The Cold War Mr. Websters Class Vocabulary (Ch. 18) satellite state independent nation under the control of another nation iron curtain term used to describe the border between the Soviet satellite states and Western Europe containment policy of containing communism within its existing borders brinkmanship belief that only by going to the brink of war could the U.S. protect itself against communism 38 th parallel dividing line between North and South Korea arms race contest in which nations compete to build more powerful weapons blacklist list of persons who were not hired because of suspected communist ties Vocabulary (Ch. 19) GI Bill of Rights eased the return of WW2 veterans by providing education and employment aid Sunbelt name given to the region of states in the South and Southwest service sector businesses that provide services rather than manufactured goods consumerism large-scale buying, much of it on credit nuclear family ideal household with a father, mother, and children beatnik small group of writers in the 1950s and early 1960s who were critical of American society inner city the older, central part of a city with crowded neighborhoods in which low-income, usually minority groups, live Vocabulary (Ch. 21) flexible response defense policy allowing for action in any type of conflict hot line direct phone line between the White House and the Kremlin; set up after the Cuban Missile Crisis New Frontier Pres. Kennedys plan aimed at improving the economy, fighting racial discrimination, and exploring space War on Poverty Pres. Johnsons programs aimed at aiding the countrys poor Medicare federal program created in 1965 to provide basic hospital insurance to most Americans over the age of 65 Medicaid federal program created in 1965 to provide low-cast health insurance to poor Americans Textbook Assignment (Ch. 18) For this activity, you will work with a partner, and together, you will be assigned a few pages to read from your textbook (Ch. 18). Upon reading the text, you and your partner will summarize your findings in the form of a letter. You will need to pretend that you are living through the time period being studied, and you should make your letter as animated as possible so that it retains the readers attention. The letter itself should be based in historical fact however, and it must pertain to the reading. Upon completion of the assignment, each group will present their letters to the class. Textbook Assignment (Ch. 19) For this activity, you will work with a partner, and together, you will be assigned a few pages to read from your textbook (Ch. 19). Upon reading the text, you and your partner will summarize your findings in the form of a letter. You will need to pretend that you are living through the time period being studied, and you should make your letter as animated as possible so that it retains the readers attention. The letter itself should be based in historical fact however, and it must pertain to the reading. Upon completion of the assignment, each group will present their letters to the class. Roswell UFO Assignment Since 1947, many Americans have associated the Roswell UFO incident with a government conspiracy to hide the existence of aliens. We now know that the Roswell UFO was in fact a high-altitude balloon that was part of a top secret project to spy on the Soviets, although such information was not released to the general public until the 1990s. For this assignment, you are to write two paragraphs that explore your own thoughts on classified information. In your first paragraph, you must consider the events at Roswell. Do you feel that the government was justified in withholding information about Project Mogul, or do you feel that the public had a right to know the truth? Why or why not? You must then write a second paragraph where you consider current events happening in the world today (give specific examples). Do you feel that the government is justified in withholding top- secret information from the public, or do you feel the public has a right to know the truth? Why or why not? This assignment is worth 20 points. I will be giving 10 points per paragraph, and grading will be based on clarity and strength of argument. 1950s Collage For this assignment, you are to create collage of the 1950s that features a slogan and some of the decades key moments. Some of the historical topics you may want to include are: economic prosperity, the nuclear family, McCarthyism, the Red Scare, the Arms Race, the Space Race, television, rock-and-roll, consumerism, suburban expansion, medical advances, car culture, etc. Your advertisement should be based in historical fact, and it should be creative and colorful as well. This assignment is worth 20 points, and grading will be based on historical accuracy, color, and creativity. Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman was the 33 rd President of the United States ( ). Truman is often remembered for his controversial decision to use the atomic bomb. Truman is also associated with the Truman Doctrine, and the beginning of the Cold War. Truman narrowly won the 1948 presidential election. American and Soviet Differences Although the U.S. and the Soviet Union were allies during WW2, the two nations had little in common. The United States was a capitalist democracy, and the Soviet Union was a communist dictatorship. By 1945, it was clear that the Allies would win the war. It was unclear, however, how Germany and Eastern Europe would be governed after the war. Allies Disagree on Future of Eastern Europe By 1945, Soviet troops already occupied much of Eastern Europe and parts of Germany. Stalin wanted to keep Germany weak and divided, and he also wanted to Eastern Europe to remain under the control of the Soviet Union. The U.S. and the U.K. sought a stronger, united Germany and independent nations in Eastern Europe. Yalta and Potsdam At the Yalta Conference in Feb. 1945, Stalin agreed to establish representative governments and free elections in Eastern Europe, and to divide Germany only temporarily. At the Potsdam Conference in July 1945 however, Stalin refused to confirm the decisions made at Yalta. Pres. Truman left Potsdam believing that the Soviet Union was planning world conquest. The Cold War The Cold War refers to the worldwide rivalry that existed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union ( ). During the Cold War, the two superpowers never faced each other directly, although the two nations did confront each other indirectly through proxy wars. The Iron Curtain In a speech from 1946, Winston Churchill noted that an iron curtain had descended across the continent. East of the iron curtain, the Soviet Union installed communist governments and crushed dissent. Churchill feared the Soviets were attempting to spread communism to Western Europe and East Asia as well. The Truman Doctrine Pres. Truman shared Churchills concerns. In 1947, Truman promised to aid nations (like Greece and Turkey) that were struggling against communism. This became known as the Truman Doctrine. The Truman Doctrine set the U.S. on a course of containment, where communism would be contained within its existing borders. The Marshall Plan The containment policys first great success was in Western Europe. After WW2, the people there faced severe shortages of food and supplies. Through the Marshall Plan (1948), Congress gave billions of dollars of aid to nations in Western Europe, which also helped to work against the expansion of communism. East and West Germany Following WW2, Germany was divided into four zones. The zones controlled by France, Britain, and the U.S. were combined to form West Germany. The zone controlled by the Soviet Union became East Germany. The Allies also controlled the western part of Berlin, a city tucked deep inside East Germany. The Berlin Airlift In 1948, Stalin stopped all highway, railway, and waterway traffic from West Germany into West Berlin. For almost a year, the United States and Britain supplied everything the residents of West Berlin needed through a massive airlift. The Berlin airlift demonstrated how far the U.S. would go to contain communism. NATO and the Warsaw Pact The Berlin airlift was a major success for the policy of containment. In 1949, twelve nations of Western Europe and North America formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to create a network of mutual defense. In response, the Soviet Union and its satellite states formed a rival alliance, called the Warsaw Pact. Roswell UFO Incident In 1947, a U.S. Air Force surveillance balloon crashed near Roswell, New Mexico. Many believed the crash was of an extraterrestrial spaceship. In the 1990s, the U.S. military disclosed that the crash was part of a top-secret project aimed at detecting Soviet atomic bombs. To this day, many conspiracy theories still surround the incident. Communism Spreads to China Since the Bolshevik Revolution, the Soviets had hoped to spread communism to every corner of the world. In 1949, communists led by Mao Zedong took control of China. Maos victory in China was an immense shock and wake-up call to Americans. Two Koreas Once controlled by Japan, Korea was divided into two independent countries at the end of WW2. The dividing line was set at the 38 th parallel. The Soviet Union installed a communist government in North Korea, while the U.S. provided aid to noncommunist South Korea. The Korean War Begins American occupation troops remained in South Korea until In June 1950, North Korean forces crossed the 38 th parallel, overtook the South Korean capital of Seoul, and set out after the S. Korean army. Soon after, Pres. Truman, and also the UN Security Council, promised to aid South Korea in their fight. Gen. Douglas MacArthur Following a successful surprise attack by Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Inchon, the North Koreans were driven back north of the 38 th parallel. Feeling confident, MacArthur attacked north of the parallel, advancing all the way to the Chinese border, prompting the Chinese to attack and force the South Koreans and Americans back. Stalemate By the spring of 1951, the Allied forces had regrouped and stabilized their position near the 38 th parallel. The stalemate lasted until 1953, during which time diplomats tried to devise an acceptable peace agreement. The