Post-WWII To 1960

Satellite Nations - Communist nations of Eastern Europe formed during the Cold War,although not under direct Soviet control, they had to remain Communist and friendly to the Soviet Union.

United Nations - International political organization formed after WWII to ensure peace and security in the post-war era.

Containment - U.S. foreign policy of the late 1940s and 1950s, developed by George Kennan, intended to check the expansionist designs of the Soviet Union through economic, military, diplomatic, and political means.

Cold War - The era of confrontation and competition between the United States and the Soviet Union following World War II until 1990.

Truman Doctrine - economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent communist expansion into the Mediterranean.

Marshall Plan - also known as the European Recovery Program; U.S.-sponsored economic aid program for European countries following World War II to revive their economies and stabilize their political structures between the years 1948 - 1951.

Berlin Airlift - Crisis erupting in 1948 and lasting until 1949 when the Soviet Union blockaded assess to West Berlin after an announcement to create a unified West Germany; Allied aircraft were used to supply West Berlin with supplies of food and

fuel for nearly a year before the blockade was lifted.

“Iron Curtain” - term coined by Winston Churchill in 1946; the military, political and ideological barrier established between the Soviet bloc and western Europe from 1945

to 1990.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - International military alliance created to defend Western Europe against Soviet aggression formed in 1949 by the United States and its allies.

Warsaw Pact - military alliance of the Soviet Union and its allies formed in 1955 in response to West Germany being allowed to rearm and join NATO.

Eisenhower Doctrine - U.S. foreign policy pronouncement for military and economic aid to anticommunist governments in the Middle East.

Mao Zedong - communist leader who seized power in China in 1949.

38th Parallel - boundary between communist North Korea and America-backed South Korea following World War II.

Korean War - conflict that lasted from 1950 to 1953 between North Korea, aided by China, and South Korea, aided by United Nations forces consisting primarily of U.S.

troops.

Douglas MacArthur - military leader of United Nations forces in the Korean War; fired by Truman for insubordination in 1951.

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) - committee of the U.S. House of Representatives that conducted investigations throughout the 1940s and 1950s into

alleged communist activities by American citizens.

Alger Hiss - State department official accused of being a Soviet spy in 1948.

McCarthyism - contemporary name for the red scare of the 1950s; practice of publicizing accusations of political disloyalty or subversion with insufficient regard to evidence.

Rosenbergs - Ethel and Julius were tried for conspiracy to commit wartime espionage by passing nuclear weapons data to the Soviets; they were found guilty and electrocuted in 1953.

Espionage - the act or practice of spying or of using spies to obtain secret information.

Sputnik - the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth; launched by the USSR in 1957.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - U.S. government agency established in 1958 for research and development of vehicles and activities for aeronautics and space exploration.

National Defense Education Act - federal legislation providing aid to education especially in the areas of science, mathematics, and foreign languages for public and private schools in 1958.

U-2 Affair - confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union when an American spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down in the Soviet Union in 1960.

Nikita Khrushchev - premier of the Soviet Union from 1956 to 1964

Brinkmanship - a foreign political strategy of Eisenhower and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles during the 1950s to go to the verge of full scale nuclear war rather than

concede to communist threats or demands.

New Look - the national security policy during the Eisenhower administration shifting conventional military capabilities to “air-atomic” capability in the form of the Strategic Air Command.

Massive Retaliation - a military doctrine and nuclear strategy advocated by Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and Eisenhower during the 1950s in which a nation commits itself to retaliate in much greater force in the event of an attack.

Fair Deal - domestic agenda of Harry S Truman including reforms in civil rights, education and medical insurance.

22nd Amendment - limited the number of terms a person can be elected to the presidency.

Dynamic Conservatism - domestic agenda of Dwight D. Eisenhower of balancing economic conservatism with some activism.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - Federal department established in 1947 for coordinating the nation’s intelligence activities and correlating, evaluating and disseminating intelligence affecting national security.

Federal Highway Act - 1956 legislation to construct an interstate highway system; was the largest public works project in American history at that point in time.

Suburbia - residential communities that emerged outside of urban areas especially during the 1950s.

Baby Boom - the sudden, large, sustained increase in the birthrate in the United States from 1946 to 1964.

Dr. Jonas Salk - American medical researcher who discovered and developed the polio vaccine in 1955.

