The Final Frost Barrier!—a magazine advertisement for General Motors’ Frost-Proof Imperial Freezer (1959).

NEXT

The Cold War and the American Dream, 1945–1960

Conflict develops between the United States and the Soviet Union. Americans react to the economic prosperity and rapid change of the postwar period.

NEXT

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

Peacetime Adjustments and the Cold War

The Korean War and McCarthyism

The Fifties

The Cold War and the American Dream, 1945–1960

NEXT

Americans look for prosperity after World War II. They also fight Communism in the Cold War.

Section 1

Peacetime Adjustments and the Cold War

Adjusting to Peace

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• Industries lay off workers, returning servicemen flood job market

1SECTION

• Veterans win out over female workers for jobs

Peacetime Adjustments and the Cold War

• Women get jobs in traditional women’s fields, office work, teaching

Image

NEXT

1SECTION

• People want more goods, factories start making needed products

• William Levitt applies assembly-line technique to home building

• Demand for goods increases, prices skyrocket

• Controls on prices lifted, people have money, few goods to buy

The Postwar Economy

• Start mass-producing affordable homes to meet demand for houses

Chart

NEXT

1SECTION

• Over 1 million workers join strikes, includes railway workers (1946)

• African Americans still face prejudice, especially in the South

• WW II raises hopes of African Americans for more equality

• President Harry S. Truman threatens to draft railway workers into army

• Truman backs off issues, makes equal rights national issue

• Truman wants Congress to pass equal rights laws, South resists proposals

Labor Unrest and Civil Rights

The Fair Deal

NEXT

1SECTION

• Republican Congress blocks Truman’s proposals, limits power of unions

• Truman takes campaign to the people, wins upset victory

• Few people believe Truman will win 1948 presidential election

• Republicans, Southern Democrats block most of the programs

• Calls for Fair Deal, projects that:- create jobs, build public housing, end

discrimination in hiring

Chart

Origins of the Cold War

1SECTION

• The West, Soviets allied against Nazis, Soviets free Eastern Europe

• U.S. thinks Soviet leader Joseph Stalin wants to spread Communism

• Does not want anti-Soviet governments on the borders of Soviet Union

• Stalin promises free elections but imposes Communism in Eastern Europe

• Cold War—U.S./Soviet conflict, never directly fight on battlefield

NEXT

Chart

Containing Communism Abroad

NEXT

1SECTION

• Containment—use military, non-military ways to contain Communism

• Soviet Union, Eastern Europe form Warsaw Pact

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): - includes U.S., Canada, 10 Western

European countries- formed to counteract Communist control of

Eastern Europe

• Truman Doctrine—promises to aid people resisting threats to democracy

Map

Marshall Plan and Berlin Airlift

1SECTION

• Marshall Plan—$13 billion to help rebuild Western, Southern Europe

• After WW II, Germany is divided into 4 zones controlled by:- Soviet Union- United States- France- Great Britain

• Berlin in Soviet zone, city divided between East, West powers

Continued . . .NEXT

NEXT

1SECTION

• Soviets afraid Western powers will unite Germany

• Block access to Berlin, Truman approves Berlin airlift:- U.S., British planes carry supplies to city’s

residents

continued Marshall Plan and Berlin Airlift

• Soviets call off blockade, Germany divided into:- Communist East Germany- Democratic West Germany

Map

Fear of Communism at Home

1SECTION

• Fear of Communism in the U.S. grows • Alger Hiss accused of giving military info to

Soviets, sentenced 5 years • Ethel, Julius Rosenberg executed for passing

atomic secrets to Russians

NEXT

• President Truman orders loyalty checks for federal workers

• House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) issues blacklists: - names people (many in movie industry)

thought to be Communists

Image

The Cold War and the Korean War produce a far-reaching form of AntiCommunism.

