US History Postwar Era

What was the main goal of the United States throughout the Cold War?

Stop the spread of communism, policy of containment.

What was the main role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during the Cold War?

Formed in 1949 as a military alliance to counter Soviet expansion, twelve western European and North American nations committed themselves to the defense of Western Europe from a Soviet Invasion.

How did George Kennan influence American foreign policy?

Influenced containment policy, made Americans believe to prevent communism from spreading beyond its existing borders. Kennan saw containment as a long term process, requiring a full commitment of American resources.

What were causes of the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union?

Difference in political and economic systems, Soviets had lost 20 million lives in WWII, Soviets wanted buffer zone, Stalin did not allow free elections in Eastern Europe.

What is the meaning of the term “Iron Curtain?”

Coined by Winston Churchill to describe the border between the Soviet satellite states and Western Europe, don’t know what’s going on behind the border. Used to describe Soviet control of Eastern Europe.

Who are the five permanent members that form the United Nations Security Council?

 China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States

What are the key provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Defined rights for all humans, right to life, liberty, free speech, privacy, right to social security, health, education.

What were the main objectives of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade?

To expand world trade by lowering tariffs, average tariffs were reduced from 40% to 5%.

What was the U.S. program to try and halt the spread of communism in Western Europe by providing money and material to rebuild Europe after World War II?

Marshall Plan

How did the U.S. respond to the Berlin Blockade?

US and UK airlifted food, fuel, medicine, and other supplies for nearly one year until Stalin lifted the blockade in May 1949. which demonstrated to the world that the US was committed to containing the spread of communism.

What was the Truman Doctrine?

A US policy of providing economic and military aid to free nations threated by internal or external opponents (communists).

In 1947, Congress approved President Truman's request for $400 million in economic and military aid to which two countries?

Greece and Turkey

How did the result of the Chinese Civil War affect American foreign policy?

Soviets supplied Communists while US supplied Nationalists with billions of dollars in aid, US refused Nationalists’ plea for direct military intervention, and Communists drove nationalists out and established the People’s Republic of China. Was a huge setback for containment policy, as ⅓ of the world’s population was now under communist control.

How did MacArthur turn the tide of the Korean War?

Executed a counterattack in September 1950 to cut off North Korea’s supply lines, landed behind enemy lines in an amphibious invasion at Inchon, North was caught by surprise and quickly retreated north across 38th parallel by October.

Why did Truman fire General MacArthur?

Insubordination, MacArthur disagreed with Truman’s concept of fighting a limited war to achieve only specific goals, MacArthur’s criticism of the president became public and Truman fired him.

How did John Foster Dulles influence American foreign policy?

Helped formulate the policies of brinkmanship and “massive retaliation.” Brinkmanship: believed US had to be willing to go to the brink of war to protect allies against communist aggression. Massive retaliation policy: threatened overwhelming force, even nuclear, against communist threats.

How did the Soviet Union respond to the Hungarian revolt of 1956?

Soviets crushed opposition militarily, executed movement leaders, killed hundreds, and reinstalled hard line communists to power. Hungarians had expected help from US, but massive retaliation approach was powerless to prevent Hungarian crackdown.

What is the Eisenhower Doctrine?

US foreign policy promising military or economic adi to any Middle Eastern country needing help in resisting communist aggression.

How did America respond the Soviet’s launch of the first satellite, Sputnik, in 1957?

Americans believed they were falling behind Soviet Union in technology, believed in danger from long range nuclear missiles. Congress approved National Defense Education Act $1 billion to produce more scientists and science teachers. NASA was created to coordinate American Space efforts.

How was freedom of speech affected by the Second Red Scare?

People afraid to say anything about government in fear of being accused communists and losing their jobs.

Who were the “Hollywood Ten”?

Group of movie writers, director, and producers who refused to answer HUAC questions about communist ties.

How did the Alger Hiss case escalate tensions in America during the Second Red Scare?

State Department official Alger Hiss accused by former Soviet spy Whittaker Chambers of also being a spy, Hiss was convicted of perjury and raised concerns about communist spies in the government.

What was the significance of the Venona Papers?

A series of Cold War-era secret Soviet Documents intercepted and later released by US intelligence officials, revealed that the Rosenbergs and Alger Hiss were spies.

What was the Lavender Scare?

Homophobic, based on the premise that homosexuals in the government were susceptible to blackmail and more likely to divulge national secrets. Congressional investigations and investigations drove gay men and lesbian women from federal employment. Surveillance and persecution of suspected gay men and lesbian women extended into state and local government, education, and private industry.

How was the term "McCarthyism" used during the 1950s?

Negative catchword for extreme reckless charges of disloyalty. False claims were made without any supporting evidence, discredited legitimate concerns regarding domestic communism.

Why were over 500 writers, producers and directors forced out of work in the film industry?

They were acccused as communists, blacklisted.

