Unit 10
Origins of the Cold War
Bolshevic Revolution of 1917- Intro of communism in Russia
Russian Civil War - Reds vs. Whites
Red Scare of 1919
uneasy alliance in WW2
Yalta Conference - Big 3; postwar Europe; Germany divided into occupation zones; disagreements over Eastern Europe (Poland); beginning of Cold War tensions
United Nations (UN) - founded in 1945 after WW2; wanted to promote peace, security, and global cooperation; U.S. joins, international organization; U.S. and USSR would constantly veto each other’s proposals
Nuremburg Trials
trials of Nazi leaders after WW2
charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity
established the principle of individual responsibility
early cooperation between US and USSR before their split
Occupation of Germany
Germany became 4 occupation zones
controlled by Allied powers
Berline is also divided into 4 sectors (realistically halved between the Soviet Union and the Allied Powers)
different political and economic systems
East vs. West
Satellite States (states surrounding the Soviet Union)
Iron Curtain - political, military, and ideological barrier; divided Soviet controlled Eastern Europe from Western democracies; symbolized the split between communism and capitalism
Potsdam Conference - determine postwar order in Europe and how to govern defeated Germany (Truman is president and makes a stand against Stalin); the Soviet Union knew that the U.S. made a deadly weapon (the atomic bomb) because they had spies in the country
Mao Zedong - Chinese communist revolutionary and founding leader of China; worked with Chiang Kai-Shek (nationalist) but they eventually split up; Zedong won the civil war (communism is spreading) (“Loss of China”)
Occupied Japan
led by General Douglas MacArthur
U.S. rebuilds Japan → new democratic constitution
economic and political reforms; U.S. wanted them to be anti-communist
Japan becomes a U.S. ally
Containment Policy (limit the spread of communism)
George F. Kennan - American diplomat and historian who shaped US Cold War policy by promoting the strategy of containment to limit Soviet expansion
Truman Doctrine - Cold War policy; first time using containment; aimed at containing communism by supporting nations (specifically Greece and Turkey) threated by Soviet influence; beginning of active US Cold War involvement; $400 million
Marshall Plan - US program that provided economic aid ($13 million) to rebuild Europe; rebuilt industry and infrastructure; reduced poverty and instability; limited spread of communism
Berlin Airlift - US-led humanitarian mission; 1948-1949; supplied West Berlin with food and supplies after the Soviet Union blockaded ground access to the city; last nearly a year
NATO - (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) military alliance; 1949; for collective defense and regional stability; response to Soviet expansion; US, Canada, Western Europe
Warsaw Pact - 1955; Soviet-led military alliance; included Eastern European nations; response to NATO; deepened Cold War division
Arms Race
competition to build nuclear weapons
US atomic bomb - 1945
Soviet atomic bomb - 1949
hydrogen bomb development
NSC-68 - National Security Council policy paper; described USSR as global threat; called for massive military buildup; expanded containment strategy; influenced US Cold War policy; increased bomb production and defense budget
Mutually Assured Destruction - Cold War nuclear strategy; both sides capable of total destruction; guaranteed retaliation; nuclear deterrence; prevented direct US-Soviet War
GI-Bill - (Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944) provided WW2 veterans with benefits such as funding for education, home loans, and unemployment assistance (college tuition assistance and low-interest home loans); fueled economic growth → expanded the middle class
Taft-Hartley Act - (Labor Management Relations Act of 1947) limited the power of labor unions in response to post-WW2 strikes; restricted practices like secondary boycotts, allowed states to pass right-to-work laws, and aimed to balance workers’ rights with employers’ interests
Election of 1948
Henry Wallace - FDR’s former Vice President; supported expanded New Deal reforms, stronger civil rights, and a more cooperative approach toward the Soviet Union (why he was disliked, many Americans hated the Soviet Union and the spread of communism)
Southern Democrats - States Rights Party (Dixiecrats) - segregationist third-party group that split from the Democratic Party in 1948; opposed federal civil rights efforts (desegregation, preserving Jim Crow laws; done under the banner of “states’ rights”
Strom Thurmond - South Carolina governor and US Senator; led the 1948 Dixiecrat walkout; strong opponent of civil rights laws → symbol of Southern resistance to federal desegregation
Harry S. Truman - 33rd President (1945 - 1953) led the nation at the end of WW2 and the start of the Cold War; advanced early civil rights efforts and reshaped US foreign policy by using containment; isolationism → global intervention
Thomas E. Dewey - Republican governor of New York (1943 - 1954); known for his upset loss to Truman despite being heavily favored; previously lost to FDR in 1944
Dewey defeats Truman
Chicago Tribune headline (1948)
Polls predicted Dewey’s victory, but Truman won!