Section 2

The Korean War and McCarthyism

NEXT

Origins of the Korean War

NEXT

2SECTION

• Communists defeat U.S.-supported nationalists in China

• After WW II Korea is divided at the 38th parallel, or line of latitude: - Soviets troops north of parallel- U.S. troops south of parallel

• Communist takeover of China fuels Americans’ fear of communism

• Mao Zedong becomes head of Communist China

The Korean War and McCarthyism

• Soviets aid Communist government in North Korea

Fighting Breaks Out in Korea

NEXT

2SECTION

• North Korean forces cross 38th parallel into South Korea

• North Koreans push South Koreans to Pusan

• Korean War—North Korean forces fight U.S., UN, South Korean forces

• Pursue enemy into North Korea

• MacArthur, troops push North Koreans back across 38th parallel

• U.S. General MacArthur commands UN forces

• Women serve in armed forces, also join Army, Navy Nurse Corps

Map

China Enters the Conflict

NEXT

2SECTION

• China warns UN forces not to advance further, UN ignores warning

• President Truman denies MacArthur’s request to blockade, bomb China

• Chinese troops force UN troops south to the 38th parallel

• Truman fires MacArthur, orders him home

• MacArthur goes over the president’s head to win support:- speaks, writes to newspapers, magazine

publishers- writes Republican leaders

War Ends in Stalemate

2SECTION

• Korean War becomes unpopular in U.S., truce talks begin

• Republican General Dwight D. Eisenhower wins presidency (1952)

• Agrees to a compromise to end the war (July 1953)

• 2 Koreas left where they had been in 1950, border near 38th parallel

• Communism is contained in Korea

NEXT

McCarthy and Communism

NEXT

2SECTION

• Senator Joseph McCarthy uses Korean War to fan fear of Communism

• Senate holds Army-McCarthy hearings:- McCarthy accuses Army of “coddling

Communists”- Army accuses McCarthy of improper

conduct

• Term McCarthyism stands for reckless charges against innocent

• Conducts hunt for Communists in U.S. that ruins the careers of many

Image

Eisenhower and the Cold War

2SECTION

• Secretary of State John Foster Dulles favors brinkmanship:- U.S. going to the brink of war to combat

Communism• Arms race—U.S., Soviets race to develop more destructive weapons

Continued . . .

• U.S. builds hydrogen bomb, H-bomb, Soviets soon develop weapon

• U.S., Soviet Union help allies, weaken enemies around the world

NEXT

Chart

NEXT

2SECTION

• Britain, U.S. withdraws aid to Soviet-friendly Egypt

• Egypt seizes Suez Canal; Britain, U.S., Israel attack Egypt

continued Eisenhower and the Cold War

• Soviet Union threatens to support Egypt, UN imposes cease-fire

• Space race—U.S., Soviet Union race to build satellites in space

• Soviets shoot down U.S. spy plane, talks, U.S., Soviets collapse

Image

NEXT

Section 3

The FiftiesWith the United States locked in a Cold War, social and economic changes take place in American life.

The Domestic Scene in the Fifties

NEXT

• In 1957, one out of every five live in poverty, many live in cities

3SECTION

• More well-to-do move to suburbs—residential areas surrounding a city

• Mexican immigrants increase greatly, many cross border illegally

The Fifties

• Some Mexicans stay in U.S. illegally after bracero program ends

• President Eisenhower pleases liberals, conservatives

• Keeps most New Deal programs, sets up Highway Act (1956)

Changes Sweep America

3SECTION

• During 1950s, U.S. has baby boom—sharp birthrate increase after WW II

• Car sales explode because owning a car in the suburbs is a necessity

• Shopping centers, restaurants built on former farmland, serve suburbs

• Baby boom spurs growth of suburbs

• Many people move to sunbelt—warmer states in South, Southwest

NEXT

The American Dream in the Fifties

3SECTION

• Life for millions of white Americans in suburbs, the American Dream

• Women have defined roles, limited job choices, some feel confined

• Critics, people in suburbs forced to fit mold, willing to conform

• Enjoy good schools, shopping malls, safe environment

• Owning the latest car, appliance is symbol of social standing, success

• Industry churns out goods, advertising encourages consumers to buy

NEXT

Chart

Image

Pop Culture and Rock ’n’ Roll

NEXT

3SECTION

• Hollywood cranks out westerns, musicals, romances

• Sitcoms show what many consider to be ideal families

• Popularity of TV causes movie attendance to drop

• Rock ’n’ Roll—style of popular music, has black, white musicians

• Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, “beatniks” criticize shallow U.S. society

• Elvis Presley becomes the king of rock ’n’ roll

Chart

Image

The Election of 1960

NEXT

3SECTION

• 1960 presidential election, one of closest in U.S. history

• Kennedy, Nixon stage 1st televised presidential debates

• Richard M. Nixon, Republican candidate

• Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Democratic candidate

• Kennedy’s youthful energy, confidence helps him to win

• Kennedy is nation’s youngest president, 1st Catholic president

NEXT

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