Blue Collar - a member of the working class who typically performs manual labor and earns hourly wages.

White Collar - an educated worker who performs professional office, administrative, and sales tasks for an established salary.

Pink Collar - a worker employed in a job that is traditionally considered to be a female-oriented job.

Consumerism - materialistic attitudes and conformity associated with the consumer culture of the 1950s.

Beat Movement - American social and literary movement of the 1950s and 1960s expressing alienation from conventional society.

Dixiecrats - Third party in the election of 1948 that nominated Governor Strom Thurmond of South Carolina because of Truman’s support of civil rights; also known as the States’ Rights.

Post-WWII to 1960

1 Origins of the Cold War and Harry S Truman

Origins of the Cold War In early 1945, there was already a tradition of suspicion between the US & _____________.

Communism and Capitalism were hostile enemies. US failure to recognize the Soviets until 19_____ US & British delays in opening a 2nd front early in WWII. Secrecy of the atomic bomb project. Termination of Lend-Lease aid to the Soviets in 1945. Providing a reconstruction loan to Britain but not to the USSR. Differing views of the Postwar World.

Soviets wanted a _____________ sphere for themselves US wanted an “open world” for _____________

Beginnings of the Cold War After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union became increasingly

hostile, leading to an era of confrontation and competition that lasted from about 19____ to 19____ known as the Cold War.

Problems at Potsdam Stalin had not allowed for democratic elections in _____________ and other Eastern

European nations which resulted in Soviet Satellite Nations The Soviets were only allowed to take reparations from their occupied zone in

_____________

Containment February 1946

George F. _____________, American diplomat in the Soviet Union advocated a policy of “containment” in regard to USSR.

In his “long telegram,” Kennan suggested the US follow a policy to stop the _____________ of communism and allow it where it already existed.

Kennan explained Russian insecurity and fear of the West, and he believed the communist system was flawed and would eventually fail.

The “Iron Curtain” March 1946

Winston _____________, former PM of Britain, gave his “_____________ Curtain” speech at Fulton, MO.

Essential Questions: Analyze the origins and development of the Cold War between the United States

and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, including ideology, technology, economics, and geography.

Explain and analyze America’s role in international organizations, humanitarian relief, and post-war reconstruction efforts during the Truman administration.

Truman Doctrine March 1947

“it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”

_____________ & _____________ were threatened by communists Congress approved $400 million in aid to Turkey & Greece to provide military &

economic aid.Criticisms:

Truman overreacted & promised unlimited support to anyone claiming to resist “_____________ aggression”

Needlessly polarized the world into pro-Soviet and pro-American camps

Marshall Plan April 19____

Also known as the _____________ Recovery Program Sec. of State George C. _____________ announced the plan at Harvard in June 1947 The plan called for a joint plan of economic recovery July 1947, countries met at Paris to work out details

_____________ walked out Congress was split until a communist coup in ________________

Congress approved $12 billion for economic aid to 16 countries with the purpose of providing humanitarian aid and creating political and economic stability.

_____________ & Satellites rejected the aid

Creation of the Jewish State May 1948

The _____________ movement had advocated for the creation of a Jewish state in the Holy Lands.

Following WWII, the decision was made to create a Jewish state in _____________ (a British mandate).

Truman recognized the new state of _____________ which has strained and complicated relations since with the _____________ producing Arab states.

The Berlin Airlift / “Operation _____________” July 1948 – May 1949

The crisis erupted due to the decision of Britain, France, and the United States to unify _____________ Germany

The Soviet response was a _____________ of highways & railways to _____________ Berlin (2.1 million people in West Berlin) that lasted 327 days.

The Allies airlifted supplies to West Berlin throughout the crisis, and the Soviet Union eventually reopened the highways and railways.

The Federal Republic of Germany was established in October 1949 with the capital at _____________.

Point Four Program January 1949

The “Point Four Program” was part of Truman’s inaugural address. United States should lend money for technical & scientific aid to underdeveloped

countries in Latin America, _____________ and _____________. The Main Idea

Spend millions now to keep these areas from becoming communist or spend billions later to _____________ them for being communist.

