1. LESSON 1
Cold War America

2. WWII Effects on SC’s Economy
SC experienced significant economic growth during WWII.
The war effort ended the Great Depression as South Carolinians enjoyed full employment.
Military bases expanded to meet training needs for WW2
Fort Jackson, Parris Island, the naval base at Charleston and a new air base at Columbia
These military bases helped the local economy to grow and continue to bring money into our state today.
A “hot” war is one where there is direct fighting between nations and soldiers are killed on the battlefield.
A “cold” war is fought through economic competition and propaganda.
During WWII the US and Soviet Union had a common enemy—Germany and the other Axis Powers, but they distrusted each other because they had different kinds of governments and different economic systems.

3. From Hot to Cold War
A Deep Mistrust
Both nations emerged from WWII as superpowers. They each had huge armies and their governments and economies were strong.
Their mistrust of each other led to the Cold War. The United States is a Capitalist country, while the Soviet Union (USSR) was a Communist country.
Point out to students that the Cold War was America’s longest war. It lasted from 1945 to It lasted through all or part of the administrations of 8 presidents from Harry Truman to George H.W. Bush. (Some historians might also include FDR, but he died before the Cold War was in full swing.) The Cold War had a great impact on our foreign policy and on our culture.
A Smithsonian site on the Presidency and the Cold War:

4. Capitalism v. Communism
From Hot to Cold War
Capitalism v. Communism
Capitalism
Communism
An economic system that allows for the private ownership of land, property, and businesses.
Free flow of goods and services.
Government has little to do with business.
Free enterprise
A economic and political system where the government owns all the land, property, and businesses.
The government controls the economy in every way—the country has a command economy.
Compare Communism to Capitalism
If students are unfamiliar with Communism, mention that it is both a kind of government and a type of economy. Given that the US didn’t trust Communists, what do students think must be different about a Communist system compared to our Capitalist system.
What do they think are the main features/characteristics of each system?
Ask students for examples of how a government might control an economy:
Government decides what goods and services businesses provide.
Government decides how much businesses produce.
Government sets prices for goods and services.
Government determines how much people get paid in a job.
What does it sound like a Communist system is trying to promote? Equality? What problems might result from this type of government and economy?
Ask students if the US government has any role in how businesses operate in this country?
There are laws that restrict certain practices and behaviors in business. Examples?
The government requires businesses to pay taxes on what they earn.
During the Great Depression, how was the US government more involved in the economy? Was this a good thing or a bad thing? How so?

5. An Arms Race and Proxy Wars
The Cold War
An Arms Race and Proxy Wars
Both sides built up their militaries and their weapons, especially nuclear weapons.
This arms race threatened world peace.
MAD = Mutual Assured Destruction
Some good graphics on the arms race:

6. Cartoon showing Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and US President John F. Kennedy in an arms race. What do you think the cartoonist thought of the Cold War arms race?

7. The Cold War
Containment
US policy during the Cold War was to stop the spread of communism—to contain it.
How?
Truman Doctrine: American aid ($$ and supplies) to any country in the world threatened by communism.
Marshall Plan: American aid ($13 billion) to rebuild war-torn Europe so that countries would not turn to communism.

8. US containment policy led to a number of proxy wars, including the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
A US marine in Korea.
This marine is moving with his company during the first few months of the Korean War. In what ways were proxy wars more frightening for the public than the world war that had just been fought. (p. 290)

9. Korean War, 1950–1953
Vietnam War, 1964–1975

10. The Cold War at Home
A culture of fear and hysteria at times gripped the US.
Fear of espionage (spying) fueled by real and imaginary events.
Joseph McCarthy = McCarthyism
Alger Hiss was convicted of lying about his involvement with the Communists.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were found guilty of revealing US nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union.
How did the actions of Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy (right) fuel fears that Communists had infiltrated the US government?

11. Booming Postwar Economy
The Postwar Economy
Booming Postwar Economy
GI Bill
Consumer Culture
Baby Boom
Housing Boom
Interstate Highways
How did each program, event, or trend contribute to economic growth in the US after WWII?
How did each event or trend contribute to economic growth in the United States after WWII?
Great New Yorker cartoon about the growth of prefab housing—Levittowns.

