Postwar, Cold War and Korean War

1. Postwar, Cold War and Korean War 1945-1956

2. Domestic Affairs after World War II • <Truman was completely opposite from FDR • not tall and handsome, first President since Lincoln not to have a college education, not upper class • positives included-direct and down to earth, self-confident, quick mind, remembered, ability to make difficult decisions and accept responsibility • “The Buck Stops Here”

3. Returning to Civilian Life • Reduce Army and Navy • GI Bill of Rights-1944-veterans attended college, had their tuition paid and received a small monthly income • federal loans as well guaranteed • Military sets up C.I.A. • Economy is booming-Americans begin to buy-with rise of jobs comes rise in prices • Entertainment-Sports is main attraction-television is new medium

4. Return to Civilian Life • Entertainment-<Tennessee Williams has 2 hits-The Glass Menagerie and Streetcar Named Desire • Elizabeth Taylor, 13 yo- overnight success in National Velvet • Taft-Hartley Act-4.6 million workers went on strike in 1946-passed over Truman’s veto-prohibited closed shops, must take a loyalty oath, abolished employers collecting union dues, • if strike happened, President could obtain an injunction delaying the strike

5. Civil Rights • Truman fights for Civil Rights-Commission appointed by Truman issued a report called “To Secure These Rights” • Anti-lynching law, poll tax and FEPC measures, permanent civil rights commission, eliminate discrimination in voting • Congress did nothing • Truman uses Executive Order- “equality of treatment and opportunity” for members of the armed forces “without regard to race, color, religion or national origin” • <Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier in baseball-Brooklyn Dodgers

6. The Election of 1948 • Huge upset • Truman for Democrats • Truman insisted on a strong Civil Rights platform, bitterly opposed by the Dixiecrats, they withdraw from convention • Dixiecrats form States’ Rights Democratic Party and nominate J. Strom Thurmond of Georgia • Henry Wallace runs on Progressive Party-former VP with Democrats • Republicans-run Governor Thomas Dewey • had Congress defeat all his popular stuff-Republican Congress • then went to the people

7. Fair Deal replaces New Deal • Extension of the New Deal only stronger • nationwide system of health insurance, steady income for farmers-lost both of these • won these- minimum wage increase-from 40cents to 75 cents/hour-extension of social security-more flood control and irrigation-slum clearance and build housing units

8. The Cold War • The Cold War begins with a speech given in 1946 by <Winston Churchill • An “iron curtain” had been drawn on the continent of Europe • by the Communists-U.S.S.R.-all behind the curtain-no freedom • U.S. should get tough • goal of Truman is containment • Communism must be kept inside its existing border

9. U.S. plans to Contain the U.S.S.R. • Truman Doctrine-prevent countries to set up Communist Governments anywhere-asks for $400M • NATO-(North Atlantic Treaty Organization)-collective security-USSR formed the Warsaw Pact to counter NATO • Marshall Plan-aid European nations who are starving-Secretary of State <Marshall proposes-debated because of expense-Soviet tanks crush Czechoslovakia-debate over • Berlin Crisis-lies inside Soviet Sphere in Germany-cut off by Soviets-US airlifts all supplies needed to Berlin-called off

10. Red Scare • September 23, 1949-USSR explodes the A-bomb • the security of a monopoly on atomic weapons is gone • weren’t expected to get it until 1953 • someone must have told them • subversion-from 1947-1951 3.2m government employees are investigated • Alger Hiss-State Department employee-accused of passing secrets to the Soviets-convicted of perjury • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg-minor activists in the Communist Party-Klaus Fuchs-British physicist-gave secrets to Soviets-implicated the Rosenbergs- • Fuchs got 14 years-Rosenbergs got executed by the chair

11. Joseph McCarthy and McCarthyism • <Senator from Wisconsin-looking for a reelection issue • wins first term on an exaggerated war record • started making reckless accusations • claimed to have 57 then 81, then 205 names of Communists in the State Department (never produced one name • Democrats were guilty of 20 years of treason • Marshall served the Kremlin • McCarthy stuff

12. McCarthyism • Never explain the charge or offer evidence to support it, when questioned, he’d make another accusation, so overwhelmed by the conspiracy, there was not time for small details • 1954-accused the <Army of coddling Communists and mistreatment of one of his assistants • televised Senate investigation, 20 million watched for 36 days • McCarthy bullied witnesses, refused to reveal evidence, interrupted proceedings, made one charge after another • lost power and support-censured- • new Red Scare-thousands lost jobs-guilt by association • McCarthy and his speeches

13. Postwar China • Civil war-Nationalist led by Chiang Kai-Shek (US supported) v. Communist led by <Mao Zedong • 1949-Shek is forced to retreat to Formoso • Mao sets up the People’s Republic of China-US doesn’t recognize • Truman is highly criticized • Mao speaks

14. Germany • 1948-United States, France and Britain decide to unite their sectors into one area-West Germany-Also, Berlin • makes USSR mad-they blockade Berlin • Allies plan massive airlift of supplies into Berlin • West Germans become German Federal Republic-East Germans become German Democratic Republic • Soviets eventually give in • pictures of the airlift

15. Korea • The Soviet Union and US capture Korea from Japanese • 38th parallel-38 degree N Latitude-split Korea-North Communist-South-Free • Want to reunite Korea eventually-Soviets reject • install Kim Sung as Communist leader • UN holds election in the south-elect <Syungman Rhee • both US and Soviets leave

16. Korea • America makes it clear that South Korea is an ally, made sure Rhee wouldn’t fight to reunite • left with light weapons, poorly trained troops • North-Soviets and China leave great weapons, well trained army • June 25, 1950-North invades the South • Brought up in UN-Soviets are boycotting that day-resolve North Korea as an aggressor • June 27, 1950-Security Council calls on all members to stop it • 10 offer aid-most from US-sends General MacArthur with American troops

17. Korea • Within a few weeks UN moves North back-recapture Seoul-MacArthur pushes further • Chinese warn not to move further or they will have to take action • October 20, 1950-UN troops take North Korean capital and move North • October 26, 1950-Chinese come to aid North Korea • UN digs in at the 38th Parallel • neither side gains

18. Korean War • MacArthur is furious-felt he should have unlimited support to drive the Communists out of Korea and China • Truman and advisors thought a war with China and Soviets too risky • Truman refuses MacArthur’s request to attack China-publicly criticizes Truman about limited warfare • April, 1951-Truman fires MacArthur • Americans are shocked-Truman reminds the people who makes foreign policy-gradually accepted • Summer, 1951-struggle will deadlock-lasted 2 more years • 1953-US and Soviets both have leadership change-Eisenhower and Kruschev

19. Korean War • Soviets thought of “Ike” as a military man more likely to use the bomb • Cease-fire signed-July, 1953 • UN casualties-90% are American-54,000 dead, 104,000 wounded