Post World War II

What does Churchill warn the world about in Missouri in 1946? How is it received in the USSR?

Churchill warned the world about another tyrant in Europe that needs to be brought down. Stalin saw the speech as an act of war.

What was the situation for American GI's after WWII? What was the GI Bill?

The men coming home from war saw that there were few available jobs. The GI Bill made it so that veterans would get low cost mortgages and higher education.

Explain the transformation of the American economy between 1945-1947.

The economy was booming and people who were saving money before could now spend it on consumer goods. Factories switched back to making refriderators and cars.

What is Levittown and why is it important for America's middle class?

Levittown was a nickname for four large suburban developments that William Levitt had constructed for veterans. It was important because they were cheap so veterans didn't have to spend much.

What was the baby boom and how do women's role change?

Millions of babies were born because the men were finally with the women they were writing to. Women existed o have kids and take care of them (1945-1964)

What situation did Black veterans confront after WWII? How does President Truman respond?

Things were basically the same as before the war. Truman was outraged and ordered the end of segregated military and Congress.

Who is Jackie Robinson and why is he significant for baseball and America itself?

He was the first African American to join a major League baseball team. When people saw Jackie he got cheers and scorns.

What is America's place in the world and how did Americans feel about themselves after the war?

Emerged from war as greatest superpower and now had influence over Europe and Asia. America felt good about their new way of life

How bad Russia been impacted by the war?

Europe had been devastated from years of war and Russia suffered the most casualties with their loss of 20 million people, Germany had looked worse since they had to pay for war damage with money. They victors divided Germany and Berlin the Germans weren't allowed to have a military.

What is the Marshal Plan and what did the U.S. fear would happen without aide?

The goal was to make Europe strong again so that if there was a Soviet invasion then these nations would be strong enough that they could successfully repel a Soviet Union.

How did Soviet troops treat the German people during and after the war? Why?

The Soviets were extremely harsh to the countries they had taken from the Nazis during WW II but no country saw harsher treatment than Germany.

What does Stalin do to try and get the U.S. out of West Berlin? How does the U.S respond?

Stalin orders a blockade set up in west Berlin h0oping that this would drive the U.S. out of Germany. So America gained support in western Europe and Soviets did in Asia

What happens in China in 1949 that shocks America?

Civil War ended with a communist victory which lead to more fear and distrust towards communists worldwide. America gained support in Western Europe and the Soviets did in Asia.

Why does the U.S. send troops to Korea in 1950? What other nations also had troops there?

The communists had backed the North Korean invasion of South Korea. North Korea forces made up of Chinese and had support of the Soviet Union.

How did the American people view the Korean War?

People thought it wasn't as important as WW Ii had been. Many Americans also felt that they fought the bloodiest war in history.

Who is Joseph McCarthy and why was he able to do what he did? How was Hollywood involved?

A senator from Wisconsin who was famous for belief that Soviet spies infiltrated the U.S. Hollywood saw worst of red scare with workers being suspected of being communists.

Why does Truman fire MacArthur?

MacArthur wanted to send troops all the way into China and use the atomic bomb and Truman refused. MacArthur Continued to demand invasion and got fired for insubordination.

What was the hydrogen bomb and why did it signal a new age in the Cold War?

1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb. made it clear that if war broke out there would be total destruction.

What impact does television have on politics and society?

What people saw on tv was what they thought an ideal American should be. Politicians used this method to get the public on their side.

What was the significance of the conferences at Yalta and Potsdam?

The Yalta accord strongly supported the creation of a world peacekeeping organization and called for free elections and democratic governments in the nations being liberated from Axis control. The Potsdam Conference the "Big Three" divided both Germany and Austria into four zones of occupation.

Who became part of the United Nations? Where did they meet and what was their purpose?

British, Chinese, Soviet, and U.S. representatives met in San Francisco to write the UN Charter

Who was put on trial in Nuremberg in 1945? Why?

High ranking Nazi officials to pay for their war crimes

Why was Israel created? Who was its first Prime Minister?

To give the Jewish an independent state, also it was ordered by the UN General Assembly that

Palestine be divided. The first Prime Minister was David Ben-Gurion

What ideas caused the Cold War? What nations were involved?

The United States wanted Democracy and Capitalism while the Soviet Union wanted communism.

What was the purpose of the Truman Doctrine?

Devoted economic aid to help foreign countries fight communism

What was the Marshall Plan? Who was it supposed to help? Why?

A plan that would have the United States offer "friendly aid" to help European countries rebuild.

What was the policy known as containment? Who was to be contained? How was that country contained?

The United States policy against communism.

What was the Berlin Airlift? Why was it important?

Bringing food and supplies for the people in the western part of the city

How were NATO and the Warsaw Pact different from one another?

NATO was when member nations pledged to defend each other when they were attacked and the Warsaw Pact was a military alliance for the Soviet Union.

What did the United States do to demobilize after World War II?

They asked women that went to work in factories to give up their jobs for the veterans coming home. Also changed what the factories were producing from war machinery to fridges and other appliances.

What was labor upset about? How did they respond?

They wanted higher wages so the went on strike

Who ran in the 1948 presidential election? How did Truman win the election?

Republicans nominated Thomas Dewey and Democrats nominated Truman. Truman won by traveling across the country to deliver various speeches and vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act to regain the support of the democrats.

What was the "Fair Deal"?

A series of reform programs proposed by Truman with the goal of bringing dull employment, a higher minimum wage, and a national health insurance plan to the American people

How did the Cold War play out in Asia?

There were new governments in Japan, Korea, and China. There was a U.S style constitution that gave more power to Japanese people and let women vote. Korea was divided and the Soviet union made a friendly government in their part of Korea

What were the main events of the Korean War?

American soldiers and Korean civilians passed each other on the 38th parallel. The UN streamed onto the shore near the port city of Inchon and attacked North Korea.

Who ran for president in 1952? How did Eisenhower win?

Democrats: Adlai Stevenson, Republican: Dwight D. Eisenhower. he won by voting to end the Korean War.

How did the Korean War end? What was the end result?

Eisenhower threatened the Chinese and North Korea with atomic weapons, the results were millions of casualties, tension between North and South Korea, and the two countries were still divided along the 38 parallel.

What caused the new Red Scare?

The communist revolution in Russia and the postwar social unrest

What was HUAC? What was its purpose?

HUAC was the house Un-american Activities Committee and it was made to investigate disloyal and harmful foreign influences in the United States

What was the Internal Security Act? Do you agree with what it did? Why?

The Internal Security Act required organizations to be communist to register with the government and I don't agree with it because I believe people should have free will.

What role did Senator Joseph McCarthy play in the Red Scare? What happened to him as a result?

He made a list of people who he could guarantee were communists. Whenever the charges he had failed he just made new ones and made more accusations without proof which became known as McCarthyism. He accused communists of being in the army and senators had to hole televised broadcasts to find the truth which ended up revealing the truth about him.

How did popular culture after World War II reflect Cold War fears?

Magazines had titles like " How Communists get That Way" and science fiction movies combined the people's fear of new technology with the fear of communism.