Unit #11 Truman and Eisenhower, 1945-1961

Baby Boom

The Baby Boom was a large increase in birth rates in the United States after World War II. Millions of returning soldiers started families during this time. The population growth increased demand for housing, schools, and consumer goods. This demographic shift helped shape American society and the economy for decades.

G.I. Bill

The G.I. Bill was a law passed in 1944 to help World War II veterans. It provided benefits such as college tuition, low-interest home loans, and unemployment assistance. Millions of veterans used it to attend college and buy homes. The law helped expand the middle class and suburban growth.

Taft-Hartley Act

The Taft-Hartley Act was passed in 1947 to limit the power of labor unions. It allowed states to pass right-to-work laws and restricted certain union activities. The act also allowed the president to stop strikes that threatened national security. It showed growing concern about union power after World War II.

Iron Curtain

The Iron Curtain was a term used by Winston Churchill to describe the division between communist Eastern Europe and democratic Western Europe. It symbolized the political and ideological split during the Cold War. The Soviet Union controlled countries behind the Iron Curtain. This division increased tensions between the United States and the USSR.

Truman Doctrine

The Truman Doctrine was announced by President Harry Truman in 1947. It promised U.S. support to countries resisting communism. The policy was first used to aid Greece and Turkey. It marked the beginning of America’s policy of containment.

Containment

Containment was the U.S. strategy to prevent the spread of communism. It guided American foreign policy during the Cold War. The United States used economic aid, alliances, and military force to stop communist expansion. This policy influenced conflicts such as the Korean War and Vietnam War.

Berlin Airlift

The Berlin Airlift occurred in 1948–1949 when the Soviet Union blocked access to West Berlin. In response, the United States and its allies flew supplies into the city. Planes delivered food, fuel, and other necessities. The operation showed U.S. commitment to resisting Soviet pressure.

Marshall Plan

The Marshall Plan was a U.S. program that provided economic aid to rebuild Western Europe after World War II. It began in 1947 and distributed billions of dollars in assistance. The plan helped rebuild economies and stabilize governments. It also prevented the spread of communism in Europe.

NATO & collective security

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was created in 1949 as a military alliance. Members agreed to defend one another if attacked. This principle is called collective security. NATO strengthened cooperation among Western nations during the Cold War.

Korean War

The Korean War lasted from 1950 to 1953. North Korea, supported by communist allies, invaded South Korea. The United States and the United Nations intervened to defend South Korea. The war ended in a stalemate and kept Korea divided.

Second Red Scare

The Second Red Scare was a period of intense fear of communism in the United States during the late 1940s and 1950s. Many Americans worried that communist spies were inside the country. Government investigations targeted suspected communists. This climate led to widespread suspicion and accusations.

Joseph McCarthy

Joseph McCarthy was a U.S. senator who claimed that communists had infiltrated the government. He led aggressive investigations during the early 1950s. Many accusations were made without strong evidence. His actions created fear and damaged many reputations.

House Un-American Activities Committee

The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated suspected communist influence in the United States. It questioned government officials, entertainers, and citizens. Some people were blacklisted from jobs after refusing to cooperate. HUAC symbolized the anti-communist climate of the Cold War.

Interstate Highway System

The Interstate Highway System was created in 1956 under President Eisenhower. It built thousands of miles of highways across the United States. The system improved transportation and national defense. It also encouraged suburban growth and car culture.

Brinkmanship

Brinkmanship was a Cold War strategy that involved pushing conflicts to the edge of war. Leaders believed this would force opponents to back down. The policy relied heavily on the threat of nuclear weapons. It increased tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Military Industrial Complex

The military-industrial complex refers to the close relationship between the military, government, and defense industries. Defense companies produced weapons and equipment for the military. President Eisenhower warned that this relationship could gain too much influence. The concept highlighted concerns about military spending.

Eisenhower Doctrine

The Eisenhower Doctrine was announced in 1957. It promised U.S. military and economic aid to Middle Eastern countries resisting communism. The goal was to limit Soviet influence in the region. It expanded the policy of containment.

Domino Theory

The domino theory suggested that if one country became communist, nearby countries would follow. U.S. leaders used this idea to justify intervention abroad. They feared communism would spread across regions. The theory influenced American involvement in Korea and Vietnam.

U-2 Incident

The U-2 Incident occurred in 1960 when a U.S. spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. The pilot was captured by Soviet forces. This embarrassed the United States and increased Cold War tensions. It also damaged relations between the two superpowers.

Mendez v. Westminster

Mendez v. Westminster was a 1947 court case in California. The ruling ended segregation in public schools for Mexican American students. It helped challenge the idea of separate schools. The case later influenced the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education.

Brown v. Board of Education

Brown v. Board of Education was a Supreme Court decision in 1954. It ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The decision overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine and the ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson. It became a major turning point and legal win in the civil rights movement.

Segregation

Segregation was the enforced separation of races in public spaces and institutions. It was common in the South under Jim Crow laws. African Americans faced unequal schools, housing, and services. Civil rights activists fought to end this system, yet pro-segregationists like Governor George Wallace vehemently fought to uphold it.

Desegregation

​​Desegregation refers to the process of ending racial separation. It involved integrating schools and public facilities. Court rulings and protests pushed this change forward. Desegregation was a central goal of the civil rights movement.

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was an active civil rights activist in Alabama. She participated in the Scottsboro boys protests and was one of the few Black Americans to be registered to vote in the area. In 1955 she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. She became a symbol of peaceful resistance.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

​​The Montgomery Bus Boycott began in 1955 in Alabama. African Americans refused to ride city buses to protest segregation. The boycott lasted over a year. It led to a Supreme Court decision ending bus segregation.

Little Rock Nine

The Little Rock Nine were nine African American students who integrated a high school in Arkansas in 1957. They faced hostility and threats from segregationists. President Eisenhower sent federal troops to protect them. The event showed the federal government enforcing desegregation.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a major leader of the civil rights movement. He promoted nonviolent protest and civil disobedience. King helped organize major demonstrations for equality. His leadership inspired nationwide support for civil rights.

SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference)

The SCLC was a civil rights organization founded in 1957. It was led by Martin Luther King, Jr. The group organized protests and campaigns against segregation. It played an important role in the civil rights movement.

Sunbelt

The Sunbelt refers to the rapidly growing region in the southern and western United States. States like California, Texas, and Florida saw major population growth after World War II. Warm climate and job opportunities attracted migrants. This shift increased the region’s political and economic influence.

Eisenhower’s Farewell Address

Eisenhower’s Farewell Address was delivered in 1961. In the speech, he warned Americans about the growing military-industrial complex. He believed excessive military influence could threaten democracy. The address encouraged caution in government and defense policies.