NATO est. April 1949

With the threat of war still present, the American public and Congress supported American participation in a _____________ alliance with Western Europe.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created as a mutual defense alliance.**_____ time the United States has joined a military alliance during a time of _____________

Problems in Asia May 1949

The Chinese had been involved in a civil war since the 19____s. Mao _____________ led the communist forces and Chiang Kai-Shek led the

_____________ forces. The civil war erupted again after WWII, and the US had sent aid (but not enough).  In May 1949, the nationalist fled to _____________, and the communists took control

of mainland China. The US had allowed the spread of communism to America’s most important

_____________ partner in Asia. Many Americans (Republicans) blamed _____________ and the Democrats for the fall

of China and for being “soft on communism.”

Even More Problems in Asia The Korean War, 19____ – 19____

Following World War II, Korea was divided between the U.S. & USSR after at the ____th Parallel

North Korea was established as the _____________ Democratic People’s Republic of Korea led by Kim IL Sung.

South Korea was established as a more democratic Republic of Korea led by Syngman _____________.

June 25, 1950 _____________ Korea attacked & invaded _____________ Korea. The U.S. protested & sent military aid

June 27, 1950 ____ took over the defense of South Korea and named General Douglas

_____________ commander UN & SK forces were pushed back to Pusan

September 15, 1950 UN forces landed at I_____________ while UN forces at _____________ counter

attacked UN forces pushed up the peninsula invaded NK _____________ protested as UN forces neared their border

November 25, 1950 China & NK went on a counter-offensive and the UN forces were pushed backed into

SK

Problems with MacArthur MacArthur called for using the A-bomb, Chinese nationalist troops and naval blockade Truman said NO! MacArthur would not let it go and tried to find support Truman was furious and was forced to _____________ MacArthur in April 1951 MacArthur’s speech to Congress “old soldiers never die, they just _____________”

January 1951 – July 1953 Matthew Ridgway became the new leader of UN forces By January 1951, the battle front had stalled near the original boundary along the 38 th

Parallel. June 1951, _____________ suggested a cease-fire July 1953, _____________ had promised to resolve the conflict and belligerents

signed an armistice which established an Armistice Line & a Demilitarized Zone which is still guarded by UN troops today.

2 Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Cold War

Essential Conclusions: The Cold War developed out of distrust and different post-war aims of the Soviet

Union and the United States that polarized much of the world. For the first time in its history, the United States committed itself to international

organizations with the aim of preventing future wars, reducing economic barriers and humanitarian relief.

During the Truman administration, the United States adopted a policy of containing communism which it continued to follow throughout the Cold War period.

Essential Questions: Analyze the development of the Cold War between the United States and the

Soviet Union and their respective allies during the Eisenhower administration. Explain and analyze America’s role in international organizations, humanitarian

relief, and post-war reconstruction efforts during the Eisenhower administration. Analyze and evaluate the causes of the United States’ growing involvement in the

Middle East and the Persian Gulf.

NSC-68 National Security Council Memorandum Number 68 (NSC-68), 19____ Famous Cold War document that proposed the US should _____________ its defense

spending The idea rested on the assumption that the American economy could bear the strain of

a massive rearmament program It was ignored at first until the _____________ War Marked a major step in militarization of American foreign policy and increased troop

levels to 3.5 million

Brinkmanship & Massive Retaliation Sec. of State John Foster _____________ developed the policies which guided

Eisenhower’s foreign policy The U.S. would go to the brink of all out nuclear war to stop communist expansion and

aggression by threatening a full-scale nuclear attack. The policies resulted in the build-up of the US _____________ to drop nuclear bombs

in the event of war. (New _____________)

The Korean War Ends The Korean War ended with the signing of an armistice in 1953, partly because

Eisenhower had gone to the brink and threatened to use nuclear weapons. The battle line became the border between North Korea and South Korea. Although there was no victory, the conflict had stopped _____________ from

spreading.

An Arms Race Race for the H-bomb

A nuclear arms race began after Soviets exploded the atomic bomb in 19____.  In January 1950, Truman gave the go ahead to develop the h-bomb (a thermonuclear

bomb 67 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb).1952, US exploded the h-bomb19____, USSR exploded the h-bomb which convinced government leaders that the Soviets were _____________ atomic secrets

Covert CIA Operations _____________, 1953

Because of the nationalization of oil in Iran, the CIA covertly overthrew the democratic government and placed the Shah Pahlavi in power.

