Chapter 28: The Cold War and the American DreamChapter 28: The Cold War and the American DreamSection 2: The Korean War and McCarthyismSection 2: The Korean War and McCarthyism

Section 3: The FiftiesSection 3: The Fifties

Right after WWII Right after WWII there was also a civil war in there was also a civil war in

ChinaChina On one side: On one side:

Communists – led by Communists – led by Mao Tse Tung.Mao Tse Tung. The other side: The other side:

‘Nationalists” – backed ‘Nationalists” – backed by the United States.by the United States.

The Communists won The Communists won the Civil war and the the Civil war and the Nationalists were Nationalists were forced to leave the forced to leave the country – they ended country – they ended up going to Taiwanup going to Taiwan

Americans were shocked that another Americans were shocked that another country turned to communism – and thought country turned to communism – and thought

they might try and take over the whole they might try and take over the whole world.world.

Then, some events in Then, some events in Korea contributed to Korea contributed to this fear.this fear.

Korea was separated in Korea was separated in two parts - at the 38two parts - at the 38thth parallel (48)parallel (48)

North Korea – supported North Korea – supported by communistsby communists

South Korea – supported South Korea – supported by the United Statesby the United States

In 1950, North Korean forces In 1950, North Korean forces crossed into South Koreacrossed into South Korea

The Korean War was The Korean War was starting.starting.

Truman was going to Truman was going to use Korea as the first use Korea as the first test of his containment test of his containment policy.policy.

The United Nations (16 The United Nations (16 nations sent troops) nations sent troops) tried to helped fight tried to helped fight against the North against the North Koreans – but most of Koreans – but most of the fighting was done by the fighting was done by Americans.Americans.

The American General (Douglas The American General (Douglas MacArthur) pushed the North Koreans MacArthur) pushed the North Koreans all the way back to the edge of Chinaall the way back to the edge of China

Now,Now, the question is: the question is:

You’re fighting against You’re fighting against communism.communism.

The Chinese are now The Chinese are now communists.communists.

You’re dominating North You’re dominating North Korean communists.Korean communists.

You’re fighting right on the You’re fighting right on the edge of China.edge of China.

Do you go into China and Do you go into China and try and take care of try and take care of communism there too?communism there too?

The Chinese warned that The Chinese warned that we better stop right at the we better stop right at the border.border.

But China did see the American But China did see the American forces as a threat to attack– so forces as a threat to attack– so

they…they… Decided to help the Decided to help the

North Koreans.North Koreans. They succeeded in They succeeded in

pushing the U.S. all pushing the U.S. all the way back to the way back to the 38the 38thth parallel parallel

Truman and MacArthur Truman and MacArthur completely disagreed about completely disagreed about

attacking China attacking China MacArthur wanted to MacArthur wanted to

attack China – Truman attack China – Truman wanted to “contain” wanted to “contain” communism.communism.

Truman eventually Truman eventually had to fire MacArthur.had to fire MacArthur.

MacArthur returned to MacArthur returned to the United States as a the United States as a hero (he was also the hero (he was also the main general in the main general in the Pacific in WWII).Pacific in WWII).

Eventually most Eventually most people came to agree people came to agree with Truman’s actions.with Truman’s actions.

As the Korean War (Conflict) dragged As the Korean War (Conflict) dragged onon

It became more It became more unpopular.unpopular.

The two sides had The two sides had peace talks for a peace talks for a couple of years.couple of years.

When Truman decided When Truman decided to not run for to not run for president.president.

Eisenhower wanted to.Eisenhower wanted to. He promised a speedy He promised a speedy

end to the Korean end to the Korean conflict.conflict.

Eisenhower agreed to a Eisenhower agreed to a compromise to end the war.compromise to end the war.

But he also told But he also told people privately that people privately that he’d use nuclear he’d use nuclear weapons if he had to.weapons if he had to.

Korea ended where it Korea ended where it started – with the 38started – with the 38thth Parallel dividing North Parallel dividing North Korea and South Korea and South Korea.Korea.

The important thing The important thing for the U.S. was:for the U.S. was:

Korea today: No real change Korea today: No real change from the 50’sfrom the 50’s

One politician who used the threat of One politician who used the threat of communism to his advantage was: Joseph communism to his advantage was: Joseph

McCarthyMcCarthy He said he had information He said he had information

about people who were about people who were communists in the U.S. communists in the U.S.

He held investigations and He held investigations and even trials.even trials.

He ruined the careers of He ruined the careers of many people.many people.

He never really proved any He never really proved any of his claims and soon of his claims and soon faded away.faded away.

