Essential QuestionEssential Question:: To what extent did American To what extent did American

foreign & domestic policy change in foreign & domestic policy change in the 1950s?the 1950s?

Warm-Up QuestionWarm-Up Question:: Explain the Truman DoctrineExplain the Truman Doctrine Explain the Marshall PlanExplain the Marshall Plan What was the purpose of NATO?What was the purpose of NATO?

President Eisenhower’s President Eisenhower’s Modern RepublicanismModern Republicanism

Eisenhower’s Modern Eisenhower’s Modern RepublicanismRepublicanism

Frustration with the stalemate in Frustration with the stalemate in Korea & the Red Scare led to a Korea & the Red Scare led to a Republican presidential takeover Republican presidential takeover in the 1952in the 1952

WW2 hero Dwight Eisenhower WW2 hero Dwight Eisenhower provided an antidote for “Kprovided an antidote for “K11CC22”” VP Richard Nixon attacked VP Richard Nixon attacked

communism & corruption communism & corruption Eisenhower vowed to go to Eisenhower vowed to go to

Korea & personally end the warKorea & personally end the war

Korean War Gov’t Corruption

Communism

Once elected, Ike did go to Korea, overturned the U.N. battle plan, & threatened China with nuclear war to get an armistice signed in 1953

Eisenhower’s Modern RepublicanismEisenhower’s Modern Republicanism

Eisenhower labeled his politics Eisenhower labeled his politics ““Modern RepublicanismModern Republicanism”:”: ““Ike” believed in conservative Ike” believed in conservative

gov’t spending & a balanced gov’t spending & a balanced budget but he had no desire to budget but he had no desire to end New Deal programsend New Deal programs

The affluent, postwar “good life” The affluent, postwar “good life” at home was dependent upon a at home was dependent upon a strong Cold War foreign policystrong Cold War foreign policy

“I’m conservative when it comes to money and liberal when it comes to human beings”

Eisenhower’s Modern Eisenhower’s Modern RepublicanismRepublicanism In his 8 years as president, Ike had a In his 8 years as president, Ike had a

modest domestic record:modest domestic record: Instead of ending New Deal Instead of ending New Deal

programs, Eisenhower added to programs, Eisenhower added to social security & minimum wagesocial security & minimum wage

Used FDR’s Federal Housing Admin Used FDR’s Federal Housing Admin to help finance building & to help finance building & purchasing of suburban homespurchasing of suburban homes

Created the Depts of Health, Created the Depts of Health, Education, & WelfareEducation, & Welfare

During the Eisenhower era, the U.S. economy avoided spiraling inflation & brought

middle-class prosperity to more Americans

Eisenhower’s Modern Eisenhower’s Modern RepublicanismRepublicanism

Interstate Highway SystemInterstate Highway System:: Highway Act of 1956 created 41,000 Highway Act of 1956 created 41,000

miles of divided highway to connect miles of divided highway to connect major U.S. citiesmajor U.S. cities

These highways helped promote national These highways helped promote national defense, interstate trade, & vacation defense, interstate trade, & vacation travel travel

All funds were raised exclusively through All funds were raised exclusively through gas, tire, & car taxesgas, tire, & car taxes

The Republicans in PowerThe Republicans in Power Regarding McCarthyism, Ike provided Regarding McCarthyism, Ike provided

McCarthy “just enough rope to hang McCarthy “just enough rope to hang himself” in 1954himself” in 1954 In the televised “Army hearings,” the In the televised “Army hearings,” the

nation saw McCarthy’s style & fact-less nation saw McCarthy’s style & fact-less attacksattacks

The Senate censured McCarthy & his The Senate censured McCarthy & his “communist” attacks quickly died “communist” attacks quickly died

“I am not going to get into a [peeing] contest with a skunk”

“Have you no decency, Mr. McCarthy?”

