1. The Cold War Begins World War II dramatically changed the U.S. from an isolationist country into a military superpower and leader in world affairs.

2. Postwar America 15 million Americans returned to civilian life Jobs and Housing? During 1950s, Americans enjoyed highest standard of living to date GI Bill of Rights – Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, govt. help to higher education, low interest home/farm/business loans Helped to stimulate the postwar economy

3. Baby Boom and Suburban Growth 1945-1960 there was 50 million babies born Desperate need for housing = development of postwar suburbia William J. Levitt built Levittown – 17,000 mass produced and low priced homes Majority of middle class lives in suburbs Cities become increasingly poor and racially divided

4. Rise of the Sunbelt Uprooted by the war, many Americans moved Warmer climate, lower taxes and economic opportunities in defense-related industries Sunbelt states from California to Florida

5. Postwar Politics Harry S. Truman finished FDR’s fourth term until 1948 Continued New Deal tradition 1948: desegregation of armed forces Republican dominated Congress passed 22 nd Amendment – limiting a president to two terms

6. Election of 1948 Truman ran for Democrats Republicans NY Governor Thomas E. Dewey Progressive nominated Henry Wallace Republicans were convinced of a victory Truman wins! Launches his Fair Deal: health care, education, civil rights legislation, new farm program and public housing Conservative Congress

7. Origins of the Cold War Intense rivalry between two superpowers: U.S. and Soviet Union Post-WWII to 1991 Competition of political and economic institutions Capitalism v. command economy Democracy v. Communism Many saw Truman as aggressive toward communism Conservatives saw him as weak or “soft”

8. U.S. – Soviet Relations WWII allies Bolshevik Revolution (1917) and Red Scare of 1919 FDR believed Stalin could not be trusted Proof: Nonaggression pact between Hitler and Stalin in 1939 Alliance out of common goal not trust

9. Postwar Cooperation – U.N. 1945 International security and peacekeeping Permanent seats on Security Council – US, USSR, Britain, France, China Many people hoped this would lead to cooperation and agreement Sometimes it did, sometimes it did not

10. Satellite states in Eastern Europe Soviet forces remained in Eastern Europe after WWII Elections were held, as promised by Stalin, but manipulated by communists Communist dictators came to control Poland, Bulgaria, Albania, Romania, Hungary and Czech. Soviets said they needed a buffer zone U.S. said this was a violation of self-determination

11. Occupation zones in Germany Germany was divided into four zones French, American and British combined their zone – West Germany Soviets kept their separate – East Germany Soviets said they feared a restored Germany Same situation in Berlin (although in was deep in East Germany)

12. Iron Curtain

13. Containment in Europe This policy governed U.S. foreign policy for three decades Truman Doctrine: economic and military aid to assist the “free people” of Greece and Turkey against “totalitarian” regimes Marshall Plan: U.S. economic aid to rebuild war torn Europe, Soviet Union and Eastern European countries refused help

14. Berlin Airlift First major crisis of Cold War Soviets cut off all access by land to Berlin ( in East Germany) Planes were ordered by Truman to fly supplies Stalin did not challenge the airlift Blockade ended after 11 months

15. Berlin in East Germany

16. NATO and the Warsaw Pact The first real break with Washington’s Farwell Address advice was Truman in 1949 He recommended, and the Senate gave its consent to the U.S. joining the defensive alliance of NATO The Soviet Union countered in1955 by forming the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance for the defense of the Communist states of Eastern Europe

17. Atomic Weapons – Arms Race Soviets v. U.S. for superior weapons Soviets develop the atomic bomb in 1949 A-bomb to H-bomb Defense spending increased dramatically Americans were convinced that this was necessary Fear of WWIII Bomb shelters and drills

18. Cold War in Asia Japan under control of U.S. only Trials, new constitution, emperor stays as a figurehead 1946 – Philippines became independent Two Chinas: Communist (1949) mainland and Taiwan Korean War: divided along 38 th parallel, North is communist Containment South Korea is noncommunist

19. The Second Red Scare Similar to post-WWI Loyalty Review Board to investigate federal employees HUAC: House Un-American Activities Committee- to find Communists Looked for Communist influences in government, Boy Scouts, and Hollywood American Civil Liberties Union opposed what they saw as a violation of their 1 st Amendment rights

20. The Second Red Scare Hiss case: Alger Hiss, a prominent official in the State Department, accused of being a Communist Investigated by HUAC and rising Republican Congressman (CA) Richard M. Nixon Hiss denied being a Communist In1950 he was convicted of perjury and sent to prison Rosenberg Case

21. Joseph McCarthy Republican senator from Wisconsin In1950 he announced that 205 Communists were still working in the State Department Rode the wave of anticommunist feeling to become a powerful politician Fear Used unsupported accusations McCarthyism: witch hunt for communists

22. Joseph McCarthy Finally in 1954, McCarthy’s “reckless cruelty” was exposed on television A Senate committee televised hearings on communist infiltration in the army McCarthy seen as a bully by millions of viewers The “witchhunt” for Communists had played itself out