U.S. History Chapters 16 and 17 Review The Cold War

Of 195 nations of the world, 3 are not in the U.S.: Kosovo, Taiwan, and Vatican City. The U.S. joined the United Nations because they recognized that world peace would require their involvement. The permanent members of the Security Counsel consist of: the U.S., the Soviet Union, England, France, and China. These countries may veto any actions of the U.N.

V. Goals of USSR: Security from W. European invasion Expansion of Communism Goals of US: Trade Expansion of Representative Governments Due to the different goals, as well as political and economic differences, of the Allies…The Cold War began after World War II. The Cold War consists of indirect conflict between the Superpowers. The U.S. adopted the policy on CONTAINMENT of communism.

After freeing the Eastern Europeans of Nazi rule the Soviets began to control Eastern Europe. In a speech in 1946, Winston Churchill said “an Iron Curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe”

June 1947 the U.S. passed The Marshall Plan which offered financial assistance to any European country in order to Contain the spread of Communism.

In 1948, President Truman desegregated the U.S. armed forces.

In 1949, the U.S. Canada and many European Nations (Blue) formed a defensive alliance called NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). This is the first alliance the U.S. has entered into during peacetime. In 1955, the Soviet Union and its satellite countries (Red) formed the Warsaw pact.

In June 1950, the North Koreans crossed the 38 th parallel in order to unite North and South Korea into one communist nation. The UN took action against the North Koreans led by General Douglas Macarthur. Because Red China was not seated at the UN security council and the USSR was boycotting they were not there to veto the UN action. By November 1950, the UN forces had driven the North Koreans to the Chinese border. Nervous, the Chinese entered the war against the UN army and drove them back to the 38 th parallel. General Macarthur wanted to use all force including the A-bomb against the North Koreans and the Chinese communists.

When President Truman decided to follow the limited objective strategy (Containment at the 38 th parallel) instead of allowing Macarthur to go on the offensive against the communists, Macarthur publicly criticized Truman. To reinforce the idea of civilian control of the military and U.S. government Truman fired Macarthur.

In the 1950’s the U.S. experienced a Red Scare (fear of communist infiltration). The government began requiring its workers to have background checks and take loyalty oaths. Congress established the House Un- American Activities Committee to investigate the spread of communism in America, and Senator McCarthy’s began his hunt for communists.

In 1953, the Rosenbergs were executed for selling the secrets of the A-Bomb to the Soviet Union.

The GI Bill of Rights was passed during World War II to help returning soldiers adjust to civilian life. It provided money for school, low interest loans, and unemployment insurance.

General Dwight Eisenhower won the presidency in 1952 and 1956.

Under the Eisenhower administration the Interstate Highway Act was passed. In addition to being designed to support automobile and heavy truck traffic, interstate highways are also designed for use in military and civil defense operations within the United States, particularly troop movements. One potential civil defense use of the Interstate Highway System is for the emergency evacuation of cities in the event of a potential nuclear war.

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first successful artificial satellite in history. This caused Americans to feel as if we were running behind in our competition with the Soviets.