DE US Cold War Study

Yalta (Crimea Ukraine)

Allied Powers meet & agree to divide up Germany

• Soviet East & US, UK, France West

• “Iron Curtain”

• Soviet: Liberties & Freedoms repressed

• Soviet East is still individual countries, but heavily policed by the Soviet Union

The Long Telegram

Written by George Kennen to Harry Truman

• Soviets are not unprepared nor unmotivated; “Soviets will work to hold and expand territory”

Truman starts taking Soviets very seriously

• Policy of containment

• US never the aggressor, but prevents expansion

The Marshall Plan

Direct aid to Western European countries to rebuild & build strength against communism

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Prevents wars, defensive alliance (Article VI, only used since for 9/11)

Warsaw Pact

Soviet era peace treaty to combat NATO alliance

Korean War

Communist North invaded allied South, US fought as part of the UN

Truman Doctrine

Economic & Military support to those resisting communism

Greece & Turkey

US no longer isolationist, now interventionist

Eisenhower Doctrine

Expands Truman Doctrine into the Middle East

Eisenhower & Guatemala

Elected leader promises to redistribute land (slightly communist)

US inspires a rebellion & tries to put a pro-America leader in place

Against the core values of the US!!

Mutually Assured Destruction

Eisenhower

Greater Nuclear Arsenal (Hydrogen bombs)

Brings USSR to the verge of war, but deters it

“First strike capability” — US never strikes first

Second Red Scare

HUAC

• House un-American Activities Committee

• Existed before the Cold War

• Investigated potential Communist & Socialist Activities

• Catches Soviet spies (Alger Hiss, Rosenbergs)

McCarthyism

• Joe McCarthy (Senator)

• Suspected “56 known communists” in US gov’t

• Made people testify (No evidence produced, damaged reputations)

• McCarthy gets publicity and power

The GI Bill of Rights

Causes a lot of economic changes

Law signed by FDR @ end of WWII to provide benefits to veterans that need to transition back into civilian life

Provided low-interest loans & mortgages for veterans

Allows free post-secondary school for veterans

Applicable to AA and women, but local discrimination continues

The Baby Boom & Growth of Suburbs

Largest generation in American History (1946-1966)

Levittown first planned community

Increased dependence on cars

Eisenhower creates the Interstate Highway System

Migration by mostly whites into suburbs

“White Flight”

Leaving cities to move to suburbs — many down allow AA

Cities now have less taxpayer money

Country becomes more segregated

• Dejure segregation (Law)

• De facto segregation (Societal)

• Redlining — Banks not selling certain areas to African Americans; Highways built in “African American” areas

• Value of homes decreases

Conformity Culture

Fitting in is very highly valued

Individuality not valued

Consumerism

Regression in femenist progress (“Pink Tax”)

Mass TV culture, Fast food culture, Car culture, etc.

Kennedy Elected (1960)

1961

Youngest person ever elected — New “era” of the US

“Flexible Response”

Kennedy Administration

Direct contrast to M.A.D

Refocusing on non-nuclear warfare

• Want to respond to “brushfire” conflicts

Trying to cool tensions

Bay of Pigs Invasion & Cuban Missile Crisis

1962

Before — Fidel Castro & Communists lead Cuba after revolution

Bay of Pigs (1961)

• CIA planned & executed operation to overthrow communist gov’t in Cuba

• DISASTER — Kennedy looks inexperienced, becomes skeptical with gov’t operations and intelligence

Soviet Missiles in Cuba — Cuban Missile Crisis

• Communication w/ Soviets without provoking them

• Sends a blockade around Cuba

• Soviet sends their own ships towards Cuba — Turn around

• Krushev & Kennedy agree to not fight, set more restrictions on nuclear warfare

• Soviets agree to remove missiles in Cuba, Americans agree to remove missiles from Turkey

Détente — a cooling of tensions (Late 60s early 70s)

Kennedy Assassination

November 22 1963 in Dallas, Texas

Beginning of “chaos,” end of post-war “peace & tranquility”

Lyndon B. Johnson becomes president

Lyndon B. Johnson & The Great Society

Civil Rights achievements & catastrophe in Vietnam

A society where everyone from different wealth classes are on even grounds & have equal opportunity to support themselves