Political miscalculation
Fair Deal - proposals made by Truman in 1949; aimed at expanding social welfare programs and promoting economic growth/stability (health care, education, civil rights)
Nuclear Age
Atomic weapons redefine warfare
Civil defense programs
“Duck and Cover” drills
Fallout shelters
Culture of fear and preparedness
Syngman Rhee - first President of South Korea (1948 - 1960); known for his strong anti-communist stance
Incheon - (September 1950) amphibious attack led by Douglas MacArthur; US and UN forces landed behind North Korean lines, liberated Seoul, and pushed enemy troops back across the 38th parallel; forced North Korea to retreat but lead to Chinese intervention (prolonged the war)
Truman vs. MacArthur
Korean War disagreement
MacArthur wanted to expand war
Truman supported limited war
Civilian control of military
MacArthur fired (1951)
Second Red Scare
Second Red Scare - period of intense fear of communism in the US; late 1940s to 1950s; fueled Cold War tensions; led to government investigations, blacklists, and the persecution of people suspected of having communist ties
House Un-American Activities Committee - 1938; created to investigate allegations of communist influence and subversion in the US
Alger Hiss Case - American government official involved in a high-profile espionage case; convicted of perjury after being accused of being a communist spy for the Soviet Union; sparked national debates over the loyalty, truth, and integrity of American institutions
Joe McCarthy - was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin who became the face of anti-communist hysteria in the early 1950s, particularly during the Second Red Scare. His aggressive campaign against alleged communists in government and other sectors led to a national paranoia about communist infiltration, which had lasting impacts on American society and politics.
McCarthyism - refers to a period in the early 1950s characterized by intense anti-communist suspicion in the United States, particularly associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy. This era saw widespread allegations and investigations aimed at uncovering supposed communists in government, entertainment, and other sectors, leading to a climate of fear and repression that stifled dissent and curtailed civil liberties.
Army-McCarthy Hearings - were televised Senate investigations into a conflict between Joseph McCarthy and the U.S. Army. McCarthy accused the Army of harboring communists, while the Army charged him with abusing his power to help an aide. The hearings exposed his aggressive tactics, leading to his censure and the decline of the Second Red Scare
Rosenberg Case - American citizens who were convicted of espionage (passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union; were tried and executed in 1953
1952 Campaign
Republican - Dwight D. Eisenhower - WW2 general; won the election; campaign focused on ending the Korean War and strong leadership during the Cold War
Democrat - Adlai E. Stevenson II - Governor of Illinois; campaign focused on trying to continue Truman-era policies
Checkers Speech
delivered by Richard Nixon
Televised speech
responded to financial scandal
emotional appeal to voters
early example of TV politics
Baby Boom - significant increase in birth rates; around 1946 to 1964; resulted due to a strong economy, social stability, and cultural emphasis on family life; influenced education, housing, _!!!!!!!
Suburb Growth
Levittown - is a planned community in the United States that was built in the 1940s and 1950s, designed to provide affordable housing for returning World War II veterans. It symbolizes the post-war housing boom and the rise of suburban living, characterized by mass production techniques that allowed for quick construction and affordability, reflecting the economic prosperity of the time.
