America as a World Power: The 1950s United states history (unit eight)

America as a World Power: Post War America United states history (unit eight)

Post WWII American Culture Baby Boom: Soldiers returned home from war and promptly got married and starting having children Babies born between 1946-1964 are considered baby boomers Expansion of suburbia: These new families need homes, and William Levitt provided. “Cookie cutter” houses that were massed produced Made home ownership much cheaper Became known as “Levittowns”

Post WWII American Culture Interstate Highway Act (1956) Designed with the purpose to move materials and troops efficiently (think Cold War motives) Results: Growth of suburban areas throughout the country Fast food, gas stations, hotels spring up People move AWAY from cities

Post WWII American Culture New technologies of the 1950s: Television: Replaced radios as the main source of news in the late 1950s--67 million television sets by 1959 Political and Social issues would revolutionized by television Air Conditioning Led to an increased movement of businesses and people to the Southern parts of the US New vaccines eliminated childhood illness like measles, polio and whooping cough Long-distance phone calls became cheaper and more reliable

Truman Integrates the Military In July 1948, President Harry Truman signed an executive order ending the segregation of the armed forces. President Truman banned racial discrimination in the hiring of federal employees and ended segregation in the armed forces in 1948. President Eisenhower issued an executive order that required enforcement of non-discrimination in federal jobs.

America as a World Power: America in the World United states history (unit eight)

America as a World Power: The 1950s After World War II, the US did not want war torn Europe to fall into the hands of the Communist Soviets. Containment: American policy meant to contain communism where it was. US did not want communism in Southeast Asia, Western Europe, or Korea.

America as a World Power: The 1950s Policy of containment in Europe: Truman Doctrine (1947): Extended monetary aid ($400 million) to Turkey and Greece to keep them from falling under communist rule Marshall Plan (1948): Extended monetary aid ($12 Billion) to any nation who wanted aid after World War II. This was the United State’s open stance to the world on Communism.

America as a World Power: The 1950s Policy of containment in Middle East: Eisenhower Doctrine (1957): US would defend ANY Middle Eastern country that did not want communism

America as a World Power: The 1950s Policy of containment in China/Korea: Communist take over of China: A civil war in China (that started pre-WWII) concluded with the communist forces victory, led by Mao Zedong. The US feared this would then lead to the fall of Korea to communism This contributed to the US involvement in the Korean War.

The Cold War: Korea After World War II, Korea was divided into two sections along the 38th parallel Why? Russians captured Northern Sector—became communist North Korea Americans captured Southern Sector—became democratic South Korea

The Cold War : Korea North Korea: South Korea: Backed by the Soviet Union and China South Korea: Backed by the US and United Nations Goal: to contain communism

The Cold War: Korea In June 1951 the Soviet Union unexpectedly suggested a cease-fire agreement In 1953, after two years of negotiation, the Korean War ended in a stalemate Significance? Communism had been contained; however, Korea remained divided… The war did not really decide much

The Cold War: Korea The Korean War cost 55,000 American lives and a total of $67 billion Most Americans viewed this as completely unnecessary & began to turn against the Democratic Party…

G.I. Bill Free Tuition for college if you serve in the military Better Paying Jobs Rise of the Middle Class

America as a World Power: The Cold War at Home United states history (unit eight)

The Cold War at Home: The Red Scare

The Cold War: The Red Scare The Red Scare was a period of time during which Americans were fearful of Communism… Why? The Soviet domination of Eastern Europe The Communist takeover of China 80,000 American members of the Communist Party

The Cold War: The Red Scare The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Led investigations in Hollywood The Hollywood Ten Ten “unfriendly” witnesses that refused to cooperate with HUAC questioning… In response, Hollywood executives instituted a blacklist – a list of people not to be hired because of Communist ties

The Cold War: The Red Scare On September 3, 1949 the American government learned that the Soviets had successfully tested an atomic bomb Most experts were very surprised with how quickly the Soviets had developed their own bomb… How did they do it?

The Cold War: The Red Scare The Rosenbergs Ethyl & Julius Rosenberg, who had been minor activists in the American Communist Party, were implicated in the atomic secrets case Pled the 5th amendment… Found guilty of espionage & executed Significance? Began to sober the American zeal for the Red Scare

The Cold War at Home: McCarthyism

The Cold War: McCarthyism Joseph McCarthy, a Republican senator from Wisconsin, was a staunch anti-communist Made unsupported claims that certain Democrats & State Department employees were Communists His techniques became known as McCarthyism Always made his claims from the Senate floor where he had legal immunity from slander…

The Cold War: McCarthyism In 1954 McCarthy made several accusations against the United States Army Resulted in a Senate investigation & subsequent hearing which was broadcast on national television McCarthy bullied witnesses & alienated the American public Significance? Ended all public support for McCarthyism McCarthy, condemned by the Senate, was politically ruined

The Cold War at Home: Living on the Edge

The Cold War: Living on the Edge After WWII atomic arms “race” with the Soviet Union began… Who could build the first Hydrogen Bomb?? 1952: The United States detonated a Hydrogen Bomb 1953: The Soviet Union detonated a Hydrogen Bomb

The Cold War: Living on the Edge Brinkmanship A policy which involves threatening an enemy with massive retaliation for any aggressive actions Willingness to go to the edge of war in order to contain the Soviet Union… Result? Started the atomic arms race

The Cold War: Living on the Edge The Space Race In 1957 the Soviets… Developed several Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) Launched Sputnik I (first artificial satellite) Both events led to the US emphasizing Math and Science in education, as well as the development of NASA The RACE is on…