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The 1950s

The Yalta Conference in 1945 marked a pivotal moment in post-World War II geopolitics, as the Allied powers, including the U.S. and USSR, negotiated the division of Germany into East and West. While Western nations aimed for democracy and reconstruction, the USSR sought to expand its influence through satellite states and the Cominform. Major agreements included the establishment of the United Nations and the commitment to free elections in Poland. This period also set the stage for the Cold War, characterized by contrasting ideologies, the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and the formation of NATO.

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The 1950s

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  1. The 1950s Chapter 16/17

  2. Yalta • -U.S. & USSR had a shaky alliance up to the end of WWII • -At Yalta, Allies agree to split Germany • -W. Germany under U.S., Britain, France • -E. Germany under USSR • -1948 Britain, France & US give up control of W. Germany • -Becomes the Federal Republic of Germany • -USSR refuses to give up control of E. Germany • -Renames it German Democratic Republic • -Major disagreement at Yalta was over Poland • -USSR finally takes over Poland but agrees to allow free election in Poland

  3. The United Nations • -The United Nations was also created at Yalta • -April 1945, 50 nations meet to create rules for U.N. • Today 192 • -Main job is to prevent world wars • -U.N. is divided into 2 groups: • General Assembly • -All member countries have one seat, one delegate, & one vote on issues • Security Council • -11 countries in 1945 • -Today 15 • -Permanent members are U.S., Britain, France, China, & USSR • -Have power to veto any rule made by General Assembly

  4. UN Security Council Member Nations 2009 Members Austria, Burkina-Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, Japan, Libya, Mexico, Turkey, Uganda, Vietnam Permanent Members US, United Kingdom, France, Russian Federation, China

  5. Post-War Goals • -US & USSR had very different ideas about Europe • -US felt it fought for democracy in Europe • -Felt if USSR held Europe, democracy would die • -USSR lost 20 million people during WWII • -Wanted to protect its borders • -Used Satellite Nations • -Countries on USSR’s border that were under USSR control • -Take over 7 satellite nations: • 1. Albania 4. Hungary • 2. Bulgaria 5. Romania • 3. Czech. 6. Yugoslavia • 7. Finland • -Stalin wanted even more satellite nations • -Creates the Cominform to do it • -Agency to spread Communism around the world

  6. The Iron Curtain • -March 1946, Churchill visits Westminster College in Missouri • -Gives his famous Iron Curtain Speech • -Said an Iron Curtain now divided E & W Europe • -Divided Democracy and Communism • -Sets the tone for the Cold War • -Political & economic war between US &USSR • -No shots fired

  7. Containment & The Truman Doctrine • -US realizes they could not co-exist with USSR • -Begins a policy called Containment • -US would resist attempts to start Communism in other parts of the world • -Truman 1st used containment in Turkey & Greece • -1947 he creates the Truman Doctrine • -The US will aid any country that is threatened by Communism • -Truman gives $400 million to Greece & Turkey • -Stops Stalin’s plan to take over both • -Truman Doctrine becomes US policy for next 40 years • -Shows the world that US & USSR only 2 world superpowers left

  8. The Marshall Plan • -WWII destroyed most of Europe • -US promised to help rebuild homes & businesses • -To help Europe, US creates Marshall Plan • -US will give money & aid to help rebuild Europe after WWII • -Plan created by Sec. of State George C. Marshall • -Congress approves plan in 1948 • -17 nations participate • -USSR refuses US aid • -$13 Billion sent to rebuild Europe • -Main reason European countries more modern today

  9. Berlin Airlift • -Berlin is located in E. Germany • -Still divided between the Allies • -USSR refuses to let Allies give supplies to W. Berlin • -Truman begins Berlin Airlift • -15 month plan of dropping supplies into W. Berlin by air • -13,000 tons of goods dropped • -USSR finally gives up & allows Allies into W. Berlin in May 1949

  10. NATO • -USSR was making UN useless b/c of veto power • -1946 Canada proposes new peacekeeping body • -Called North Atlantic Treaty Organization • -NATO • -Organization to protect the countries of W. Europe and W. Hemisphere • -Made up of US, Britain, France, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, & Portugal • -NATO agreed that an attack on a NATO member would be considered an attack on all NATO members • -Idea was called Collective Security • -USSR responds by creating Warsaw Pact • -Military alliance between the countries of E. Europe

  11. Communism Gains Power • -USSR & Communism increase their strength • -Sept. 1949 USSR tests their atomic bomb • -To keep one step ahead, US creates Hydrogen Bomb on October 31st 1952 • -Begins an Arms Race • Competition to get the best weapons • -Communists gain more power in 1949 when China becomes Communist under new leader Mao Ze Dong • -Also gives Communists more power in UN

  12. HUAC • -People in US hated & feared “Reds” [Communists] • -Truman uses his power to deport Communists • -All govt. employees investigated • -Hundreds fired • -House on Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) • -Lead by Sen. Joseph McCarthy • -Created in 1938 to investigate Communists in Hollywood • -1947 Hollywood members brought before HUAC • -Had to say if they were Communists & turn in people they knew were Communists • -Those who were named to HUAC were put on a Blacklist • List of suspected Communists that were not to be hired in Hollywood • -Most famous blacklisted were Hollywood Ten • 10 people who refused to testify & went to jail

