1. The Cold War

2. The Atomic Race Begins Superior large scale weapons
Soviet Union exploded first A- Bomb 1949
1952 U.S. developed Hydrogen bomb
1,000 X’s stronger than A-bomb

3. U.S. Domestic Policy
National Security Act (1947)- created the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
NSC-68- secret document discussed Soviet plans for world domination, encouraged U.S. to build up military

4. Containment in Asia China became communist in 1949
1950 Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin signed “friendship treaty”
2 large nations = “communist block”

5. Korean War 1945 Allies divided Korea
Border between North and South 38th Parallel
North Korea = communist
South Korea = democratic
China and Soviet Union supplied weapons

6. Korean War N. Korea invaded S. Korea in June 1950
U.S. authorized “police action” of military force to liberate South Korea
Korean War was a UN operation – not just US
Conflict ended in “stalemate”

7. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Elected President in 1952 (5-star general from WWII; D-Day)
Foreign policy - US would support nations who sought liberation from communism and US would help in any way possible

8. Eisenhower’s Policies
“brinkmanship” – U.S. would push aggressor nation to the “brink “of nuclear war, forcing them to back down (or face ‘massive retaliation’)
John Foster Dulles (Sec. of State) was a vocal supporter of “brinkmanship”
“massive retaliation” – U.S. arsenal of nuclear weapons to be used against under threat

9. Geneva Convention, 1954 French lost colonies in Indochina
Geneva Convention agreed to split up territory into Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
Divided Vietnam
North = Communist
South = Democratic

10. Eisenhower Doctrine, 1957

11. American “ Red Scare” Fear of communist spies in the U.S.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg – accused of delivering atomic secrets to Soviets
Convicted of treason and espionage 1951
Sentenced to death; executed in 1953

12. McCarthyism and the Red Scare

13. ‘McCarthyism’ Wanted to uncover & prosecute American Communists
Used media (TV) to his advantage
His accusations were mostly false
Hearings televised
Modern day “witch hunt” .

14. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives.
It was originally created in 1938 to uncover citizens with Nazi ties within the United States, but gained fame with its ‘witch hunt’ for communists (particularly in the entertainment industry in Hollywood – “Hollywood Ten” and the blacklist)

15. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

16. ‘Hollywood Ten’ (blacklist)
The Hollywood blacklist was the practice of denying employment to screenwriters, actors, directors, musicians because of their suspected political beliefs.
Artists were barred from work on the basis of their alleged membership in or sympathy with the Communist Party
Many refused to assist investigations into the party's activities.
It directly damaged the careers of scores of individuals working in the film industry.

17. Living in Fear… Threat of nuclear war
Bomb shelters built as protection
People purchased canned goods and water
“duck and cover” drills in schools

19. Interstate Highway System
The National Highway Act 1956 (Eisenhower Interstate System)
Created interstate freeway system
42,000 miles of road
Made the US much more efficient and helped economic growth

20. Interstate Highway System
Provided quick evacuation routes, landing sites for planes and easier missile transport.