1. Unit 8 The Cold War Politics at Home

2. Bell Ringer
What are Americans and the country afraid of during the 1940s and 50s?
(think outside threat we have been talking about….)

3. Truman had won and the polls were wrong
Election of 1948
Truman had won and the polls were wrong

4. Truman faces few
challenges

5. 1. WW2 Vets Return to the US
Soldiers returning from the war were looking for jobs; women were released from their jobs
The government aided the veterans with the GI Bill
created in 1944 to provide loans for college, homes, businesses, etc.

6. Congress wouldn't support him
2. Issue w/ Civil Rights
Truman attempted civil rights legislation: remove poll taxes, literacy exams, anti-lynching laws, etc.
Congress wouldn't support him
Truman eventually issued an executive order to desegregate the military

7. 3. Communist Problems RED SCARE!!!!!!!!
*growing fear of communism after WWII
Sept the Soviet exploded their first atomic weapon
1949 China fell to Communism

8. Red Scare Begins
The House of Un-American Activities Committee was established and began to heavily investigate the movie industry for communists
One famous group was the Hollywood Ten:
actors accused of being communist
they didn’t cooperate with the investigation committee and refused to name others …
the 10 men were convicted and served at least one year in prison
Many were blacklisted and never worked in Hollywood again

9. SPIES To add to the hysteria, two major spy cases came up
Alger Hiss was accused of spying for the Soviets
Hiss was involved in many aspects of the State Department
Richard Nixon was one of those who led the attack against Hiss (very anti- communist)
He always claimed innocence
Convicted of perjury in connection with this charge

10. Julius and Ethel
In 1950, British physicist Klaus Fuchs admitted to giving the USSR atomic bomb secrets and implicated Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, minor activist in the American Communist Party
The Rosenberg's were accused of giving the atomic bomb secrets to the Soviets
found guilty and both were executed in 1953; the first civilians executed for espionage

11. "Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist party?"
Senator Joe McCarthy chairing the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
"Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist party?"
Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy began a Red Scare in the 1950’s
He began accusing people without evidence and making charges
“I have in my hand the names of 250 communists who work in the state dept.”
McCarthyism: technique of never explaining a charge or having evidence and making more accusations when questioned
When he attacked the Army, things went to far and Ike wouldn’t allow this

12. A New Bomb US began work on the HYDROGEN BOMB
1000 times more powerful than Hiroshima bomb
Thermonuclear bomb
1952 USA back on top
1953 S. U has hydrogen bomb

13. Arms Race begins between the US and USSR…..building weapons

14. John Foster Dulles Eisenhower’s Sec. Of State was John Foster Dulles
favored massive retaliation: use everything you have against your enemy (even nuclear weapons)
supported “brinkmanship”: willingness to go to the brink of war

16. Military changes…..
Eisenhower did reduce the military, but increased the Navy and Air force
Focus more on bombs, planes and subs
“bigger bang for your buck”

17. Fallout Shelters Protective shelters used during a nuclear attack
Many built these near or under their homes

19. If you couldn't get to your shelter, you were taught what to do in school.
Duck and cover was taught as a means of protection from a nuclear blast

20. A second satellite was launched in Nov. with a dog inside
The Soviets Scare Me….
The US felt it was ahead of the Soviets technologically until the launch of Sputnik
First artificial satellite (1957) in space; USSR
Launched Oct. 4, 1957
Weight: 184 lbs
A second satellite was launched in Nov. with a dog inside

21. National Defense Education Act, 1958
The US began to reform education with more focus on science, math, foreign languages due to Sputnik

22. The spy who got caught (U-2 incident)
Francis Gary Powers was brought down by the Soviets and accused of spying on May 1, 1960 (May Day)
Khrushchev said that Powers confessed
Ike took full responsibility (he admitted to spying)
Convicted & sentenced to 10 years, released after 2 in a spy prisoner exchange
This once again heated tensions between the US and the USSR

23. Exit Ticket
What did the Red Scare do to American society?