_____________, 1954 The government in Guatemala began a program of land distribution which threatened

American business interests. The CIA placed a dictator in power

Warsaw Pact 1955

The Warsaw Pact was a communist defensive military alliance between the _____________ & satellite nations.

The alliance was created in response to West Germany being allowed to _____________ and join _____________.

The “Spirit of Geneva” July 1955

Geneva _____________ _____________ discussions between the U.S. & USSR to lessen Cold War tensions Eisenhower & Khrushchev (_____________ died 1953) Ike introduced idea of “_____________ skies” plan which Khrushchev rejected

Suez Canal Crisis, 1955 – 1957 1955

US & Britain agree to finance construction of a _____________ on the Nile River. Soviets also agreed to give money; so the US & Britain withdrew their funding. Egypt then seized the _____________ Canal to finance the cost of construction, but

the canal was owned & controlled by France & Britain. 1956

Britain, France & _____________ attacked Egypt to retake the canal Egypt was an ally of USSR & fear of a nuclear war emerged UN stepped in and declared a cease-fire and the U.S. convinced Britain and France to

back down. The Suez Canal was given to _____________ in 1957.

The Hungary Situation February 1956

Khrushchev privately criticized _____________’s style of government. The CIA broadcast it over Eastern Europe.

November 1956 Hungarians rose up in protest and tried to break away from _____________ control. USSR sent in tanks and soldiers to crush the uprising and seized Budapest (Hungary’s

capital). U.S. responded by sending humanitarian aid (no _____________ aid).

Eisenhower Doctrine

January 1957 The U.S. pledged to intervene in the _________________ to stop communist

expansion into the region The U.S. offered economic and military aid to Middle Eastern countries Used in Jordan (1957) and Lebanon (1958)

Sputnik October 1957

USSR _____________ launched into space Placed in orbit using an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic _____________) Soviets were winning the “_____________ race.”

Problems in Cuba 1959

A young revolutionary, Fidel _____________, overthrew the pro-America government in Cuba led by Batista.

Many Americans believed this was a positive change in Cuba until Castro began to distribute land (some American owned) and opened relations with the _____________.

The U.S. responded by cutting Cuban sugar imports which strengthened Castro’s connection with the Soviets.

1960 CIA began to train Cuban exiles for a possible invasion of _____________.

January 1961 US cut diplomatic and economic relations with Cuba.

U-2 Affair May 5, 1960

An American spy _____________, U-2, was taking high altitude pictures over the Soviet Union and was shot down

The pilot, Francis Gary _____________, was captured U.S. claimed it was a weather plane at first Khrushchev & Eisenhower were supposed to have another Summit Meeting on May

15, 1960, but Khrushchev walked out reestablishing Cold War tensions. Powers was found guilty of espionage, but later Powers was exchanged for a captured

Soviet spy.

Organization of American States (OAS) Aug 1960

Conference held in __________________ Purpose of the OAS was to curb the spread of _______________ in the western

hemisphere

3 The Second Red Scare and McCarthyism

The Second Red Scare

Essential Conclusions: During the Eisenhower administration, the United States continued to challenge

communist expansion using containment strategies, international alliances, and the threat of nuclear war.

Due to the growing threat of communist expansion in the Middle East and the growing importance of oil, the United States began to take a more active role in the region.

Essential Questions: Examine and evaluate the response of the United States government to the

increasing fear and threat of communism in America following World War II.

The 2nd Red Scare began following _____________ and escalated into a general fear of Communist subversion—an effort to secretly weaken a society and overthrow its government.

At the end of WWII, 80,000 Americans belonged to the _____________ Party.

Federal Employees Loyalty and Security Program March 1947

Established by executive order of Truman and created _____________ Review Boards

Investigated the loyalty of government employees (3.2 million) Operated from 1947 to 19____ Dismissed 212 people as security risks and another 2,900 resigned rather than be

investigated The program’s aim was to calm Americans. Instead, it led to the fear that _____________ were infiltrating the government.

National Security Act 1947

Created the National _____________ Council, the Central _____________ Agency and a new Department of _____________

NSC, supervised foreign and military policy through the president CIA, collecting of information abroad The act expanded control of the executive branch in defense activities

HUAC & Hollywood House Un-American Activities Committee had been established in 19____. J. Edgar _____________ (FBI) encouraged HUAC to look for communists.

