Cold War in Europe Cold War – conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. No actual military conflict (democracy v. communism)

Cold War in Europe 1. Eastern European nations fall to communism after WWII  Known as the “Communist Bloc” or Soviet Bloc 2. Containment U.S. policy of stopping the spread of communism to other nationsU.S. policy of stopping the spread of communism to other nations

Economic Aid 3. Truman Doctrine (1947)  Military & economic aid to nations fighting communist threat (Greece & Turkey)

4. Marshall Plan (1947)  U.S. aid to war torn nations in Western Europe to help stop the spread of communism  ($24 billion in aid)

Economic Aid 5. Berlin Airlift (1948)  After Soviet blockade into West Berlin, Truman orders an airlift of supplies into West Berlin (located in East Germany)  Lasts approximately 9 months before Soviets lift blockade

Image of the Berlin Airlift

The Cold War 6. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)  Alliance of Democratic nations in response to Soviet threat  1 st peace time entangling alliance for the U.S. 7. Warsaw Pact – Soviet Union, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania

Cold War in Asia 1. China  Mao Zedong and the Communists take control of China  U.S.S.R. supports the Chinese Communists with military aid  U.S. supports democratic leader Chiang Kai-Shek, who flees to Taiwan

The Soviet Union: Atomic Bomb test (1949)  Soviets explode their atomic bomb  1952: U.S. explodes hydrogen bomb (H-bomb)  Soviets explode an H-bomb in 1953  Beginning of an arms race

Hot War in Asia: KOREAN WAR  Japan loses Korea after WWII  U.S. & U.S.S.R. agree to split the 38 th parallel line  U.S. withdraw & the United Nations take over S. Korea  Communists attack South Korea from North Korea

Hot War in Asia: KOREAN WAR  Truman does not declare war – he uses power of the Commander in Chief to send troops into a “police action”  United Nations calls for a limited war  McArthur disagrees & pushes communists all the way to the border with China

Hot War in Asia: KOREAN WAR  MacArthur wants to invade China, but Truman says “NO”  MacArthur ignores Truman and is fired!  The Korean War ends as a stalemate  No land exchanges hands; no concessions made

Cold War & Containment Eisenhower Administration 1. Domino Theory  Belief that if one country fell to communism it would set off a chain reaction 2. SEATO (South East Asian Treaty Organization  Alliance similar to NATO which developed between U.S, England, Japan, France (Indochina), Thailand, Australia, Philippines

Cold War & Containment Eisenhower Administration 3. Eisenhower Doctrine  Send troops to any Middle Eastern nation that wanted help to fight communism

Cold War & Containment Eisenhower Administration 4. Sputnik  satellite – launched by USSR  Shocked the U.S.  Caused education spending increase for sciences and for the space race

Image of Sputnik.

The Cold War 5. U-2 Spy Incident  U.S. plane shot down while spying on the Soviet Union  Pilot was exchanged for Soviet spy  Khrushchev cancels summit in response

Cold War Events - at Home 1946 Truman starts loyalty checks through the FBI (3 million gov’t workers investigated) 1. McCarthyism Use of unsupported accusations to intimidate peopleUse of unsupported accusations to intimidate people Senator Joseph McCarthy (R) from Wisconsin claims there are some 205 communists in the state departmentSenator Joseph McCarthy (R) from Wisconsin claims there are some 205 communists in the state department

Cold War Events - at Home  Became very popular with public, listened to him on the radio  McCarthy attacks so-called communism in the U.S. military  Condemned by the Senate, led to his downfall

Laws Passed to Restrict Communist Activities 2. Smith Act – made it illegal to join the Communist Party 3. McCarren-Walter Act – Communist organizations must register & disclose financial statements as well as no more communists can enter this country (from Eastern Europe and USSR)

Laws Passed to Restrict Communist Activities 4. House Un- American Activities Committee (HUAC) led by Richard Nixon (future president). Those accused of communist activities had to testify in front of the House of Representativesled by Richard Nixon (future president). Those accused of communist activities had to testify in front of the House of Representatives

The Rosenberg Case (1953)  Julius & Ethel Rosenberg were accused and convicted of passing secrets about the atomic bomb to the Soviets  The evidence against them was circumstantial (weak)  Both were executed in 1953

Photograph of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg

At Home: Life & Culture of the 1950s A. G.I. Bill – war veterans are given money for college or housing B. Baby Boom – dramatic increase in birth rates following WWII – population explosion C. Suburbs grow due to increased demand in housing

At Home: Life & Culture of the 1950s d. Americans begin buying consumer goods at a fast rate! Rise of Rock n’ Roll – music featured heavy rhythms, simple melodies & lyrics about love, cars and the problems of being young

At Home: Life & Culture of the 1950s e. Car culture increases – an abundance of gasoline, raw materials and easy credit allowed car sales to jump to from 6.7 million cars sold in 1950 to 7.9 million sold in 1955 f. Drive-in movies!

Government Policies Truman’s Domestic Policy – called Fair Deal 1. Minimum wage increases to $ Increase in social security coverage 3. Funding for low income housing

Government Policies Eisenhower’s Domestic Policy 1. Favors business 2. Creates interstate highway system 3. Establishes Dept of Health, Education & Welfare