  13. HOllywood 10 and their lawyer outside Congress

  14. The Red Scare • -US people extremely scared of Communists • -Feared they would take over US & destroy American way of life • -Called The Red Scare • -To stop Communists from coming to US, Congress passes McCurran-Walter Act • -Set a quota for immigration based on the country

  15. Communist Spies • -2 major spy cases during Red Scare: • 1. Alger Hiss • -Member of US State Dept. • -Accused of being Communist • -Convicted of Perjury & jailed for 4 years • -Lying under oath • 2. Julius & Ethel Rosenberg • -Members of the Communist Party in the US • -Tried & convicted of selling atomic secrets to USSR • -Executed for Espionage in 1953

  16. Alger Hiss testifying before HUAC

  17. Korean War • -Korea was divided between Democratic & Communist • -North was Communist; South was Democratic • -Divided at 38th Parallel • -June 1950, N. Korea invades S. Korea • -Begins Korean War • -USSR & China support N. Korea • -US & Britain support S. Korea • -Allied troops were led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur • -MacArthur fired by Truman in 1951 for refusing to obey orders • -Truce between N & S signed in 1953 • -Country still divided at 38th Parallel • -55,000 American troops die in Korea • -103,000 wounded • -Often called The Forgotten War • -US people didn’t know what we were fighting for [Containment] • -No respect for Vets • -Begins US peoples’ hatred of war

  18. Cold War in the Sky • USSR creates a new missile • -Called ICBM • -Intercontinental Ballistic Missile • -Could reach US in 2 hours from USSR • -1st direct threat to US mainland • -1957 USSR launches 1st satellite • -Called Sputnik • -3 weeks later Sputnik II launched • -Carried 1st living thing in space • -Dog called Laika • -USSR far ahead of the US in Space Race

  19. Warhead ICBM

  20. New Technology • -Technology boomed in 1950’s • -Although the 1st TV was created in 1930’s, it was not perfected or able to be used until 1950’s • -Becomes status symbol in 1950’s • -By 1953, 2/3 of all US homes had TVs • -Avg. family watched 5 hours a day • -All shows were live

  21. 4 most popular shows were: • Mickey Mouse Club • I Love Lucy • American Bandstand • Howdy Doody

  22. -Computers were also created in 1950’s • -Software created by Grace Hopper at Harvard Univ. called UNIVAC • -Bell Telephone created 1st Transistor in 1950’s • -Tiny circuit • -Pre microchip • -Made machines smaller • -Also portable • -Ex. Desktop computer • -Transistor Radio • -1957 1st nuclear power-plant opens in Shippingport, Pa. • -1954 Dr. Jonas Salk & Dr. Thomas Francis create the Polio Vaccine

  23. Transistor Grace Hopper and UNIVAC Transistor Radios

  24. US Society Changes • -Life in US changed for many in 40’s & 50’s • -Birthrates in 1940’s & 1950’s rose higher than at any time in US history • -Called Baby Boom • -More Americans were educated in 1950’s • -To help educate people, especially veterans, Congress creates The GI Bill • -Gives all veterans low income mortgages & paid for college

  25. Rock & Roll • Music changed in 1950’s with birth of Rock & Roll • -Cleveland DJ Alan Freed creates term in 1953 • -Many Americans hated it b/c it had Black influences • -Thought it was too sexual & unChristian • -Major Rock & Roll artists were: • 1. Little Richard 2. Chuck Berry • 3. Bill Haley and the Comets • 4. Elvis Presley • -Most popular & made R & R popular • -Famous for songs like “Heartbreak Hotel” &“TuttiFrutti“ • Elvis also famous for being censored by television for “dancing too sexually”

  26. Levittowns • -Suburbs began to grow with creation by William Levitt • -Built homes quickly & cheap within driving distance from cities • -Areas called Levittowns • -1st was in NY. Also one in PA

  27. The Beatniks • A new culture rose out of the 1950s. • Called the Beat Movement • Beatniks • Believed in not conforming to society’s idea of what “normal” was. • Centered in Greenwich Village NY • Spiritual leader of the beatniks was Jack Kerouac • Beatniks were the model for the 1960s Counter Culture.

  28. Birth of the Civil Rights Movement • -Truman wins election of 1948 • -Orders military to be desegregated • -Begins move to desegregate entire US • -1947 baseball is desegregated when Jackie Robinson joins Brooklyn Dodgers

  29. Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas • -Up until 1954, “Separate but Equal” was US law • -All areas separate especially schools • -1951 Oliver Brown sued Topeka Board of Ed. • -Wanted his daughter to attend all white school • -Case reaches Supreme Court • -May 17, 1954 Supreme Court ruled “Separate but Equal” was unconstitutional in schools • -Supposed to begin desegregation of schools • Most southern schools do not follow rule until 1960-70s

  30. Montgomery Bus Boycott • -Dec. 1955, Rosa Parks refused to obey law that required Blacks to ride in back of buses • -Arrested for violating segregation laws • -Begins boycott of Montgomery, AL. buses • -Lasts 381 days • -Led by a minister named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. • -Supreme Court rules bus segregation illegal

  31. December 21, 1956 One day after Supreme Court Decision

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