Levittown - is a planned community in the United States that was built in the 1940s and 1950s, designed to provide affordable housing for returning World War II veterans. It symbolizes the post-war housing boom and the rise of suburban living, characterized by mass production techniques that allowed for quick construction and affordability, reflecting the economic prosperity of the time.
AFL-CIO - (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is the largest federation of unions in the United States, representing over 12 million workers. It is a key interest group that advocates for the rights and interests of workers across various industries.
Teamsters - was a powerful, often corrupt US labor union that expanded significantly in the 1950s, reaching 1.5 million members. It is critical to APUSH Cold War history for its role in labor scandals
Medical Breakthroughs
Antibiotics
Penicillin
Salk Vaccine
Jonas Salk - was an American medical researcher and virologist best known for developing the first effective polio vaccine in the early 1950s. His work not only drastically reduced the incidence of polio, a disease that caused paralysis and death, but also marked a significant advancement in the field of public health. The introduction of the vaccine contributed to economic growth as it reduced healthcare costs and allowed individuals to return to work, which was crucial for the economy recovering after World War II.
Pesticides
increased use after WW2
DDT widely applied
boosted agricultural production
seen as scientific progress
later environmental concerns
Television
Television - is a medium for transmitting moving images and sound that revolutionized communication and entertainment in the 20th century. It became a key tool for shaping public opinion, influencing culture, and disseminating information during critical social movements and historical events.
Consumerism
became a centerpiece of American homes
influenced politics and advertising
spread Cold War messaging
shaped national culture
Univac
Univac - was one of the first commercially produced computers in the United States, introduced in 1951. It became famous for correctly predicting the outcome of the 1952 presidential election, demonstrating the growing importance of computers in business, government, and media during the early Cold War era.
Used by the U.S. Census Bureau
predicted 1952 election outcome
Symbol of Cold War technology race
Hydrogen Bomb
developed in the early 1950s
US test (1952); Soviet test (1953)
far more powerful than the atomic bomb
escalated Arms Race
Sputnik - 1957
Sputnik - was the first artificial satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. This significant technological achievement marked the beginning of the Space Age and highlighted the intense competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, as it underscored the potential of space exploration for military and scientific purposes.
National Defense and Education Act - was enacted in 1958 to provide federal funding to improve American education, particularly in science, mathematics, and foreign languages, in response to the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik. This act marked a significant shift in U.S. educational policy, emphasizing the need for a strong educational foundation to maintain national security and compete globally during the Cold War.
Nasa: the U.S. government agency responsible for the civilian space program, aeronautics, and aerospace research. It was created as a direct, Cold War-era response to the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik.
Ike’s Domestic Policy
Modern Republicanism
Fiscal conservatism
Continued New Deal programs
1950s prosperity
Highway Act 1956: was a landmark piece of legislation that established the Interstate Highway System in the United States, allocating federal funds for the construction of over 41,000 miles of highways. This act marked a significant shift in American infrastructure and transportation policy, reflecting the post-World War II emphasis on economic growth and suburban expansion.
Creation of Fast Food
Suburban growth
Car culture
Interstate Highway Act
Standardization and efficiency (Cold War modernity)
Baby and Child Care – Dr. Benjamin Spock: was an influential American pediatrician whose 1946 book The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care reshaped post–World War II parenting. He encouraged affectionate, flexible child-rearing rather than strict discipline, influencing the baby boom generation. Critics later blamed his ideas for contributing to 1960s youth rebellion.
