U.S. Cold War History: Truman, NATO, Korean War & McCarthyism

When was Harry S. Truman born?

1884

Where was Harry S. Truman born?

Independence, Missouri

What was Truman's occupation before politics?

Haberdasher

What was Truman's main goal when he first became President?

To finish off World War II

What did the G.I. Bill of Rights provide?

Education and skills for veterans

How many veterans received higher education from the G.I. Bill?

8 million

How much money was spent on veteran education through the G.I. Bill?

$14.5 billion

What two nations engaged in the Cold War?

The United States and the Soviet Union

How long did the Cold War last?

About 45 years

Who developed the Doctrine of Containment?

George F. Kennan

What was the Iron Curtain Speech about?

The division of Europe between Democracy and Communism

What did the Truman Doctrine state?

The U.S. would support democracies worldwide

How much money was sent to Greece and Turkey under the Truman Doctrine?

$400 million

What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan?

To rebuild vulnerable countries in Western Europe

What was the Berlin Airlift?

The U.S. flew supplies into Berlin after Stalin blocked supply routes

What significant event happened for the Soviet Union in 1949?

They obtained the Atomic Bomb

What organization did the U.S. join in July 1949?

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

What pact did the Soviet Union form in 1955?

Warsaw Pact

Who was the head of the U.S. occupation in Japan?

MacArthur

What happened during the Chinese civil war?

Communists led by Mao Zedong won against Nationalists

Where did the Nationalists flee after losing the Chinese civil war?

Taiwan

What was the Korean War?

A conflict where North Korea invaded South Korea

What was the 38th parallel?

The dividing line between North and South Korea

What was the U.S. response to North Korea's invasion of South Korea?

The U.S. went to the United Nations for support

What was the U.S. military action at Inchon?

An amphibious assault to reclaim territory in South Korea

What was the outcome of the Korean War?

A ceasefire was established in July 1953, keeping Korea split at the 38th parallel.

How many American soldiers were killed in the Korean War?

36,574 American soldiers were killed.

What was the treatment of soldiers returning from the Korean War?

Soldiers received indifferent treatment because the Korean War did not affect most Americans.

What is the Korean War often referred to as?

The 'Forgotten War'.

What significant act was created in 1947?

The National Security Act of 1947.

What positions were created by the National Security Act of 1947?

It created the Secretary of Defense position, the National Security Council (NSC), and the CIA.

Who did the Democrats nominate in the 1948 election?

They nominated Truman.

What was the Civil Rights Platform?

Truman's platform aimed to improve civil rights.

Who were the Dixiecrats?

Southern Democrats angry at Truman's Civil Rights Platform.

What was the outcome of the 1948 election?

Truman won despite major polls predicting Dewey would win.

What headline did the Chicago Tribune run after the 1948 election?

'Dewey Defeats Truman'.

What was one goal of Truman's Fair Deal?

To improve public housing.

What was the outcome of the Housing Act of 1949?

It succeeded in improving public housing.

What was one goal of the Fair Deal that was not successful?

Better farm support.

What was the second Red Scare?

The fear of communism taking over the U.S.

What was Truman's Loyalty Program?

A 1947 initiative to screen federal employees for Communist ties.

What does HUAC stand for?

House of Un-American Activities Committee.

Who was Alger Hiss?

A former adviser to FDR accused of being a communist.

What is McCarthyism?

A campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. government led by Senator Joseph McCarthy.

What did McCarthy claim in 1950?

He claimed to have lists of over 100 communists in the government.

What happened to many careers during McCarthyism?

Many careers were destroyed due to false accusations.

What was the significance of the Rosenbergs?

They were accused of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union.

Who won the 1952 presidential election?

Eisenhower won the election.

What was the piano story related to Truman?

It symbolized the weakness of the White House, which had to be rebuilt.