1. The Cold War in Asia

2. I. The Occupation of Japan
Aim of US in Asia
Restore peace
Resist foreign rule
Restore trade
US occupied Japan to help rebuild and make more democratic
General MacArthur dismantled Japan’s military
US encouraged economic opportunity and provided financial aid
US granted independence in 1951

3. II. Communist Triumph in China
Nationalist: Chiang kai-Shek/Communist: Mao Tse-Tung
US focused on containing communism in W. Europe rather than China
1949, Communists forced Nationalists to flee to Taiwan
Truman was criticized for losing China to the Communists.

4. III. The Korean War
* June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea hoping to unify the country under communist rule.
*UN condemned the invasion and organized an opposing army led by General Douglas MacArthur.
* Mac wanted to bomb; Truman feared a larger war; Mac was fired for being critical
*July 1953, a truce was signed dividing the country at the 38th parallel

5. III. Cold War America Prosperity and Inflation
Demand for farm goods keep prices high
Cold war military production created jobs
Postwar brought inflation
Taft-Hartley Act (1947) –passed by Republican Congress; outlawed strikes and closed shops (only union members hired)
Act supposed hurt unions and the gains made since 1933

6. Election of 1948 Democratic Party split
Southern Democrats formed “dixicrats” to protest Truman’s attempt to advance civil rights for blacks
Truman was predicted to lose; defeated Thomas Dewey
Truman instituted the Fair Deal: an expansion of Roosevelt’s New Deal

7. The Second Red Scare Loyalty Test House Un-American Committee (1947)
Loyalty Review Board – check government workers for loyalty; began in 1947 for fear of communism
House Un-American Committee (1947)
Blacklisted individuals
Alger Hiss – former state department employee
Accused of being a spy; convicted of perjury in1950
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg – executed in 1951 for provided atomic secrets
McCarthyism – Joseph McCarthy, senator from Wisconsin
1950 spoke out against communist influence in gov.
Stated the state department was full of communists
McCarthyism – use of indiscriminate, unfounded political accusations to destroy someone’s character

8. Truman’s Legacy 1952, Truman announced he would not seek re- election
He was seen as being soft on communism
Corruption had weakened Truman’s popularity
Truman’s reputation grew after he left office