1947 HUAC could investigate any American and gained national headlines in 1947 when it

targeted _____________ and movie production during the war. The “Hollywood _______” refused to cooperate (b/c it was unconstitutional) and were

sent to prison. Hollywood blacklisted anyone with questionable or communist links.

HUAC and Hiss

In 1948 Time magazine editor Whittaker _____________ testified before HUAC that several government officials were also former Communists or spies.

The most prominent among these was lawyer and diplomat Alger _____________. Hiss had served in Roosevelt’s administration, attended the _____________

conference, and helped with the organization of the _____________. Hiss denied the charges, but Chambers produced documents hidden in a pumpkin,

“_____________ Papers” Hiss was convicted of committing perjury in 1948. Congressman Richard _____________ gained national fame pursuing Alger Hiss.

McCarran Internal Security Act 1950

The act made it a crime to plan to establish a dictatorship in the US. All _____________ groups were required to register with the government, provide

membership lists and publish their financial records. Communists were denied _____________ or visas. Allowed the president to declare a national security emergency & establish internment

camps. Enacted over _____________’s veto

Ethel & Julius Rosenberg Case The search for spies intensified when the Soviet Union produced an atomic bomb in

19____. Klaus _____________, a British scientist, admitted giving information to the Soviet

Union and implicated Ethel and Julius Rosenberg in his testimony. This led to the 1951 conviction of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a New York couple who

were members of the Communist Party and were charged with heading a Soviet spy ring.

Although many believed the Rosenbergs were not guilty, the couple was executed in June 1953 (first _____________ to be executed for espionage).

Project Venona In 1946 American cryptographers cracked the _____________ spy code, allowing

them to read messages between Moscow and the United States. This did not become public knowledge until 1995 when the government revealed the

existence of Project _____________. There is strong evidence against the _____________ and _____________ in the

messages, but the cracked codes could not be used at the time of the investigations without alerting the Soviets to Venona’s success

Joseph McCarthy Joseph McCarthy (R- WI) was a WWII veteran that was elected to the _____________

in 1946 where he attracted very little attention until 1950. In 1950, McCarthy claimed to have a list of known communists in the _____________

Department and the democrats were allowing it. Senator Joseph R. McCarthy became the chairman of the Senate subcommittee on

investigations. McCarthy’s investigation turned into a _____________ hunt as he searched for

disloyalty based on poor evidence and fear while ruining reputations without proper evidence.

Army-McCarthy Hearings 1954

McCarthy claimed the _____________ contained communist. In 1954 Americans watched televised Army-McCarthy hearings and saw how

McCarthy attacked witnesses, and his popularity faded. Finally, Special Army Counsel Joseph _____________ stood up to McCarthy. “You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last?”

McCarthyism

McCarthy lost all credibility, and people began to see through his accusations. McCarthy’s tactics became known as McCarthyism – bullying attacks and accusations,

sneeringly anti-communist and anti-intellectual, with a tendency to brand anyone who disagreed as disloyal, un-American or a secret communist sympathizer.

Later in 1954, the Senate passed a vote of _____________, or formal disapproval, against McCarthy.

The Scare Spreads The Red Scare led to similar _____________ actions & the loss of rights due to fear. _____________ rights and _____________ groups were seen to be communist

supporters Books were banned like Robin Hood and Catcher in the Rye.

4 Domestic Policies of Truman and Eisenhower

Transition to a Peace-Time Economy Immediately following the war, the U.S. experienced a rise in _____________, and a

series of strikes erupted in 19____. Office of Price Administration stopped price fixing and the price of goods increased

quickly causing inflation. _____________ stepped in and temporarily fixed prices to stop inflation. President Truman, fearing an energy shortage, forced miners to return to work after a

month-long strike. Gradually, employment and the demand for consumer goods increased, and the

economy recovered. The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, also called the _________, helped the economy

by providing loans to veterans to attend college, set up businesses, and buy homes. The Marshall Plan helped _________ recover & provided markets for American goods As the Cold War intensified, the economy was also aided by a military build-up.