Korean War was a key issue in the election of 1952, and Dwight D. Eisenhower promised he would end the war if elected. Effects of the Korean War In July 1953, the two sides signed a cease-fire, which is still in effect today. There was no victor in the Korean War. Yet, the war had an important long- term result. Trumans commitment of troops without a congressional declaration of war set a precedent that future presidents would follow. New Atomic Concerns In September 1949, atmospheric radiation led American scientists to the conclusion that the Soviet Union had set off an atomic bomb. The U.S. no longer had a monopoly on atomic weaponry. Americans sensed the world was a much more dangerous and threatening place. The Hydrogen Bomb Three months later, Pres. Truman ordered the Atomic Energy Commission to produce a hydrogen bomb. Developers predicted the H-Bomb would be 1,000 times more powerful as an atomic bomb. In 1952, the U.S. tested the first hydrogen bomb. In 1953, the Soviets tested one of their own. Nevada Test Site The Nevada Test Site was established in 1951 for the testing of nuclear devices. Between , 928 nuclear tests occurred there (828 of which were underground). The site is covered with subsistence craters, and many people who lived downwind of the test site developed long-range health problems. The Arms Race Beginning in the 1950s, the U.S. and Soviet Union took part in the arms race, developing and stockpiling increasingly powerful nuclear weapons. Both sides hoped this program of mutually assured destruction would prevent either side from using a nuclear device against the other. Nikita Khrushchev In 1953, Joseph Stalin died, and Nikita Khrushchev soon emerged as the new head of the Soviet Union. Although a communist and a determined opponent of the U.S., Khrushchev was not as cruel or suspicious as Stalin. It was hoped that a peaceful co- existence could be achieved by the two powers. The Hungarian Revolution Peaceful co-existence was easier to imagine than to practice. In 1956, Khrushchev sent soldiers and tanks to crush an anti-Soviet revolt in Hungary. Americans could only watch these events in horror as Pres. Eisenhower would not use nuclear weapons to guarantee Hungarian independence from the Soviet Union. The CIA In 1947, Congress created the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as an intelligence-gathering organization. During his presidency, Eisenhower gave the CIA a new task. He approved covert, or secret, operations to protect American interests. CIA Covert Operations In 1953, the CIA aided a coup that installed a new government in Iran. In 1954, it accomplished a similar mission in Guatemala. While both operations helped to place anticommunist leaders in power, they also created long-term resentment against the United States. The Space Race In October 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, becoming the first nation to send a satellite into Earths orbit. The following month, they launched Sputnik 2, which carried a dog named Laika, the first living creature to orbit the Earth. The U.S. responded by creating NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). The Red Scare The fear that communists both inside and outside of the U.S. were working to destroy American life created a reaction known as the Red Scare. Following WW2, the House Un- American Activities Committee (HUAC) conducted several highly publicized hearings on communist activities in the United States. The Hollywood Blacklist The most well-known of the HUAC hearings targeted the movie industry in During the hearings, a group known as the Hollywood Ten were tried, convicted, and sent to prison. After the hearings, movie executives circulated a blacklist of entertainers who should not be hired because of their suspected communist ties. Freedom of Speech Takes a Hit The effort to roots out communist influence from American life cut across many levels of society. Communists were exposed and blacklisted in the countrys academic institutions, labor unions, scientific laboratories, and city halls. In the mood of fear created by the Red Scare, freedom of speech was not guaranteed. Spy Cases Two spy trials drew the nations attention to the threat posed by secret communist agents. In 1948, Alger Hiss was accused of being a Soviet spy, and in 1950, was convicted of perjury in connection with the charge. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were charged with conspiring to pass secret information about nuclear science to Soviet agents, and both were convicted and executed. Senator Joseph McCarthy In February 1950, a little-known senator named Joseph McCarthy charged that the State Dept. was infested with communist agents. He waved a piece of paper which, he said, contained the names of State Dept. employees who were secretly communists. McCarthys charge provoked a furor. McCarthyism Between 1950 and 1954, McCarthy was perhaps the most powerful politician in the United States. Piling baseless accusations on top of charges that could not be proved, McCarthy became chairman of an investigations committee. Merely being accused by McCarthy caused people to lose their jobs and