u.s. history ii the postwar world sol 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d prepared by judy self
TRANSCRIPT
U.S. History II
The Postwar WorldSOL 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d
Prepared by Judy Self
USII SOL 7a
Rebuilding Europe and Japan
How did the United States help rebuild postwar Europe and Japan?
Learning from the mistakes after World War I the U.S. accepted its role as a world superpower
U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall prepared the Marshall Plan to help rebuild Europe
How did the United States help rebuild postwar Europe and Japan?
Marshall Plan, the European Recovery Plan, was to to provide massive financial aid to rebuild European economies
U.S. hoped the aid would help prevent the spread of communism
How did the United States help rebuild postwar Europe and Japan?
Germany was partitioned into East and West Germany
West Germany became democratic and resumed self-government after a few years of American, British, and French occupation
How did the United States help rebuild postwar Europe and Japan?
East Germany remained under the domination of the Soviet Union and did not adopt democratic institutions
How did the United States help rebuild postwar Europe and Japan?
Japan was occupied by American forces It adopted a democratic form of
government and resumed self-government Japan became a strong ally of the United
States
How did the United States help rebuild postwar Europe and Japan?
The United Nations was formed as a peace keeping organization
The UN was a way for the nations of the world to try to prevent future global wars
USII SOL 7b
Shift from Wartime to Peacetime Economy
What contributed to the prosperity of Americans following World War
II?
Businesses converted from production of war materials to consumer goods
Americans purchased goods on credit
What contributed to the prosperity of Americans following World War
II?
Workforce shifted back to men and most women returned to family responsibilities
What contributed to the prosperity of Americans following World War
II?
Labor unions merged and became more powerful
Workers gained new benefits and higher salaries
What contributed to the prosperity of Americans following World War
II?
As economic prosperity continued and technology boomed, the next generation of women re-entered the labor force in large numbers
USII SOL 7c
The Cold War
What is the Cold War?
After World War II the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as world powers
The “Cold War” was the state of tension between the two countries without actual fighting
It divided the world into two camps
How and why did the Cold War begin?
Differences between the two superpowers
The United States was democratic and capitalist
The Soviet Union was dictatorial and communistic
How and why did the Cold War begin?
The Soviet Union’s domination over Eastern European countries
How and why did the Cold War begin?
American policy of containment; stopping the spread of communism
How and why did the Cold War begin?
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) versus Warsaw Pact
NATO - United States and its allies Warsaw Pact - Soviet Union and its allies
What have been the major conflicts and confrontations in the
post-World War II era?
South Korea and the United States resisted Chinese and North Korean aggression
The conflict ended in a stalemate North and South Korea remain divided
What have been the major conflicts and confrontations in the
post-World War II era?
Cuban Missile Crisis occurred when the Soviet Union placed missiles in Cuba
Soviets removed the missiles in response to a U.S. blockade
What have been the major conflicts and confrontations in the
post-World War II era?
The United States believed that if one nation in Asia became communist the rest would fall to communism one after the other
That belief is called the Domino Theory
What have been the major conflicts and confrontations in the
post-World War II era?
The U.S. intervened to stop the spread of communism into South Vietnam Americans were divided over whether the U.S. should be involved
militarily in Vietnam Conflict ended in a cease-fire agreement in which U.S. troops
withdrew
How did communism collapse in Europe?
Economic problems led to the breakup of the Soviet Union into independent countries
The destruction of the Berlin Wall signaled the collapse of communism in Europe
What new challenges did the U.S. face after the Cold War?
The role of U.S. military intervention Environmental challenges Global issues, including trade, jobs, and diseases
USII SOL 7d
Our Changing Society
What factors led to changing patterns of society in the post-
World War II era?
The development of a strong economyHealthy job marketIncreased productivityIncreased demand for American products
What factors led to changing patterns of society in the post-
World War II era?
Greater investment in education to meet the challenges of the future
What factors led to changing patterns of society in the post-
World War II era?
The sudden and large increase in births after World War II, called the Baby Boom, that led to a great change in demographics in the United States
What factors led to changing patterns of society in the post-
World War II era?
The building of the interstate highway system
What factors led to changing patterns of society in the post-
World War II era?
The evolving role of women from homemaker to working outside the home
Expanding women’s rights; one advocate was Eleanor Roosevelt
What factors led to changing patterns of society in the post-
World War II era?
African Americans’ aspirations for equal opportunities
What factors led to changing patterns of society in the post-
World War II era?
Changes in the make-up of immigrants More Asian and Hispanic Americans
What policies and programs expanded educational and
employment opportunities for the military, women, and minorities?
G.I. Bill of Rights gave educational, housing, and employment benefits to World War II veterans
President Truman desegregated the armed forces
What policies and programs expanded educational and
employment opportunities for the military, women, and minorities?
Civil Rights legislation led to increased educational, economic, and political opportunities for women and minorities
The End