Cult of Domesticity - was a prevailing value system in the 19th century that idealized women's roles as devoted wives and mothers, emphasizing their place in the home as moral guardians of society. This belief reinforced the idea that women should focus on domestic responsibilities and raise children with strong moral values, thereby shaping American culture and family dynamics during this period. It emerged alongside significant social changes, influencing women's roles as the nation transitioned into industrialization and urbanization
Beatniks
Jack Kerouac - Jack Kerouac (1922–1969) was a pivotal American novelist and poet recognized as the "King of the Beats". As a leader of the 1950s Beat Generation, his work On the Road (1957) defined the counterculture movement, promoting spontaneity, personal freedom, and rejection of post-WWII conformist, consumerist values.
Allen Ginsberg - a leading 1950s American poet and a key figure in the Beat Generation who critiqued the conformity, materialism, and complacency of post-WWII American life. His landmark poem, "Howl" (1956), criticized the banality of modern culture, drug prohibition, and traditional societal constraints.
Beatniks - a 1950s/early 1960s countercultural movement of writers and artists who rejected 1950s conformity, materialism, and consumer culture. Influenced by jazz, poetry, and Eastern philosophy, they favored spontaneity and nonconformity.
Rock’n’Roll
Elvis Presley - was an iconic American singer and actor, often referred to as the 'King of Rock and Roll,' who rose to fame in the 1950s. His music and style helped define a new cultural era, blending various genres and breaking down racial barriers in a segregated society. Elvis's influence extended beyond music, impacting fashion, attitudes, and social norms during a time of significant change in American culture.
Sam Phillips - was a pioneering American record producer and founder of Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. He is best known for discovering and recording influential 1950s musicians, including Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash, effectively launching rock and roll music.
Civil Rights Movement
Jackie Robinson - was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era, breaking the color barrier on April 15, 1947, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. His groundbreaking role not only changed the landscape of sports but also played a significant part in the civil rights movement, making him a symbol of social justice and equality in America.
Truman 1948 Desegregation of the military
changing demographics
1896 Plessy v. Ferguson - “separate but equal”
1954 Brown v Board of Education of Topeka, KS - was a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 1954 that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. This case overturned the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld the 'separate but equal' doctrine, and marked a significant turning point in the early steps of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1940s and 1950s by challenging systemic racism and laying the groundwork for further civil rights advancements.
Chief Justice Earl Warren
Warren Court - refers to the period during which Earl Warren served as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1953 to 1969. This era is noted for its landmark decisions that expanded civil rights, civil liberties, and judicial power, significantly impacting the legal landscape and the Civil Rights Movement.
Massive Resistance - refers to the widespread and organized effort by Southern states and communities to resist the desegregation of public schools following the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. This response included legislative actions, public demonstrations, and various forms of opposition aimed at maintaining the status quo of racial segregation in education.
Clinton 12
First to desegregate a Southern state-supported high school
Clinton High School, Tennessee
August 27, 1956
faced violence and harassment
School bombed in 1958
Honored at Green McAdoo Cultural Center
Southern Manifesto - was a document written in 1956 by a group of southern legislators in opposition to the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The manifesto expressed a commitment to maintaining segregation and called for resistance to integration efforts. It reflects the deep-rooted racial tensions and the political landscape in the South during the civil rights movement, highlighting the pushback against federal intervention.
Little Rock Nine - refers to a group of nine African American students who enrolled at Little Rock Central High School in 1957, becoming symbols of the struggle for school desegregation following the landmark Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education. Their enrollment was met with intense resistance from segregationists and required federal intervention to ensure their safety and the enforcement of desegregation laws. This event highlighted the complexities and challenges of implementing civil rights reforms during the 1950s.
Rosa Parks - was an African American civil rights activist, best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. Her courageous act of defiance became a symbol of the struggle against racial segregation and sparked a larger movement for civil rights, inspiring many others to take action against injustice.
Martin Luther King Jr. - was a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement, advocating for nonviolent resistance to combat racial injustice and discrimination. His commitment to equality and justice was demonstrated through significant events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, where he delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech, galvanizing public support for civil rights reforms.