Republicans challenge Truman

Essential Conclusions: Following World War II, a Red Scare erupted in the United States similar to the

earlier Red Scare following World War I. Unlike the earlier scare, the decade-long Second Red Scare was seen as a much

greater threat by Americans partly due to the government’s role in the response and the several cases that exposed communist spies and sympathizers.

In the situation of Joseph McCarthy, a politician was able to achieve the national spotlight through baseless accusations playing on American fears of communism subversion.

Essential Questions: Evaluate the successes and failures of the administrations of Truman and

Eisenhower in dealing with domestic issues (excluding civil rights).

In 1946 Americans were interested in change and Republicans took control of both houses of Congress.

The Republican Congress wanted to limit the increased power of _____________. Taft-Hartley Act, 1947

Outlawed “_____________ shops” and made unions liable for damages Required labor leaders to take an anti-communist oath and make financial

statements public Forbade union contributions to _____________ campaigns Passed over Truman’s veto and symbolized the end of New Deal reforms

Truman’s 21-Point Program Less than a week after the war ended, Truman presented Congress with a 21-point

program, which provided for protection against unfair employment practices, expanding _____________ Security, a higher minimum _____________, greater unemployment compensation, a broad civil rights bill protecting African Americans, and housing assistance.

Truman added other proposals for health insurance, federal aid to _____________ and atomic energy legislation.

Truman’s proposals met with little success with Republicans and conservative _____________ Democrats.

Truman issued Executive Order #______ in July 1948 that integrated the _____________ and put an end to discrimination in government hiring practices.

Election of 1948 As the election of 1948 approached, it looked as if Truman would not be reelected. During his campaign, Truman made speeches that criticized a “_____________

Congress,” because it had not enacted any of his legislative proposals. States’ Rights Democratic Party (_____________) formed when Truman advocated a

strong civil rights platform Dixiecrats nominated Strom _____________ Progressive Party also emerged from the Democratic Party led by Henry A. Wallace Republicans nominated Thomas Dewey, governor of NY

Fair Deal Truman’s domestic policies The Public Housing Administration (1949) was charged with clearing _____________

areas and build low-rent and emergency housing. Social Security was extended to include more people (10 million) Minimum wage increased from 40¢ to ____¢. Congress refused to pass most Fair Deal proposals including national health

insurance and civil rights legislation.

The Election of 1952 and 1956 The elections are almost identical. Democrats ran Adlai _____________ Republicans ran Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) with Richard Nixon for vice president. In the 1952 election, Eisenhower promised to end the _____________ War and

balance the federal budget.

In the 1956 election, the Republicans slogan of “Peace, Prosperity, and Progress” defeated the Democrats “New America” because of the current peace and prosperity there was no need for a new America. 

Eisenhower and _____________ both campaigned with their families present (family men) while Stevenson was divorced.

Dynamic Conservatism President Eisenhower’s political beliefs were self-described as midway between

conservative and _____________. He called for “dynamic conservatism” (the balancing of economic conservatism with

some activism) and warned Americans of “creeping _____________”. On the conservative side, Eisenhower ended government price and rent controls,

vetoed a school construction bill, cut funds for the _____________, and cut aid for public housing while also supporting some tax reductions.

As an activist, Eisenhower promoted transportation projects, upheld social justice and the extension of _____________ Security benefits.

Civil Rights Issues and Ike

Eisenhower was a political conservative and did not favor forcing civil rights legislation. However, several major civil rights events occurred during his administration which eventually forced government action.

_____________ v. Board of Education, 1954 _____________ Bus Boycott, 1955 Little Rock _____________, 1957

Civil Rights will be discussed in the next unit

More Minority Issues Operation Wetback, 1954

Operation Wetback was a repatriation project of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service to remove illegal _____________ immigrants from the Southwest.

US deported about 1 million Mexicans In some cases, illegal immigrants were deported along with their American-born

children, who were by law U.S. citizens. Termination Policy, 1953 – 1961

Reasserted the assimilation of _____________ Americans by breaking up tribal land ownership and encouraging Native Americans to move to urban areas.

Federal Highway Act 1956

Created the _____________ Highway System provided $25 billion for a 10-year project to construct 40,000 miles of interstate

highways. As the number of American car owners increased, this act was necessary to provide

for more efficient travel routes. Contributed to the growth of _____________ and the decline of _____________ cities Unified the country even more

Americans became more mobile and traveled more

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway Eisenhower authorized the construction of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway

(1954-1958). The Seaway System provided residents along the St. Lawrence River and the Great

Lakes dramatically improved access to better _____________, including international ones.

