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The Cold War

The Cold War. Chapters 26-27. Post-War America. Housing crisis caused by the baby boom (new and growing families) William Levitt built cheaper houses faster (using assembly line methods) Led to the 1 st suburbs (Levittown was the 1 st ) (located on Long Island, New York).

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The Cold War

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  1. The Cold War Chapters 26-27

  2. Post-War America • Housing crisis caused by the baby boom (new and growing families) • William Levitt built cheaper houses faster (using assembly line methods) • Led to the 1st suburbs (Levittown was the 1st)(located on Long Island, New York)

  3. Post-War America • Needed roads to connect suburbs to the major cities and to provide quick transport of military supplies (needed cars to drive to the cities, which meant the roads must be improved) • 1956—President Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway Act (Added 41,000 miles of new expressways to connect the major cities of America) • Built 41,000 miles of new expressways

  4. Post-War America • New inventions helped expand telephone coverage and led to the development of the personal computer • Help connect people across the nation(increased in the 70’s with personal computers, internet, and cell phones)

  5. Post-War America • 1949—1st regular television broadcast (2 hours a week of news and entertainment on the East Coast) • 1956—over 500 stations nationwide • Advertising increased consumer spending

  6. Post-War America • 1902—air conditioning was invented by Willis Haviland Carrier • Movie theatres were one of the 1st areas to adopt the use of air conditioning • 1939—1st auto manufacturer installed AC (discontinued in 1941 because of the trunk space it used)

  7. Post-War America • 1950’s—auto, residential and business use of air conditioning became popular • More tolerable working conditions • Stimulated economic growth in hot and humid climates

  8. The 1948 Election • Southern Democrats formed the “States’ Rights Party” to protest Truman’s support of civil rights • Became known as “Dixiecrats” • Ran South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond for president

  9. The 1948 Election • Thomas Dewey was expected to easily defeat Truman • Truman appealed to the people after the “do-nothing, good-for-nothing 80th Congress” refused to pass measures supporting public housing, education, minimum wage increases, and extended social security coverage

  10. The 1948 Election • Newspapers printed Truman’s defeat before final results were posted • Truman narrowly defeated Dewey

  11. The 1948 Election

  12. Containment • Satellite Nations: controlled by the Soviet Union(in Eastern Europe) • Stalin took their resources to build up the USSR • Increased weapons production • US sees this as a virtual declaration of war

  13. Containment • Winston Churchill called the division of Europe into free and communist the “Iron Curtain” • Warned that another world war could be on the horizon • Containment: US effort to stop the spread of communism • Create alliances and support nations in danger of communist takeover George Kennan Developed containment policy

  14. Containment • The Truman Doctrine • US would help nations resisting communist takeover • 1947-1950—US sent $400 million to Turkey and Greece • Many oppose the doctrine • Said US troops had to be sent overseas to protect other nations • Sometimes US helped other dictators to avoid having a communist one

  15. Containment • The Marshall Plan • US would encourage democracy by giving money to poor nations ($12.5 billion—effort to discourage communism) • Wanted to help them fight “poverty, desperation, and chaos” • Invasion of Czechoslovakia in February 1948 made many realize the need for stable governments in Europe (and gained support for the plan) • Communism began losing its appeal (making the Marshall Plan a success) General George Marshall

  16. The Berlin Airlift • 1948—Germany is allowed to reunify (as agreed at Yalta) • USSR refused to give up their zone • Held West Berlin hostage (located in Soviet sector, but also divided into zones) • Cut off all traffic into the city (highway, water, rail) • 2.1 million people were in danger of starvation(had supplies and food for only 5 weeks)

  17. The Berlin Airlift • For 327 days, the US and Britain flew 2.3 million tons of supplies into West Berlin • Included: • Food • Fuel • Medicine • Christmas presents (often bought with the pilots’ own money)

  18. The Berlin Airlift • US and Britain gain prestige around the world, while the USSR is seen as a bully • May 1949—USSR lifts the blockade • Germany remains divided: • West Germany—Democratic (capital=Bonn) • East Germany—Communist (capital=East Berlin)

  19. The Chinese Civil War • Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-Shek • Communists led by Mao Zedong • US supports Nationalists(sent over $2 million in aid) • May 1949—Communists defeat Nationalists • Many felt we hadn’t done enough to contain communism in Asia(focused more attention on Europe)

  20. The Korean War • 38th Parallel=line dividing Korea after World War II (Japanese troops north of the line surrendered to the USSR; troops south of the line surrendered to the US) • 2 nations formed: • North Korea=Communist • South Korea=Democratic

  21. The Korean War • June 25, 1950—North Korea invaded South Korea • Sparked the beginning of the Korean War • US feared another Asian country would fall to Communism • US sent military aid to South Korea(along with the UN) • If the USSR had not been boycotting the UN (over their refusal to recognize China’s Communist government), theycould have vetoed the action

