I. What Happened after World War II?

Unit 9: Post War World

1. During WWII, about 50 million people were killed (more than half of whom were civilians). Millions were suffering from disease or malnutrition.

2. In Europe and Asia, WWII devastated national economies. Food production, industry, and transportation systems were destroyed. Millions were homeless - lacking food, water, fuel and shelter. Cities lay in ruins - great art and architecture were gone forever.

3. Because the war had not been fought on American soil, we escaped the physical destruction. Our economy was more powerful than ever - this meant much of the postwar rebuilding effort would fall on the U.S.

4. As WWII wound down, FDR, Churchill, and STalin met for the Yalta Conference in the Soviet Union to discuss postwar plans. After FDR’s death, Truman met with Churchill and Stalin for the Potsdam Conference.

Yalta and Potsdam

6. At Potsdam, the following was decided:● Poland was set up with a communist government after

the soviets liberated the country at the end of the war.● It was decided that Germany would be divided into 4

zones. Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union would each occupy one zone. The capital, Berlin, in the zone would also be divided.

6. At Potsdam, the following was decided:● The United Nations (UN) was formed to promote world

peace and protect the human rights of people around the world.

United Nations

6. At Potsdam, the following was decided:● The Nuremberg Trials were held to put Nazi officials on

trial for “crimes against humanity.” 21 Nazi leaders were found guilty and 12 were sentenced to death.

Nuremberg Trials

6. At Potsdam, the following was decided:● Israel - was created as a Jewish homeland out of

Palestine.

Israel

7. At home, the US entered a period of prosperity. The government encouraged women to give up their jobs for returning veterans but many women didn’t want to give up the independence a job provided.

8. The G.I. Bill of Rights offered veterans a college or technical education, and loans for houses, farms, and businesses.

9. America went through a baby boom - an increase in the number of babies born - after soldiers returned home from WWII.

10. Many white Americans relocated to the Sun Belt (South and West) while African Americans moved north.

11. Truman issued an executive order to ban segregation in the military and discrimination in the hiring of federal employees.

12. A national system of highways was built to make travel between and within states easier. Led to more “road trips.”

13. Many white, middle-class Americans moved to the suburbs and commuted to work using the new highway system.