12. The GI Bill
The GI Bill: veterans used this government program to get loans to buy a house, get an education or start new businesses. This boosts the SC economy and many people move to the suburbs.

13. The GI Bill
The GI Bill
$$ for College
Home Loans
“White Collar” Jobs
How was the GI Bill the catalyst (something that causes change or action) for much of the economic growth after WWII?
How was the GI Bill the catalyst to much of the economic growth after WWII?
The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, or GI Bill, helped war veterans adjust to life after war.
Vets received money for college. Many vets became the first in their families to go to college.
A dynamic shift the US workforce resulted in more “white-collar” jobs.
It also provided affordable loans so veterans could buy houses.

14. Consumer Culture
Once the war ended, economic prosperity continued in SC and throughout the country.
Consumer Culture
Demand for goods unavailable during wartime (remember the WW2 ration books?), the needs of growing families, along with the ability to pay for things led to Americans spending a lot of $money$ when the war ended.
Industry did not decline after the war ended like many people expected.
Americans were tired of saving from the Depression and war, so they became spenders.
The invention of the plastic credit card made it easier to spend.
Electric home appliances, televisions, and luxury automobiles became “must have” items.
Americans embraced consumerism, an attitude or culture that values only what can be bought or possessed.

15. The 1963 General Electric Porta-Cart air conditioner was one of many products that made consumer culture fashionable. How does this ad compare to ads you see today?

16. The Baby Boom
Soldiers returned home to an improved economy and were able to support larger families. There was a post-war baby boom (a LOT of children were born) which lasted from the end of WW2 to the early 1960’s.

17. The Housing Boom Suburbs= residential areas outside of a city.
Suburbs Grow (Suburbanization)
After WW2, many people move from rural to urban areas (from the country into cities). Veterans use the GI Bill to buy houses in the new suburbs. Many highways are Built, which makes it possible for people to live farther away from work.

18. Post War Tourism SC’s tourist industry develops
Wide availability of automobiles
Expansion of highways
Motels and fast food
restaurants followed the building of highways and resort development gave Americans a place to go vacation.
Air conditioning availability during the hot summer months
SC’s mild climate and affordable housing costs make our state a great place for many people to retire.

19. Average Annual Migration, 1947–1960
Why were black Americans leaving the South? What did they hope to find in other regions of the country?

20. Average Annual Migration, 1947–1960
What were the causes of white migration? How does this map compare to the previous map? Was everyone moving in opposite directions or were Americans sometimes moving to the same places? Where were both black and white Americans moving? Why do you think they sometimes moved to the same regions?
Why was white migration sometimes called “white flight”?

21. Urban Life in South Carolina
A Booming Postwar Economy
Urban Life in South Carolina
The South Carolina Development Board was created in 1954 to attract businesses and encourage economic growth.
Many businesses moved to the upcountry.
Lowcountry development led to growth of resorts like Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island and tourist destinations such as Myrtle Beach and Georgetown.
Increased road construction and interstate highways fueled growth in SC tourism.

22. The Arms Race Comes to South Carolina
The Savannah River Plant
Built in the 1950s by the DuPont Company on the Savannah River between Barnwell & Aiken. Nuclear weapons were built there.
It created plutonium (fuel) for weapons during the Cold War and today provides nuclear energy to power our state.
It is currently used to store nuclear waste.
Over half of SC’s electricity now comes from nuclear plants.

23. Cold War Benefits SC
The Cold War begins after WW2 ends, so SC continues to benefit from wartime govt. spending.
The Cold War brought money to SC because:
Military spending created industries that provided jobs.
The Savannah River Nuclear Plant was built.
Military bases that served WWII stayed open or were reopened during the Cold War.

24. Education Changes in SC
After WW2 ended, Cold War competition with the USSR meant that we needed to improve education
In SC, the school year was extended to 9 months and the 12th grade was added to high schools
A system of technical colleges were created that would attract the economic investment to SC as it supplied an educated and trained work force to meet industry needs.

25. Education Changes in SC
Governor Richard Riley passes the Education Improvement Act (EIA) in the 1980’s which is still in effect today and continues to reform education.
In 1998, SC passes the Education Acountability Act. This law created the standardized testing system which we use today, like our PASS test in May and the standards we learn to prepare for it.