destroyed their reputations. Army-McCarthy Hearings In 1954, McCarthy went after the U.S. Army, claiming that it, too, was full of communists. During the televised hearings, Americans saw McCarthys bullying tactics on full display. By the end of the hearings, McCarthy had lost virtually all of his power and influence, signaling the decline of the Red Scare. The Baby Boom At the end of 1945, more than 12 million Americans were in the military. By July 1946, only 3 million remained. Upon their return from WW2, many soldiers made up for lost time by marrying and having children. This led to a dramatic increase in births, known as the baby boom. Economic Prosperity After WW2, the U.S entered a period of economic prosperity. The end of wartime restrictions opened the floodgates to consumer purchases, creating a cycle in which people bought new goods and businesses hired more workers. The American economy also benefited from numerous technological advances, like atomic energy and the computer. Taft-Hartley Act Inflation, however, was a major concern, and many workers went on strike demanding pay increases to keep up with rising prices. As a result of increased union strikes, Congress passed the Taft- Hartley Act (1947), which outlawed the closed shop, or workplace in which only union members can be hired. Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower was the 34 th President of the United States ( ). His nickname was Ike. Eisenhowers presidency was one of the most prosperous, peaceful, and politically tranquil in the 20 th century. Eisenhower was also a 5-star U.S. Army general, and is remembered for orchestrating the D-Day invasion. Suburban Expansion Between 1940 and 1960, more than 40 million Americans moved to the suburbs. People flocked to the suburbs in part because the nation suffered from a shortage of urban housing. William Levitt became a leader in mass producing suburban homes, and soon suburbs were springing up across the country. Car Culture With the surge of suburban growth in the 1950s, Americans grew even more dependent upon their cars. Suburbanites used their cars to commute to work, shop at suburban shopping malls, and visit drive-ins. While newer suburban businesses flourished, many older businesses, often located in older city neighborhoods, struggled to survive. Interstate Highway Act In 1956, Congress passed the Interstate Highway Act, which authorized the construction of multilane expressways, connecting the nations major cities. The Interstate Highway Act represented the biggest expenditure on pubic works in history. Highways also boosted travel to tourist destinations, such as Disneyland, opened in 1955. The Sunbelt In the postwar era, many Americans began moving to the Sunbelt, the name given to the southern and western states. The development of air conditioning played a major role in this shift. After WW2, the development of window units made it possible to cool homes. Latinos and the Sunbelt Latinos also contributed to the growth of the Sunbelt. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, many Cubans escaping the regime of Fidel Castro made Miami, Florida, their new home. During this same time, many Mexican-Americans began flocking to urban areas such as L.A., El Paso, and Phoenix. Impact of Migration The shift to the suburbs and the Sunbelt had a major impact on American society. The suburbs and Sunbelt gained political power, while urbanites in the North and Midwest lost it. Urban and suburban growth also created environmental concerns, ranging from traffic jams and smog to water shortages. The Service Sector Grows During the postwar era, for the first time in U.S. history, more people found employment in the service sector than in the manufacturing sector. The service sector refers to businesses that provide services, such as healthcare, law, retail, banking, or insurance. This led some to describe the U.S. as a postindustrial society. The First Computers During the same time period, the new workforce included many who worked for information industries, including those who built or operated the first computers. These computers were enormous. One of the first computers, named ENIAC, took up roughly 18,000 square feet (with less power than todays desktop computer)! Franchise Business The postwar era saw the rise of franchise businesses, where companies distribute products or services through retail outlets owned by independent operators. Franchises were attractive to consumers because they stressed quality and sameness, no matter where one was in the United States. Critics of franchises saw them as representing a lack of originality. Consumerism As the economy boomed in the postwar era, Americans were caught up in a wave of consumerism, buying as much as they could, often on credit. One product Americans bought in record numbers was a television. In 1946, manufacturers produced fewer than 6,000 TV sets. By the end of the 1950s, 90% of households owned a television. Television I Love Lucy starring Lucille Ball was especially popular during the 1950s, and was the top rated show for four of its six seasons. Other popular sitcoms included Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best. Popular amongst children was the Howdy Doody Show and the Mickey Mouse Club. I Love Lucy Clip The Nuclear Family During the 1950s, the ideal family was the nuclear family, made up of a breadwinning father, a stay-at- home mother, and their children. Television and other forms of mass culture suggested that this ideal was the norm. Those who did not fit the norm often faced social pressure from others. Children Become the Focus More so than in the past, postwar family life revolved around children. Parents sought expert advice on how to raise their children, and they spent a great deal of money on them as well. Baby boomers received toys such as Davy Crockett caps and Barbie dolls, and their impact on the economy and American culture would increase in the years to come. Religious Revival The 1950s also witnessed a revival of religion in the United States. During the 1950s, Congress added the words In God We Trust to the dollar bill, and under God to the Pledge of Allegiance. These additions were aimed at making clear the contrast between religious importance in America and the atheist basis of communism. Medical Advances During the 1950s, American families benefited from numerous advances in medicine. In 1954, a vaccine for polio was developed. At the same time, antibiotics, such as penicillin, came into widespread use. As a result, children born after 1946 had an increased life expectancy. Rock-and-Roll In the 1950s, rock-and-roll music emerged onto the music scene. Rock-and-roll borrowed heavily from rhythm and blues. The arrival of Elvis Presley on the music scene set off the new rock craze, creating a cultural sensation. Rock music became a symbol of the emerging youth culture and of the growing power of youth on mass culture. Beatniks During the 1950s, some social critics complained about the emphasis on conformity. A small group of writers and artists called beatniks refused to conform to accepted ways of dressing, thinking, and acting. Beatniks displayed their dislike of American society by adopting careless dress and colorful jargon. Inner Cities Decline In the postwar era, many blacks and other minorities moved to cities in search of better economic opportunities. At the same time, American cities were suffering a severe decline as middle-class white families moved to the suburbs. As a result, conditions worsened and crime increased in the nations inner cities. Urban Renewal Federal, state, and local governments tried to reverse the downward trend in Americas cities by developing urban renewal projects. With these projects, the govt. cleared large tracts of older housing and built freeways and developments. Urban renewal projects often had the undesired effect of driving people from their homes. Puerto Ricans In the postwar era, Latinos from Puerto Rico often faced many of the same problems that African Americans encountered. Puerto Rican migrants to New York City often found themselves clustered together in the citys poorest neighborhoods. Their employment opportunities were also limited by forms of discrimination. Pop Culture 1950s The Election of 1960 The presidential election of 1960 pitted Democrat John F. Kennedy against Republican Richard M. Nixon. The election of 1960 highlighted the growing power and influence of television. During their first televised debate, Kennedy seemed relaxed and confident, while Nixon looked pale and tired. Kennedy Wins The election of 1960 was a tight race, but ultimately, John F. Kennedy won. The first goal of the Kennedy administration would be to build up the nations armed forces. Kennedy wanted a flexible response defense policy that prepared the U.S. to fight any type of conflict. John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy was the 35 th President of the United States ( ). JFK was the United States first Catholic president, and the youngest president to ever be elected. Kennedys presidency is often associated with the Bay of Pigs Invasion, construction of the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Civil Rights Movement. The Peace Corps / Alliance for Progress As president, Kennedy initiated programs to economically and politically strengthen the Third World to help prevent from becoming communist. The Peace Corps sent American volunteers around the world to assist developing countries. The Alliance for Progress gave economic aid to Latin America, yet the program was not successful. Cuban Revolution In 1959, Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro succeeded in overthrowing the regime of Fulgencio Batista. Fidel Castro turned Cuba into a one-party communist state, and quickly allied with the Soviet Union. As a result, thousands of wealthy and middle-class Cubans fled the country, and many settled in Miami The Bay of Pigs Invasion Before leaving office, Eisenhower authorized the CIA to plan an invasion of Cuba to overthrow Castro. The CIA recruited Cuban exiles and trained them in Guatemala. Upon becoming president, Kennedy decided to implement the plan. On April 17, 1961, the CIA-led force of Cuban exiles attacked Cuba in the Bay of Pigs invasion. Bay of Pigs A Failed Invasion