Postwar American Postwar American Society Society

An Affluent SocietyAn Affluent Society The postwar boom was caused byThe postwar boom was caused by

A desire for consumer goods A desire for consumer goods (suppressed in the 1930s (suppressed in the 1930s && 40s) 40s)

Gov’t spending during Cold WarGov’t spending during Cold War Baby boom & movement to the suburbs Baby boom & movement to the suburbs

increased the demand for consumer increased the demand for consumer goodsgoods

But, this affluence led to a shift from But, this affluence led to a shift from individualism to conformity individualism to conformity

The Marshall Plan

The Korean War

Cars with automatic

transmissions

Filter cigarettes TVs

Refrigerators

Hi-fi record playersThe American economy grew from crippling

depression to the highest standard of living in all of world history in just 1 generation

TV in the 1950sTV in the 1950s

$64,000 Question$64,000 Question 21 Questions21 Questions BonanzaBonanza The Untouchables The Untouchables I Love LucyI Love Lucy 1950s TV networks 1950s TV networks

“I Love Lucy” “The Milton Berle Show”

TV replaced radio & magazines as the primary conveyer of American consumer culture

Birthrate, 1940-1970Birthrate, 1940-1970

The late 1940s & 1950s experienced the “baby boom”

Life in the SuburbsLife in the Suburbs The rapid growth of suburbs altered The rapid growth of suburbs altered

American life:American life: ““Blue” & “white collar” workers lived in Blue” & “white collar” workers lived in

the same neighborhoodsthe same neighborhoods Suburbs depended upon cars, grocery Suburbs depended upon cars, grocery

stores, & shopping malls stores, & shopping malls Suburbs allowed for the nuclear-family, Suburbs allowed for the nuclear-family,

not the extended familynot the extended family ““White-flight” to the suburbs left behind White-flight” to the suburbs left behind

largely black urban coreslargely black urban cores

A Suburban Case Study: Levittown, New A Suburban Case Study: Levittown, New YorkYork

Begin in 1947 with 4,000 rental homes to veteransGrew to 17,000 sold homes in 1951

Southdale Shopping Center, Minnesota— Southdale Shopping Center, Minnesota— the 1 the 1stst enclosed, air-conditioned shopping enclosed, air-conditioned shopping

mallmall

Areas of Greatest GrowthAreas of Greatest Growth The rapid growth of suburbs led toThe rapid growth of suburbs led to

Increased church membership; Religious Increased church membership; Religious preference became the primary preference became the primary identifying feature of the suburbs identifying feature of the suburbs

Public schools grew & a college Public schools grew & a college education was a goal for middle class education was a goal for middle class childrenchildren

New Students Taking Advantage of the New Students Taking Advantage of the G.I. Bill G.I. Bill Juvenile Delinquency Movies of the 1950s

The Music of the 1950s The Music of the 1950s The music of the early 50s was The music of the early 50s was

dominated by doo-wopdominated by doo-wop But, rock n’ roll quickly struck a chord But, rock n’ roll quickly struck a chord

with young listeners:with young listeners: Black artists: Ray Charles, Chuck Black artists: Ray Charles, Chuck

Berry, Fats Domino, & Little RichardBerry, Fats Domino, & Little Richard White artists: Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy White artists: Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy

Orbison, Buddy Holly, & Elvis PresleyOrbison, Buddy Holly, & Elvis Presley

Critics of the Consumer Critics of the Consumer SocietySociety

Some criticized suburban culture:Some criticized suburban culture:William Whyte’s William Whyte’s Organized ManOrganized Man & &

David Riesman’s David Riesman’s Lonely CrowdLonely Crowd criticized American conformity to criticized American conformity to social pressuressocial pressures

Jack Kerouac & the Beats Jack Kerouac & the Beats ((BeatniksBeatniks) emerged as a new ) emerged as a new counter-culture by refusing to counter-culture by refusing to conform to 1950s culture conform to 1950s culture

Gave rise to counter-culture reactionaries of 1960s

Inspired by Zen Buddhist state of inner grace called “beatitude”

Find imagesFind images

Beat Artists (Beatniks)Beat Artists (Beatniks)“City Lights” in San Francisco was a hotbed for Beat artists

MarMarAbstract Expressionism Abstract Expressionism Jackson PollockMark Rothko

Essential QuestionEssential Question::How do the domestic & How do the domestic & foreign policies of Truman & foreign policies of Truman & Eisenhower compare?Eisenhower compare?