  22. The Korean War • US General Douglas MacArthur was placed in commanded of UN troops(90% were Americans--520,000 total) • September 1950—North Korea was forced back over the 38th parallel • UN/US must decide whether to stop there or try to reunify the nation • Try to reunify Korea(because MacArthur assured the president he could take North Korea quickly)

  23. The Korean War • China promised to join with North Korea if the US invaded them(MacArthur dismissed this possibility) • November 1950—Chinese capture 100 miles of territory below the 38th parallel • Fight continued for 2 years • MacArthur called for an invasion of China, which Truman opposed • China was allied with USSR and he didn’t want to fight World War 3

  24. The Korean War Old soldiers never die; they just fade away. ~Douglas MacArthur~ • April 11, 1951—Truman fired MacArthur when he tried to gain public support for an invasion of China (angered many Americans who saw him as a hero) • Truman explained to the public that he didn’t want to start another world war (gained their support)

  25. The Korean War • June 1951—Communists suggest a cease-fire • Agreed to keep boundary at 38th parallel • July 1953—armistice is signed(after POW negotiations) • The war cost 54,000 US lives and nearly $22 billion • Increased fear of Communist aggression(many fear Communist infiltration in our own government)

  26. The Red Scare • 1945—US learned that 2 government employees had sold classified documents to the USSR • HUAC began searching for communist infiltration in and out of the government (House Un-American Activities Committee)

  27. The Red Scare • 1948—a USSR spy accused Alger Hiss, a government employee, of spying for the Soviets (provided documents to back up his claim) • Hiss was sent to prison for perjury(Too many years had passed to be able to prosecute him for espionage) • Confirmed Communists had infiltrated our government • Congressman Richard Nixon gained fame prosecuting the case(later became VP under Eisenhower)

  28. The Red Scare • The Rosenberg’s • September 23, 1949—USSR explode their own atom bomb (at least 3 years before they were expected to have the capability) • Discovered spies had leaked the info to Soviets Property of Janet Brooks • 1950—Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were found guilty of espionage and treason • June 1953—Rosenberg’s become 1st US civilians executed for espionage

  29. The Red Scare • “McCarthyism” • Senator Joseph McCarthy—most famous anti-communist activist • 1951—began making unsupported accusations against various groups • Saved from slander charges because he accused people from the Senate floor • 1954—claimed US army had been infiltrated by communists • Senate committee charged McCarthy with improper conduct • Ended the “witch hunt” for communists Property of Janet E. Brooks

  30. Race for the H-Bomb • US lost nuclear advantage when the Soviets developed their own atom bomb • 1950—Truman authorized development of the hydrogen bomb • 67 times more powerful than the atom bomb • November 1952—US explodes 1st “H-bomb” • August 1953—Soviets explode their 1st H-bomb (US advantage lasts only a year) “We may be likened to two scorpions in a bottle, each capable of killing the other, but only at the risk of his own life.” J. Robert Oppenheimer, on the buildup of atomic weapons by the US and USSR, 1953

  31. The Space Race • August 1957—Soviets developed Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM’s) • ICBM’s could travel further than our own rockets • October 4, 1957—USSR launched Sputnik with an ICBM • 1st artificial satellite in space • US determined that the ICBM’s could launch nuclear weapons from the USSR to any target in the world

  32. The Space Race • US felt inferior to the Soviets and vulnerable to nuclear attack • Education changed to increase focus on science, math, and foreign language • January 31, 1958—US launched its 1st satellite

  33. The U-2 Spy Incident • Eisenhower began making secret flights over the USSR (although Khrushchev rejected the “Open Skies proposal” at the Geneva Summit) • U-2 plane—flew higher than Soviet planes and beyond the reach of anti-aircraft fire • Equipped with infrared cameras to take detailed photographs

  34. The U-2 Spy Incident • 1960—US considers stopping flights (US press knew about them, Soviets had known for 2 years) • Eisenhower feared that if one of the planes went down, it would stop the peace talks (between US and USSR) • Secretary of State John Dulles convinced him to make one more flight

  35. The U-2 Spy Incident • May 1, 1960—Francis Gary Powers’ plane was shot down over the USSR • Khrushchev claimed the plane was shot down by a Soviet rocket • US claimed Powers disappeared on a weather mission • Soviets said he was captured and confessed (lie) • 1996--Soviets admitted they tried to make it appear that their missile defenses were more advanced than they were

  36. The U-2 Spy Incident • Eisenhower took responsibility for authorizing the flights • Khrushchev canceled the peace talks (as Eisenhower had feared)

  37. The U-2 Spy Incident • Powers was tried for espionage and sentenced to 10 years in a Soviet prison • February 10, 1962—Powers was exchanged for a Soviet spy • March 6, 1962—Powers appeared before a Senate committee led by Richard Russell and Prescott Bush • Concluded that Powers followed orders, did not divulge any critical info to the Soviets, and conducted himself “as a fine young man under dangerous circumstances”

  38. The End Property of Janet E. Brooks

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