Three previous presidents had failed at reaching an agreement with Canada to build this waterway.

US Responses to Sputnik

The launching of _____________ made Americans feel inferior to the Soviets and vulnerable to nuclear attack.1958

The U.S. launched a _____________ into orbit in January after an earlier failed attempt. (Explorer I)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established in October to manage air and space research and development.

The National Defense and _____________ Act (NDEA) was enacted in September to provide federal funding to schools at all levels with special attention on _____________, sciences and modern foreign _____________.

A Goodbye Warning In Eisenhower’s farewell address, he warned Americans to be on guard against the

influence of a _____________-industrial complex in a democracy. Most criticisms of a military-industrial complex point to the assumption that economic

reliance in military development supports _____________ action. If given a choice between diplomacy and military intervention, the nation dictated by a

military-industrial complex would lean away from _____________.

5 1950s Culture and American Affluence

Essential Questions: Examine economic and social issues in America following WWII. Analyze the effects of the automobile boom and the new consumerism on post-war

America. Examine the culture of 1950s America. Explore the effects of the Cold War on the lives of Americans.

Essential Conclusions: Partly due to early Cold War conflicts, Truman had limited success in continuing the

domestic reforms of the New Deal as Republicans gained more power in Congress. Although he struggled at times with the political maneuvering of Congress, Eisenhower

faired better than Truman in promoting much of his domestic agenda, especially in economic areas.

Fear and Popular Culture The Cold War affected every aspect of Americans lives

In _____________: children practiced “duck and cover” drills At home: families planned for _____________ holocaust In art: end of the world scenarios dominated (Alas, Babylon and Tomorrow!)

Following the Soviet atomic test in 1949, Americans were shocked (and scared!) when the USSR tested the much more powerful hydrogen bomb (H-Bomb) in 1953

According to experts of the time, for every person killed outright by a nuclear blast, four more would die from _____________

Fallout Shelters

Working in America _____________-Collar Jobs, like those in sales and management, surpassed

_____________-Collar Jobs, mostly manual labor, by 1956 for the first time in history The “organization man” was expected to conform to corporate standards Rise of multinational corporations, with their overseas expansion, benefitted from

cheaper labor pool, making them more _____________ Franchises (_____________) offered consistency and dependability

On the Road Following the war, Americans, released from wartime rationing, went shopping, and

they bought _____________! Eisenhower’s Federal Highway Act allowed for easier travel, and, ultimately led to the

rise of _____________ and _____________-in restaurants And, of course, advertising played a vital role in making franchises like

_____________ a household name Fasting growing industry in the United States

The Affluent America

Following WWII, the U. S. enjoyed a period of economic prosperity _____________-Class grew More _____________ time Move to the _____________

Higher standard of living John Kenneth Galbraith published The _____________ Society in 1958, claiming that

the U.S. was experiencing an “economy of abundance” New business techniques and improved technology enabled some nations to produce

an abundance of goods and services

The New Consumerism Keeping Up With the Joneses

Conformity wasn’t only encouraged at work, but also in the _____________

Americans, with more disposable income, bought more luxury items than ever before

“_____________-Saving Machines” With the sophisticated advertising employed by manufacturers, a freezer became a

“promise of plenty,” a second _____________ a “symbol of status,” and mouthwash “the key to immediate success”

Living in SuburbiaThe American Dream

Levittown , _____________, one of the earliest of the new suburbs that grew up around cities, set the stage for “planned residential communities”

Throughout the 1950s, suburbs accounted for about ____% of new home construction Reasons for leaving the city:

_____________ and congestion Move up to a better life More picturesque Affordability Low interest _____________ and tax breaks for _____________ ownership

The Baby Boom and Moms Changes in the American family

Birthrate explosion between 19____ and 19____: more than 65 million children born (at the height of the boom every 7 seconds!)

