public schools had to end Next came civil rights campaign led by Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer, Malcolm X, other activists, organizations Groundwork for Future Civil rights movement achieved some major reforms 1964, Congress passed Civil Rights Voting Act, followed by Voting Rights Act the next year Laws knocked down longstanding barriers for equality for African Americans Did not end racism, laid groundwork for future progress

What postwar changes took place in North America? Summarize What postwar changes took place in North America? Answer(s): economic boom; veterans bought homes and consumer goods, went to college; the civil rights, feminist, and counterculture movements

Western Europe Economic Growth Influx of Immigrants Western Europe faced challenging future after World War II At end of war, much of Western Europe lay in ruins Property, farmland destroyed; national economies collapsed; millions displaced from homes; seemed on brink of chaos Chaos did not come, thanks in large part to Marshall Plan With American aid, Western Europe’s factories produced more in 1950s than before war West Germany became major economic power Growth strong in other countries Economic Growth Availability of jobs attracted immigrants from former colonies Created strain as Europeans struggled to adapt to newcomers, their cultures Influx of Immigrants

Describe the economic recovery in Western Europe after World War II. Find the Main Idea Describe the economic recovery in Western Europe after World War II. Answer(s): uneven, some countries recovered quickly with the Marshall Plan; others lagged; generally high standard of living

Glasnost and Perestroika Soviet Economy Faltered Soviet economy performed well after war, began to falter in 1960s By 1980s, Soviet Union faced crisis; command economy system inefficient Production goals with little regard for wants, needs of marketplace Gorbachev Goals stressed heavy industry, neglecting needed consumer goods As result most sectors of Soviet economy ceased to grow 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev came to power, saw need for change New Concepts Proposed two radical concepts—glasnost, perestroika Glasnost, “openness,” willingness to discuss Soviet problems openly Perestroika, “restructuring,” reform of Soviet economic, political system

What changes took place in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe after Summarize What changes took place in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe after World War II? Answer(s): Khrushchev tried to "de-Stalinize" and loosen political restrictions, revolts after Stalin's death, Solidarity, Gorbachev introduced reforms, glasnost and perestroika