The Postwar Era (1945-1963)

The Postwar Era (1945-1963)Chapter 23President Harry S. TrumanHigh School GraduateDemocratSenatorApril 12, 1945UninformedAtomic Bomb

Presidents Eisenhower & Kennedy

Cold WarUnited NationsBegan April 25, 1945 with 50 nationsBased in New York CityThree major agenciesGeneral Assembly delegates from member nations, meets annuallySecurity Council 5 permanent members (U.S., U.K., France, Russia, China) + 10 elected for 2 year termsSecretariat bureaucracy and administrationUnited NationsGoals:Forum for rational discussionMeans of furthering world peaceHampered by limited powers (Is this a good thing?)

Containing CommunismCold War period of intense competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.)Communism v. CapitalismRepublicanism v. Totalitarianism

Containing Communism

Eastern EuropePro-Soviet governments in Poland, Romania, East Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia

Iron CurtainChurchills term for the separation of communist east Europe from the free west.

Containing Communism

The doctrine of CONTAINMENT, expressed by diplomat George F. Kennan, stated that the U.S. must involve itself in the patient, firm, vigilant, and long-term containment of communism.Tolerate its existence, but dont let it expand.

Containing CommunismMiddle East IranMineral richNeutral in WWIISupply route from Allies to USSR1946 USSR withdraws forcesNew Shah Reza Pahlavi pro-WesternOverthrown in 1979; U.S. embassy overrun.

Containing Communism

Truman Doctrine policy of aiding countries fighting Communist takeovers.Turkey & GreeceUSSR wants naval bases.US sends $400 million in aid.Containing Communism Marshall PlanMassive economic aid to all European countries to rebuild their economies after WWII. Restored U.S. trading partnersImmunized the region against communism$13 billion

Containing CommunismNATOWARSAW PACT

Containing CommunismDivision of Germany, 40 yearsUSSR blockade of West BerlinBerlin Airlift, May 1949

Construction of the BerlinWall, 11/20/19611949: Year of Shocks

Communists take China.Mao Zedong vs. Chiang Kai-shekTaiwan - Nationalists

Soviets get the A-bomb.Korean War38th parallelCommunist NorthNon-Communist South1950 Communists invade South KoreaUN sends troops.MacArthurChinas entryLimited War limited objective

33,000 American deathsKorean WarFrozen Chosin page 544.

Containment & Accommodation Eisenhower becomes president in 1952.JFK in 1960.Policy of containment continues, but with a willingness to accommodate communism.Peaceful co-existenceContainment & AccommodationIndochina-Vietnam, Laos, CambodiaFrench colonyJapanCommunistsFrench defeatU.S. intervenes, 6K advisorsDomino Theory

Containment & Accommodation

CubaCastro 195990 milesNationalization of industryEisenhower responseKennedyOperation MongooseBay of Pigs (April 1961)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qXZp8bxpNY&feature=related

Fidel Castro, 1959

On the Brink of M.A.D. Cuban Missile Crisis 13 very tense daysOctober 1962, U-2NukesU.S. BlockadeAgreement:U.S.S.R. removes missilesU.S. not to invade CubaU.S. removes nukes from Turkey

http://www.history.com/videos/inside-a-prefab-fallout-shelter#cold-war

Http://www.hpol.org/jfk/cuban/ Kennedys audio files. How close we were

Berlin Wall, August 1961http://www.history.com/videos/kennedy-responds-to-berlin-wall#kennedy-responds-to-berlin-wall

Today the Cold War is over, buthttp://www.history.com/videos/inside-a-prefab-fallout-shelter#cold-war

Domestic ReformTruman & the Fair DealTrumans domestic program was an expansion of Roosevelts New Deal.Government spending to create jobsCouncil of Economic AdvisorsAtomic Energy CommissionRepublican OppositionTaft-Hartley Act of 1947 allowed states to pass right to work laws banning unions from requiring membership to get a job in certain professions/industries.National Security Act of 1947 provide for coordination of armed forces, created office of Secretary of Defense, National Security Council, Central Intelligence AgencyElection of 1948

Harry Truman DemocratLiberals left the Democrat party and supported pro-Soviet Henry A. Wallace.Southern Democrats left the Democrat party to support Strom Thurmond on the States Rights (or Dixiecrat) ticket.

Thomas Dewey RepublicanPapers reported that Dewey had won. (p. 548)Election of 1948In fact, Truman won in a landslide.The Democrats passed many Fair Deal proposals.Raised minimum wageExtended social securityAid to farmers

Rejected Civil Rights billsRejected federal aid to educationRejected national health insuranceAnti-communism in AmericaSecond Red ScareCommunism spreadingFear of spiesAlger Hiss, State Dept.Whitaker ChambersAccused Hiss of passing documents to the Soviets.

Alger HissAnti-communism in America

RosenbergsConvicted of passing atomic secrets to the Soviets during WWII.Executed in 1953 for their treason.

U.S. Government responds to the Communist Threat.The McCarthy EraHouse Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated federal employees and the entertainment industry.Senator Joseph McCarthy, WISenate subcommittee hearingsFraud and a hoax

Senator Joseph McCarthy

Hollywood stars, producers, directors, etc. were blacklisted and not allowed to work because of accusations of communist ties.The McCarthy EraMcCarthyism- use of lies, distortion, and innuendo to root out alleged communists.Problem: He brought genuine anti-communism into disrepute. Real communists were protected from future allegations because of McCarthy.

Fight Against CommunismWilliam F. Buckleys National ReviewVery influential in producing a new generation of anti-communist thinkers and voters.

Eisenhower and Dynamic ConservatismElected president in 1952 More BIG government.First Republican president since Hoover.Dynamic Conservatism Conservative when it comes to money and liberal when it comes to human beings.Interstate Highway System ostensibly for national defenseNational Defense Education Act federal funds into education

Campaign ButtonKennedy & the New Frontier1960 JFK defeated Richard Nixon for the presidency.JFK, WWII Veteran, SenatorAge 43, youngest president electedFirst Catholic presidentNew Generation of Americans

Kennedy & the New Frontier

Idealism quote p. 554Peace Corps video clip (50th Anniversary 2011)RecessionPublic works, BIG governmentMan on the MoonSymbol over substancehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fJ0fuxrohw&feature=related

Kennedy AssassinatedNovember 22, 1963Dallas, Texas

JFK, Jackie, & Governor J. Connelly moments before tragedyLife in Postwar AmericaThe Affluent Society (John K. Galbraith)Unprecedented economic prosperityDefense spending on the Cold WarSupplier of industrial goods to the worldLittle to no competitionHomeowners, goods (cars, appliances, tvs)Marketing Planned Obsolescence

SuburbsMallsCredit CarsCelebrities

Elvis PresleyBaby Boom!Rise in birthratePopulation increases 30% between 1945 and 1960.

Juvenile DelinquencyDr. SpockWorking MomsIncrease in divorce

Minority RightsCivil Rights MovementBlacks seeking to secure the exercise and protection of their civil rights - Equal treatmentBrown v. Board of Education segregated schools are unconstitutional.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

1955Rosa ParksLaunched Martin Luther King, Jr. as leaderAlmost empty busMartin Luther King, Jr.Pastor/PreacherInfluenced byHenry David ThoreauGhandi

Non-violent civil disobedience

March on Washington, August 1963I have a dreamReligionRenewed interest1954 Congress added one nation under God to the pledge of allegiance.1955 In God We Trust added to currency.

Religion

Ecumenical MovementWorld Council of ChurchesYouth for ChristBilly GrahamDivisions in AmericaRaceReligionWarPoverty