Eisenhower Eisenhower Wages the Cold Wages the Cold

WarWar

Eisenhower & the Cold WarEisenhower & the Cold War Ike was unusually well-prepared to Ike was unusually well-prepared to

be a Cold War presidentbe a Cold War president Ike’s foreign policy goals were to:Ike’s foreign policy goals were to:

Take a strong stand against Take a strong stand against Communism by using “Communism by using “massive massive retaliationretaliation” with nuclear weapons ” with nuclear weapons & covert CIA operations& covert CIA operations

To reduce defense spending & To reduce defense spending & relax Cold War tensionsrelax Cold War tensions

Pragmatic & well organized

WW2 military experience in

Europe & Asia

Chose hard-liner John Foster Dulles to be Sec of State

Excellent diplomat & politician

Massive RetaliationMassive Retaliation

Eisenhower wanted “Eisenhower wanted “more bang for more bang for the buckthe buck”:”: Nuclear weapons & long-range Nuclear weapons & long-range

delivery missiles were cheaper than delivery missiles were cheaper than conventional armed forcesconventional armed forces

““Massive retaliationMassive retaliation” strategy made ” strategy made using nuclear weapons unlikelyusing nuclear weapons unlikely

But massive retaliation offered no But massive retaliation offered no intermediate course of action if intermediate course of action if diplomacy failed diplomacy failed

“Massive retaliation” meant targeting civilian targets rather than military ones

Ike relied heavily on “brinksmanship” in which he used veiled threats of

nuclear war to accomplish his goals

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)(ICBMs)

What are the stakes of war? Massive Retaliation?

Mutual Assured Destruction?

Massive RetaliationMassive Retaliation In 1954, Eisenhower used a hard-line In 1954, Eisenhower used a hard-line

approach to stop Chinese expansion in approach to stop Chinese expansion in Asia:Asia: Chinese attempts to take over islands Chinese attempts to take over islands

near Taiwan led Eisenhower to near Taiwan led Eisenhower to threaten nuclear war if China did not threaten nuclear war if China did not stopstop

Eisenhower hoped this pressure would Eisenhower hoped this pressure would drive a wedge between the USSR & drive a wedge between the USSR & communist China communist China

Chinese did not know if Ike was bluffing so China backed off this territorial expansion

…and the refusal of the USSR to aid China added a rift between Russia & China by the end of the 1950s

Massive RetaliationMassive Retaliation In 1956, Egyptian leader Nasser In 1956, Egyptian leader Nasser

nationalized the Suez Canal:nationalized the Suez Canal: England & France invaded Egypt to England & France invaded Egypt to

take back the canal but the USSR take back the canal but the USSR opposed this interventionopposed this intervention

Eisenhower did not want the USSR to Eisenhower did not want the USSR to attack so he threatened Russia with attack so he threatened Russia with nuclear warnuclear war

England, France, & the USSR left England, France, & the USSR left Egypt & the U.S. became the leader Egypt & the U.S. became the leader in Middle Eastin Middle East

“If those fellows start something, we may have to hit ‘em—and, if necessary,

with everything in the bucket”

Eisenhower DoctrineEisenhower Doctrine

The Suez Crisis revealed the The Suez Crisis revealed the vulnerability of the Middle East to vulnerability of the Middle East to Communism & Ike responded:Communism & Ike responded: In 1957, the In 1957, the Eisenhower DoctrineEisenhower Doctrine

recommended U.S. armed force to recommended U.S. armed force to protect the Middle East from protect the Middle East from Communist aggression Communist aggression

In 1957, Ike sent the military to In 1957, Ike sent the military to Lebanon to halt Communism & install Lebanon to halt Communism & install a pro-Western gov’t a pro-Western gov’t

