3/31 ANS Cold War Beginnings, Korean War, and Postwar America (1947–1953)

National Security Act

Created DoD, NSC, CIA; reorganized military and intelligence; Pentagon becomes HQ.

Marshall Plan

$17 billion U.S. aid to rebuild Europe; Stalin rejects and blocks Eastern Europe.

Germany division

East = USSR; West = U.S., Britain, France; Berlin also split.

Nuremberg Trials

Nazis tried for war crimes; many executed or imprisoned.

Berlin Blockade

Soviets cut off West Berlin (321 days) to force Allies out.

Berlin Airlift

U.S. flies in food/supplies daily to support West Berlin.

Gail Halvorsen

“Candy Bomber” who dropped candy to children during airlift.

NATO

1949 Western military alliance.

FRG/GDR

West Germany = FRG; East Germany = GDR (communist).

USSR atomic bomb (1949)

Start of nuclear arms race.

Warsaw Pact

Communist military alliance opposing NATO.

Containment goal

U.S. rebuilds Europe/Japan to stop communism spread.

Indochina

Vietnam conflict; Ho Chi Minh fights French; U.S. supports France.

Chinese Civil War

Mao’s communists win; nationalists flee to Taiwan.

Demobilization

Soldiers return to civilian life after WWII.

GI Bill

Helps veterans with education, jobs, housing.

Baby Boom

Massive population increase after WWII.

Arms Race

U.S. vs USSR nuclear competition.

MAD

Both sides can destroy each other with nukes.

SAC

U.S. command controlling nuclear bombers.

Korea division

38th Parallel splits North (communist) and South (non-communist).

Korean War

North invades South (1950); UN helps South; ends with armistice (1953).

DMZ

Buffer zone between North and South Korea.

MacArthur vs Truman

Conflict over war strategy; Truman removes MacArthur.

Labor unrest

Strikes after WWII; government steps in.

Suburbs

Growth of suburban housing like Levittown.

Civil rights

Truman supports rights; desegregates military (1948).

Jackie Robinson

Breaks MLB color barrier.

Taft-Hartley Act

Limits unions and strikes.

Israel (1948)

UN splits Palestine; Israel declared; war follows; Israel wins more land.