The Bay of Pigs invasion was badly mismanaged, and the poorly equipped forces landed at the site with no protective cover. Of the 1,400 invaders, all but 300 were either killed or captured. Kennedy took personal responsibility for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, which had the adverse effect of strengthening Castros power in Cuba. Cuban Missile Crisis In 1962, U.S. intelligence discovered that the Soviets were building nuclear missile sites in Cuba. Kennedy demanded the removal of the missiles, and he approved a naval quarantine (blockade) of Cuba to prevent the Soviets from completing the bases. For a tense 13 days, it seemed the world was on the brink of nuclear war. Results of the Cuban Missile Crisis Behind the scenes, Kennedy and Khrushchev worked toward a diplomatic settlement. Kennedy agreed to remove U.S. missiles in Turkey if the Soviets removed their missiles in Cuba. The Cuban Missile Crisis prompted the U.S. and U.S.S.R. to improve relations, and in 1963, both nations signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, ending aboveground nuclear tests. The Berlin Wall In 1961, both Kennedy and Khrushchev attended a conference where Berlin was the key issue. Khrushchev wanted the U.S. to give up control of West Berlin, although Kennedy refused. As a result, Khrushchev ordered the construction of the Berlin Wall, which became a visible symbol of the divide between the democratic West and the communist East. Kennedys New Frontier As president, Kennedy promised that his administration would blaze a New Frontier. The New Frontier was Kennedys agenda to improve the economy, education, healthcare, and civil rights. Kennedy also hoped to jump-start the space program. The Space Race Continues In 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American to travel into space, and in 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. Encouraged, Kennedy committed the U.S. to landing a man on the moon by In 1969, Kennedys dream was realized when Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the moon. Assassination of JFK In November 1963, Kennedy traveled to Dallas to win support for his 1964 reelection bid. While his motorcade moved through the city, assassin Lee Harvey Oswald fired three shots at the president. The third shot hit the president in the back of his head. A half hour later, he has pronounced dead. Warren Commission Following the assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president. The Warren Commission was assigned the task of officially investigating the assassination, and they concluded that Oswald was the lone killer. Many people still question whether Oswald acted alone. Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36 th President of the United States ( ). LBJ was vice-president under JFK, and assumed the presidency upon JFKs assassination. LBJs presidency is often associated with the Civil Right Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Great Society, and Vietnam. Civil Rights Act of 1964 Upon becoming president, Lyndon B. Johnson continued Kennedys support of the Civil Rights Act, which he signed into law in The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended discrimination in hospitals, restaurants, theaters, and other public places. Johnson also declared war on poverty, and he instituted programs that aided the countrys poor. War on Poverty Johnsons War on Poverty introduced measures like the Economic Opportunity Act, which trained the jobless, educated the uneducated, and provided healthcare for those in need. One element of the Economic Opportunity Act was the Head Start Program, which provided early childhood education and health opportunities for low-income children and their families. The Great Society Johnson used the term Great Society to describe his vision for America. The main goal of Johnsons Great Society was the elimination of poverty and racial injustice. Johnsons Great Society programs addressed education, medical care, urban problems, and transportation. Great Society Programs Medicare was a federal program created in 1965 to provide basic hospital insurance to most Americans over 65. Medicaid was created the same year to provide low-cost health insurance to poor Americans of any age. The Water Quality Act (1965) and Clean Water Restoration Act (1966) aimed at improving water and air standards in the country. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished the quota system based on national origins. The new law focused on immigrants skills and family relationships. As a result of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, immigrants from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia began pouring into the United States. The Warren Court During the 1960s, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, made many decisions that supported civil rights. Engel v. Vitale (1962) ruled that school prayer was a violation of the First Amendment. Gideon v. Wainwright (1964) ruled that all criminals have the right to an attorney Miranda v. Arizona (1966) ruled that suspects must be informed of their 5 th and 6 th Amendment rights before being questioned.