Like the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America, the United States emerged as a police power

in a new part of the world

Covert ActionsCovert Actions Ike’s administration used covert CIA Ike’s administration used covert CIA

acts to expand U.S. control:acts to expand U.S. control: In 1953, the CIA overthrew Mohammed In 1953, the CIA overthrew Mohammed

Mossadegh in Iran in favor of a U.S.-Mossadegh in Iran in favor of a U.S.-friendly shahfriendly shah

In 1954, the CIA overthrew a leftist In 1954, the CIA overthrew a leftist regime in Guatemala regime in Guatemala

In 1959, the CIA took a hard-line against In 1959, the CIA took a hard-line against new Cuban dictator Fidel Castro after his new Cuban dictator Fidel Castro after his coupcoup

These interventions led to anti-American hostilities in the Middle East & Latin America

“The end justifies the means”

Essential QuestionEssential Question:: How do the domestic & foreign How do the domestic & foreign

policies of Truman & Eisenhower policies of Truman & Eisenhower administrations compare?administrations compare?

Warm-Up Question:Warm-Up Question: Why do you think the USA and Why do you think the USA and

Soviet Union were so concerned Soviet Union were so concerned about their space programs? about their space programs?

The Effects of SputnikThe Effects of Sputnik The “space race” intensified the Cold The “space race” intensified the Cold

War between USA & USSRWar between USA & USSR In 1957, the launch of the Soviet satellite In 1957, the launch of the Soviet satellite

Sputnik led to fears that the USSR was Sputnik led to fears that the USSR was leading the race to create leading the race to create intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)

The U.S. sped up it plans to buildThe U.S. sped up it plans to build ICBMsICBMs

&& IRBMIRBM submarinessubmarines

Khrushchev used Sputnik to put the U.S. on the defensive: “We will bury you. Your

grandchildren will live under Communism.”

The Effects of SputnikThe Effects of Sputnik Sputnik Sputnik ledled to fears that America was to fears that America was

growing soft & was losing its growing soft & was losing its competitive edge & work ethic competitive edge & work ethic

The U.S. gov’t responded with:The U.S. gov’t responded with: National Aeronautics & Space National Aeronautics & Space

AdministrationAdministration in 1958 in 1958 National Defense Education ActNational Defense Education Act was was

created to promote math, science, & created to promote math, science, & technology educationtechnology education

The advanced placement (AP) program is a byproduct of the NDEA!

Sputnik in 1957Sputnik in 1957The Original Seven—Mercury Astronauts

Alan Shepard was the 1st American in space

Waging PeaceWaging Peace

Ike tried to end the nuclear arms Ike tried to end the nuclear arms race as both sides tested hydrogen race as both sides tested hydrogen bombs & ICBMsbombs & ICBMs In 1953, Eisenhower called for In 1953, Eisenhower called for

disarmament & presented his disarmament & presented his “Atoms for Peace” plan to the “Atoms for Peace” plan to the United NationsUnited Nations

In 1955, Khrushchev rejected In 1955, Khrushchev rejected Eisenhower’s “open skies” plan for Eisenhower’s “open skies” plan for weapons disarmament weapons disarmament

Military-Industrial ComplexMilitary-Industrial Complex

In his farewell In his farewell address in 1960, address in 1960, Eisenhower warned Eisenhower warned against the against the Military-Military-Industrial ComplexIndustrial Complex:: The massive military The massive military

spending that spending that dominates dominates domestic domestic & & foreign foreign politics politics

This military-industrial complex is part of the reason for the Soviet demise in the late 1980s

& end of the Cold War in 1991

ConclusionsConclusions::Restoring National Restoring National

ConfidenceConfidence

Conclusions Conclusions By 1960, the American people were By 1960, the American people were

more optimistic than in 1950more optimistic than in 1950 Americans were no longer afraid of a Americans were no longer afraid of a

return of another Great Depressionreturn of another Great Depression Anxiety over the Cold War continued but Anxiety over the Cold War continued but

was not as severewas not as severe But, American values & race relations But, American values & race relations

were areas of concernwere areas of concern