us history 1950

Containment

The policy proposed by George Kennan in 1947 to stop the spread of communism.

Truman Doctrine

A policy established in 1947 pledging U.S. support to nations resisting communist takeover.

McCarthyism

A period of anti-communist hysteria marked by accusations and investigations against alleged communists.

NSC-68

A top-secret policy from 1950 calling for massive military spending and covert operations to counter communism.

HUAC

House Un-American Activities Committee; conducted investigations into alleged communist activities.

Alger Hiss

A senior State Department official accused of being part of a communist underground, convicted of perjury.

Rosenbergs

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for allegedly passing nuclear secrets to the Soviets.

Blacklisting

The practice of barring individuals from employment in Hollywood due to alleged communist ties.

Army-McCarthy Hearings

Televised hearings in 1954 that led to the exposure and downfall of Senator McCarthy.

Executive Order 9835

A 1947 order requiring loyalty reviews of all federal employees to uncover communists.

Cuban Revolution

The 1959 overthrow of Batista by Castro, which led to the establishment of a communist government in Cuba.

Sputnik

The first satellite launched by the Soviets in 1957, marking the beginning of the space race.

Jim Crow

Laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States.

Brown v. Board of Education

The 1954 Supreme Court case ruling that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.'

Baby Boom

A significant increase in birth rates from 1946 to 1964, peaking in 1957.

The Feminine Mystique

A book by Betty Friedan that discussed women's dissatisfaction with traditional gender roles in the 1950s.

Urban Renewal

Government programs aimed at revitalizing urban areas, often resulting in the displacement of the poor.

Civil Rights Act of 1957

The first civil rights law since Reconstruction, aimed at protecting voting rights for African Americans.