The Eisenhower Era

Lack of support for Truman; Dems nominated Stevenson

Republicans: Eisenhower/Nixon (anti-communist)

“Checkers Speech” Emotional television speech Campaign funding

Ike threatened to use nuclear weapons on North Korea

July 1952 – armistice signed ending the war

Korea remained divided at the 38th parallel

Anti Communist rhetoric Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Had largest affect on free speech Widely supported

Accused Sec. of State Acheson of employing 205 Communists Proved to be false

Attacked U.S. army Condemned by Senate for “conduct

unbecoming a member”

In place from 1876-1965Schools, public places and

transportation“Separate but Equal”

Gunnar Myrdal “All men are

created equal…”

Sweatt vs. Painter 1950 Ruled that separate back schools

Rosa Parks December 1955 Montgomery, AL Refused to give up seat Yearlong boycott of buses

Segregation in public schools was unequal and unconstitutional

Reversed Plessy V. Ferguson

“Declaration of Constitutional Principles” Southern resistance

to ruling

Gov. Faubus (AK) mobilized National Guard to prevent Little Rock 9 from entering Central High School

Eisenhower responded by sending troops to walk students in.

Balance the budget 1959 – largest

peacetime deficit Guard America

from socialism Wanted to end

reservation system and assimilate Native Americans

Support Interstate Highway act of 1956

Ended bracero program

Deported over 1 million Mexican Americans

Strategic Air Command (SAC) Creation of

superbombers Geneva summit

conference 1955 Peace talks rejected

by Nikita Khrushchev

Move to throw French out of VietnamHo Chi Minh, leader of Vietnam,

becoming CommunisticMay 1954: French garrison trapped

in Dienbienphu Fell to the nationalists