Cold War Begins

At the end of WWII, the U.S. economy suffers from a variety of maladies, but once the economy rebounds the nation experiences an economic boom that will last until the early 1970s.A major housing shortage is eased as suburban communities are developed. The fastest growing region is the Sunbelt, stretching from Florida to California. Tensions between the US and the USSR intensify after the war as the former allies now eye each other with growing mistrust, which turns into the Cold War. The Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine are put in place to contain communism in Eastern Europe. When the Soviets test their first nuclear weapon in 1949, the US loses its atomic monopoly. The Cold war spreads to China, Korea, and other areas of Asia. Believing that communist sympathizers are imbedded in American public and private institutions, the House Un-American Activities Committee launches an investigation designed to find them.

I. Trumans Domestic Program

A. Postwar Economy
1. 2. Postwar Depression?
a. b. a. b. c. d. Inflation Taft-Hartley Act, 1947 Employment Act, 1946 GI Bill of Rights Permanent war economy Cheap energy

Postwar Boom!

B.

Population Shift
A. B. C. Baby Boomers Suburbs Sunbelt African Americans
a. b. c. To Secure These Rights Desegregation of Army by Ex Order! Election of 1948 HUAC investigates subversion 1947 Trumans Loyalty Review Board McCarren Internal Security Bill Rosenbergs

C.

Civil Rights
1.

2.

Red Scare
a. b. c. d.

II. Roots of Cold War

A. U.S. Perspective
1. 2. 3. Yalta Conference, 1945
a. b. Soviets intent spheres of I. Declaration of Lib. Europe

Spread democracy Iron Curtain Speech Animosity and distrust

a. b. c. buffer zone Lend-lease terminated, 1945 Division of Korea and Vietnam

B.

Soviets weary
1.

C.

Collective Cooperation
1. 2. 3. 4. SF Conference, 1945 Potsdam Conference, 1945
a. b. Partition of Germany Zones Partition of Berlin Sectors

Nuremberg Trials, 1946 Reconstruction of Japan

III. Highlights Cold War

A. Policy of Containment
1. George Kennen 2. Truman Doctrine
a. Greece and Turkey ($400 million) b. Marshall Plan, 1947

3. Recognition of Israel
a. Ralph Bunche

4. America Rearms
a. National Security Act b. Voice of America

Flashpoint: Berlin

III. Highlights Cold War (cont.)

B. Collective Security
1. NATO, ANZUS, CENTO 2. Fall of China
a. UN Security Council?
23 atolls American flag design reflects The ongoing responsibility the U.S. still owes to the Bikini people 3 islands that vanished in the Bravo blast

C. Hydrogen Bomb
1. US (1952) 2. Opposition
Everything is in the hands of God 2 islands refugees forced to live.

Flashpoint: Korea
June, 1950 July, 1950

Sept, 1950

Oct, 1950

Korean War in Maps

Nov, 1950

Jan, 1951