Many young couples had put off family and a home during WWII and the Korean War

_____________ and _____________ glorified pregnancy and motherhood, parenthood, and large families

Women were now discouraged from seeking employment…a good mother should stay _____________

Dr. _____________: mother’s should be paid The fact: women in the workforces _____________ in the 1950s

Technological Breakthroughs

Advances in Electronics _____________ allowed for miniature radios and calculators ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), one of the earliest

_____________, used by the military: weighed 30 tons UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer), used by businesses

Medical Miracles _____________ New drugs to combat arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease Surgical techniques

Polio Struck in epidemics Known as “infantile paralysis” Survivors often confined to “iron lungs” to help with breathing Jonas _____________ developed injectable vaccine to prevent polio Albert Sabin develops oral vaccine

T.V. Culture Regular television broadcasts began in the early 19____s, but few Americans could

afford to buy a set to watch the few stations available By the end of the 50s, the popularity of t.v. had forced other forms of mass media to

change or die T. V. _____________ became a vehicle for information _____________ provided the money to allow t.v. to flourish Televised athletic events provided entertainment Comedy, action, adventure, and variety-style programs Largely missing from t.v.? _____________ Americans and poor people

And Besides T. V. _____________ suffered as the popularity of television grew

Contests, door prizes, and advertising campaigns attempted to lure people off the couch

3-D films Cinemascope: widescreen, panoramic screens Began to film “made for t.v.” movies Like t.v., adhered to the conformity of the times

_____________ took a hit, as well Television had taken over many of radio’s concepts of comedies, dramas, and

soap operas Radio stations began specializing in recorded _____________, news, talk

shows, weather, etc.

Kids Today!

The _____________ of the 1950s fell on the deaf ears of many rebellious young people

Rock ‘n’ Roll sweeps the nation When Ohio disc jockey Alan _____________ notices white teenagers

buying African American rhythm and blues records, he starts playing it on the air

White artists start making music based on the sounds, and rock ‘n’ roll is born

Many parents condemned the music as loud, mindless, and dangerous The “_____________ movement”

A group of mostly white artists calling themselves the beats Highlighted a _____________ gap in America Sought to live unconventional lives Poets, writers, artists criticized the sterility and _____________ of

American life and the emptiness of popular culture Allen _____________’s long poem “Howl” blasted modern America Jack Kerouac, On The _____________

Not so affluent America 30 million people still lived below the “_____________ line” in America, despite the

affluence of the American _____________-class

Most apparent in urban centers “_____________ flight” to the suburbs “urban _____________” programs tried to help, but created more problems by

clearing slums Michael Harrington’s The _____________ America chronicled poverty in the U. S.

during the 1950s, including photographs and essays on single mothers and the elderly; minority immigrants; rural Americans, black and white; and inner city residents

Faces of Poverty African Americans

1958 salaries were ____% of that of whites NAACP and CORE pushed for economic security with little success Long-standing racism kept black people poor, as _____________ moved to the

suburbs: “last hired, first fired” Lorraine Hansberry A Raisin In the Sun

Hispanics The _____________ programs had brought 5 million Mexicans to the farms of

the Southwest About 350,000 settled permanently Extreme poverty, with little pay and even less _____________ of rights

Faces of Poverty

Native Americans The _____________ ethnic group in the nation “_____________ policy” federal government, again, wanted assimilation, and

withdrew recognition of Native American nations Good intentions, perhaps, but the policy deepened their poverty

Native Americans in Minneapolis were expected to live to 37 years old (68 for the rest of the state)

Appalachia Ruined mines, scarred hills, abandoned farms, dotted the hills of the

_____________ region High rates of nutritional deficiency and infant mortality Fewer doctors per thousand people than the rest of the country Schools were worse than those of the inner city slums

Juvies Juvenile delinquency rose ____% between 1948 and 1953

_____________ thefts topped the list of juvenile crimes Street gangs Muggings Gang fights Murder

Parents worried about _____________ systems, as “boomers” began to enter school…shortages caused districts to struggle to catch up

Why? Some critics claimed young people were rebelling against the hypocrisy and

conformity of their parents Some blamed doting parents

Some pointed to social causes, like _____________ (even though the majority of car thieves were middle-class children)

Essential Conclusions: The shift from a wartime economy to a peacetime economy following World War II

led to increased consumer spending and prosperity in the United States. By the mid-1950s the threat of Communist infiltration and war with the Soviet Union

diminished, allowing Americans to pursue economic excesses. Post-war America witnessed technological breakthroughs, the rising popularity of

television, and the birth of the Rock and Roll generation.