Southern Christian Leadership Conference - was an African American civil rights organization established in 1957, primarily led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The SCLC played a crucial role in promoting nonviolent protests and civil disobedience as strategies to combat racial segregation and injustice in the United States. It became a key player in organizing significant events during the civil rights movement, fostering collaboration among various religious and community leaders to advance the cause of equality.
Decolonization
independence movements after WW2
Asia, Africa, Middle East
Power vacuum after colonial withdrawal
Superpower competition in new nations
John Foster Dulles - was the U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. He shaped early Cold War foreign policy by promoting a hardline stance against communism, supporting brinkmanship (the idea of pushing dangerous situations to the edge of war), and advocating for the policy of massive retaliation against Soviet aggression
Brinksmanship - was a Cold War foreign policy strategy in which the United States pushed dangerous situations to the brink of war in order to force the Soviet Union to back down. Associated with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles during the Eisenhower administration, it relied on the threat of massive retaliation—especially nuclear weapons—to deter communist aggression without actually going to war.
US - Soviet Relations
Geneva
Peaceful Coexistence - is a political principle that advocates for the peaceful and cooperative relationship between nations, particularly during the Cold War era, where opposing ideologies could exist without conflict. This concept emphasizes diplomacy, negotiation, and mutual respect as alternatives to military confrontation, fostering an environment where different political systems can thrive side by side.
Nikita Kruschev - was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964 during the height of the Cold War. He promoted de-Stalinization after Joseph Stalin’s death, pursued a policy of “peaceful coexistence” with the United States, and played a central role in major Cold War events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the building of the Berlin Wall.
Hungarian Revolt
Convert Action
Reza Shah Pahlvi Iran
Nixon in Venezuela
US covert operations aimed at limiting communism
Iran: 1953 coup (Operation Ajax)
Reza Shah’s regime strengthened
Venezuela: Richard Nixon attacked on goodwill tour
demonstrates anti-American sentiment
French IndoChina
Dien Bien Phu - was a significant battle in 1954 that marked the end of French colonial rule in Indochina, particularly in Vietnam. The battle took place between French forces and the Viet Minh, a communist-led nationalist group, and resulted in a decisive victory for the Viet Minh. This event is crucial as it led to the Geneva Accords, which divided Vietnam and set the
Middle East
Israel 1948
Suez Crisis - was a diplomatic and military conflict in 1956 involving Egypt, Israel, France, and the United Kingdom over control of the Suez Canal. The crisis highlighted the declining influence of European powers in the post-World War II era while simultaneously marking a pivotal moment for the United States as it asserted its role as a leading global power, navigating Cold War tensions and positioning itself as a mediator in international conflicts.
Eisenhower Doctrine - was a foreign policy initiative announced by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957, aimed primarily at the Middle East. It declared that the United States would provide military and economic assistance to any Middle Eastern country that requested help against communist aggression, reinforcing America's role as a global power during the Cold War.
OPEC - is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1960 that coordinates and unifies the petroleum policies of its member countries to ensure stable oil prices and a regular supply of oil to consumers. It plays a critical role in the global economy and has significant implications for environmental policies, natural resource management, and energy consumption patterns.
Fidel Castro - was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and then as President until 2008. His rise to power marked a significant shift in Cuba's political landscape, establishing a one-party socialist state that aligned closely with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, influencing decolonization movements in Latin America and beyond.
U-2 Incident - refers to the 1960 event in which an American U-2 spy plane, piloted by Francis Gary Powers, was shot down over Soviet airspace. This incident significantly escalated tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War and highlighted the dangers of covert operations in foreign policy.
Eisenhower's Farewell Address - Eisenhower’s Farewell Address was delivered on January 17, 1961, at the end of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s second term. In the speech, he warned Americans about the growing influence of the “military-industrial complex,” cautioning that the close relationship between the armed forces and defense industries could threaten democratic government if left unchecked. The address reflected Cold War tensions and urged citizens to remain vigilant in protecting liberty and balancing national security with democratic values.