(He did all this while he (He did all this while he was running for re-election was running for re-election for the Wisconsin Senate).for the Wisconsin Senate).

These kind of “witch These kind of “witch hunts” are sometimes hunts” are sometimes called called “McCarthyism” (18).“McCarthyism” (18).

Since President Eisenhower Since President Eisenhower had been a generalhad been a general

He had much more He had much more aggressive ideas aggressive ideas about how to stop about how to stop communismcommunism

He was willing to He was willing to go to war if he go to war if he needed to stop its needed to stop its spread.spread.

The U.S. and the U.S.S.R. were The U.S. and the U.S.S.R. were soon locked in an soon locked in an arms race arms race

(24)(24) They eventually also They eventually also

began a began a space race space race (25)(25) when the Soviets when the Soviets launched the world’s launched the world’s first space satellite.first space satellite.

This also meant the This also meant the Russians had Russians had developed a big developed a big enough missile that enough missile that they could attack the they could attack the United StatesUnited States

And the U.S. started spending And the U.S. started spending billions for its own space billions for its own space

researchresearch The two sides were The two sides were

actually going to actually going to have some meetings have some meetings but…but…

About that same About that same time a U.S. spy plane time a U.S. spy plane was shot down over was shot down over Russia and the Russia and the Soviets were mad we Soviets were mad we wouldn’t apologize.wouldn’t apologize.

Not everything was wonderful in the Not everything was wonderful in the fifties.fifties.

Nearly 1 in 5 people Nearly 1 in 5 people lived in poverty.lived in poverty.

Most of these people Most of these people were minorities and were minorities and immigrants who immigrants who couldn’t afford to move couldn’t afford to move out of the cities.out of the cities.

Employers often took Employers often took advantage of these advantage of these people – paying them people – paying them little and asking them little and asking them to work a lot – because to work a lot – because they knew they needed they knew they needed money so badly.money so badly.

As a president, Eisenhower As a president, Eisenhower kept most of the “New Deal” kept most of the “New Deal”

programsprograms He expanded social He expanded social

securitysecurity He increased the He increased the

minimum wageminimum wage He created the He created the

Department of Health, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.Education, and Welfare.

He built over 41,000 He built over 41,000 miles of new interstates miles of new interstates as part of as part of The The Interstate Highway Act Interstate Highway Act (35)(35) (also to be used (also to be used for the defense of our for the defense of our country)country)

The “American Dream” in the The “American Dream” in the 50’s50’s

Get marriedGet married Have kids Have kids (baby boom (baby boom

(37)(37) Live in the suburbs with a Live in the suburbs with a

car, living near malls, car, living near malls, movie theaters, movie theaters, restaurants.restaurants.

Have your kids go to a Have your kids go to a good schoolgood school

Live where you felt safe.Live where you felt safe. Dad worked 9-5 and Dad worked 9-5 and

mom took care of the mom took care of the house and kids.house and kids.

Have all the new modern Have all the new modern “conveniences” of life“conveniences” of life

Less people went to watch Less people went to watch movies – now they could watch movies – now they could watch

televisiontelevision(By 1960 – 9-10 houses had a TV set)(By 1960 – 9-10 houses had a TV set)

LassieLassie The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger The Howdy Doody ShowThe Howdy Doody Show The Mickey Mouse ClubThe Mickey Mouse Club I Love LucyI Love Lucy Father Knows BestFather Knows Best Captain KangarooCaptain Kangaroo Musicals / VarietyMusicals / Variety

And…And…

Bill HaleyBill Haley Chuck BerryChuck Berry Little RichardLittle Richard Fats DominoFats Domino Jerry Lee LewisJerry Lee Lewis So many others…So many others…

And… we can’t forget And… we can’t forget about…about…

Remember “the lost Remember “the lost generation” who were around generation” who were around

right after WWII?right after WWII? The 60’s had a The 60’s had a

somewhat similar somewhat similar group.group.

Writers and poets Writers and poets who protested the who protested the “shallowness and “shallowness and conformity” of conformity” of American society.American society.

They were known They were known as as “beatniks”(49).“beatniks”(49).

By the end of the 50’s it was By the end of the 50’s it was time for a new presidenttime for a new president

1960 was one of 1960 was one of the tightest the tightest presidential races presidential races in history.in history.

Between Richard Between Richard Nixon (Ike’s V.P.) Nixon (Ike’s V.P.) and a young guy – and a young guy – JFK.JFK.

They even had the They even had the first ever televised first ever televised debates.debates.

Kennedy won the Kennedy won the election.election.