What body was created in order to investigate communism within U.S. government agencies?

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), created in 1938

What led to the downfall of Senator Joseph McCarthy?

McCarthy went too far when he claimed that the US Army was full of communists, televised hearings revealed McCarthy’s bullying tactics to the nation.

What was the impact of the GI Bill of Rights of 1944?

Provided veterans unemployment benefits, financial aid for college, and loans for homes or businesses. Home loans caused a boom in home construction and led to movement in suburbs, and 8 million veterans took advantage of college benefits.

How did the GI Bill discriminate against African Americans?

Home loans discrimated against African Americans who were not allowed to move into white neighborhoods, government claimed that it would lead to falling home prices. African Americans were forced to buy in segregated black neighborhoods where prices did not appreciate nearly as much. College institutions did not allow blacks to register, increased racial wealth gap between black and white Americans.

What was the effect of the rapid growth median family income in the 1950s?

Use of credit was encouraged, more home ownership, more suburbs,

What were the main causes of the postwar economic boom in the United States?

Savings accumulated during WWII, desire for consumer goods, GI Bill to help veterans, rising birthrate.

What were the causes and effects of the “baby boom?”

Veterans returned and were ready to have children, caused postwar economic boom.

What are the type of businesses which could be owned in a chain of operations which became popular in the 1950s?

Franchises

What kind of jobs increased between 1940 and 1955 which contributed to the increased income of American workers?

Service sector (white collar jobs), such as health care, law, retail, banking, and insurance.

What was the effect of the Taft-Hartley Act?

Outlawed the closed shop (place where only union members can be hired), rolled back some of the rights unions had gained during the New Deal.

What Fair Deal proposal, while not ultimately enacted, was ahead of its time?

Universal health insurance for all Americans

How did Truman’s support for civil rights affect the 1948 presidential election?

His support for civil rights angered Southern Democrats, so they formed the Dixiecrats and nominated a segregationist while Henry Wallace ran as a new Progressive Party candidate, split the votes and allowed Truman to win the presidency in 1948.

What led to the rise of consumerism in the post WWII era?

More money to spend and more products to buy.

Who was William Levitt and what impact did he have on postwar America?

There was a severe shortage of housing following the end of WWII, and he created methods to mass produce affordable homes inexpensively. He created Levittown on Long Island in NY. It was ideal for young couples who could make monthly installment payments, and other developers followed and it led to rapid expansion of suburbs across America.

How did the practice of redlining discriminate against African Americans?

Used color-coded maps to indicate high risk areas (including African AMerican areas) where loans should not be made, African Americans were forced into predatory alternative financing, which often resulted in high interest rates and losing their homes.

How did the government try to help poor inner city residents and eliminate poverty during the 1950s?

Tried “urban renewal,” cleared blighted areas for freeways and development to revitalize downtown areas. Many poor were displaced in such efforts, making the situaiton worse. Public housing projects eased congestion, but concentration of poverty led to increased crime.

What was the impact of white flight?

As african americans and other minorities moved into cities, white Americans moved out to the suburbs, resulted in loss of economic and political power. They took their jobs, businesses, and taxes with them, and suburbs gained population and representation in state and national governments.

What were the goals of the Interstate Highway Act?

1) accommodate growing auto traffic, 2) boost economic prosperity, 3) transportation network for national defense.

What was the impact of the rise of the car culture?

The move to suburbs led to more dependence on cars. Cars led to the rise of suburban shopping malls, fast food restaurants, and drive-in movie theaters. Older businesses in mature city neighborhoods struggled for survival.

How did Dr. Benjamin Spock affect postwar society and culture?

Wrote book for child care, emphasized nurturing children through their teen years and counseled parents not to worry about spoiling them. His book was one of the most influential books on parenting in the 20th century.

What were the key elements of the California Master Plan?

Called for 3 tiers of higher education: 1) research universities, 2) state colleges, 3) community colleges, all of which were to be accessible to all of the state’s citizens.

Why was social conformity criticized by some in postwar America?

Americans had sacrificed their individualism to fit into larger community, quality of life had not increased despite material abundance, conformity stifled individualism.

What was the beat movement?

Refused to conform to accepted ways of behavior, criticized the crass materialism and conformity of middle culture, started counterculture movement in the 60s.

What kind of impact did television have on American mass culture?

Reinforced traditional social norms (no african american characters and no discussion of real life problems), TV sped up process of developing national mass culture, began to affect political campaigning (candidate with more money could buy more advertising time), Children were influenced by shows.

How were the Braceros discriminated against?

Braceros were exploited and cheated by their employers with little recouse due to threat of deportation, were targeted for deportation, “Operation Wetback” deported 1.3 million, many US citizens were arrested and deporte djust because they looked Mexican.

Why did some people object to the growing popularity of rock-n-roll music during the 1950s?

Many did not like the suggestive lyrics, rhythm, and body movements inspired by rock and roll.