Chapter 23 and 24 Notes

• Key Terms & Their Significance

  • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

    • Definition: A military alliance formed in 1949 by 12 non-Communist countries, including the U.S., to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.

    • Significance: Strengthened Western unity during the Cold War and was a key factor in U.S.-Soviet tensions.

  • Truman Doctrine

    • Definition: A U.S. policy under President Truman to provide economic and military aid to countries resisting communism, particularly Greece and Turkey.

    • Significance: Marked the beginning of the U.S.'s containment policy to stop the spread of communism.

  • Marshall Plan

    • Definition: A U.S. program providing $13 billion in aid to help rebuild European economies after WWII.

    • Significance: Helped prevent the spread of communism by stabilizing war-torn European nations.

  • Berlin Airlift

    • Definition: A U.S.-British operation that supplied food and resources to West Berlin after the Soviet blockade.

    • Significance: Demonstrated U.S. commitment to resisting Soviet pressure and led to the eventual lifting of the blockade.

  • Taft-Hartley Act

    • Definition: A 1947 law passed over Truman's veto that restricted labor unions, banning closed shops (where only union members could be hired).

    • Significance: Weakened union power and reflected growing concerns over communism and labor strikes.

  Important People & Their Significance

  • Harry Truman

    • Who: 33rd U.S. president (1945–1953).

    • Significance: Led the U.S. through the end of WWII and the start of the Cold War, implementing the Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, and overseeing the Berlin Airlift.

  • George C. Marshall

    • Who: U.S. Army General and Secretary of State.

    • Significance: Developed the Marshall Plan, which helped rebuild Europe and counter communism.

  • Joseph Stalin

    • Who: Leader of the Soviet Union (1924–1953).

    • Significance: Expanded Soviet influence, leading to Cold War tensions; responsible for the Berlin Blockade and other aggressive policies.

  • Julius & Ethel Rosenberg

    • Who: American citizens accused of spying for the Soviet Union.

    • Significance: Convicted and executed in 1953, their trial fueled fears of communist infiltration in the U.S. during the Red Scare.

  • Joseph McCarthy

    • Who: U.S. senator who led a campaign against alleged communists in the government.

    • Significance: His accusations led to McCarthyism, a period of intense anti-communist suspicion and blacklisting.

  • Dwight D. Eisenhower

    • Who: 34th U.S. president (1953–1961) and former WWII general.

    • Significance: Led Cold War policies like the Eisenhower Doctrine, expanded the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and authorized covert operations against communism.

  The Origins of the Cold War

  The Two Powers

  • U.S. and Soviet Union emerged as superpowers after WWII.

  • Conflicting ideologies: democracy vs. communism.

  • Tensions over control of post-war Europe.

  The Roots of Containment

  • U.S. strategy to stop the spread of communism.

  • Based on George Kennan’s "Long Telegram" (1946).

  The Truman Doctrine

  • U.S. pledged to support nations resisting communism (e.g., Greece & Turkey).

  • Marked the start of U.S. Cold War foreign policy.

  The Marshall Plan

  • U.S. economic aid to rebuild Europe ($13 billion).

  • Goal: Prevent communist influence by stabilizing economies.

  The Reconstruction of Japan

  • U.S. occupation led by General MacArthur.

  • Rebuilt economy, introduced democracy, and demilitarized Japan.

The Berlin Blockade and NATO

• Soviets blocked access to West Berlin (1948).

• U.S. & Britain responded with the Berlin Airlift.

• NATO (1949) formed to provide collective defense against the USSR.

The Growing Communist Challenge

• Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe.

• Communist revolution in China (1949).

The Korean War

• North Korea (USSR-backed) vs. South Korea (U.S.-backed).

• First armed conflict of the Cold War (1950–1953).

• Set precedent for U.S. military intervention.

Cold War Culture

Imperialism and Decolonization

• Former colonies in Africa and Asia sought independence.

• U.S. and USSR competed for influence in newly independent nations.

Key Questions

• Why did America need Asia and Europe to recover to stay strong?

  • To prevent communism from spreading into weak economies.

  • Strong trade partners helped sustain the U.S. economy.

• How did Americans view communism after Kennan & Churchill?

  • Increasing fear of Soviet expansion.

  • Churchill’s "Iron Curtain" speech reinforced U.S. concerns.

• What was the main purpose of the Marshall Plan?

  • Economic recovery to prevent communism.

• What was the U.S. goal for Japan?

  • Transform it into a democratic ally in Asia.

• Why was Korea crucial in the Cold War?

  • It was the first direct military confrontation between communism and democracy.

The Cold War and the Idea of Freedom

Freedom and Totalitarianism

• U.S. promoted itself as the leader of the "free world."

• Soviet Union seen as totalitarian and oppressive.

The Rise of Human Rights

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).

• U.S. used human rights rhetoric against USSR.

Ambiguities of Human Rights

• U.S. promoted freedom abroad while still dealing with racial discrimination at home.

Key Questions

• Was the Soviet Union similar to Italy & Germany in totalitarianism?

  • Yes, in terms of government control and suppression of opposition.

  • But, USSR promoted communist ideology over fascism.

• Did the Nuremberg Trials serve their purpose?

  • Yes, held Nazi leaders accountable.

  • Established precedent for international war crimes trials.

• Why didn’t the U.S. want the UN to investigate racism?

  • Fear of exposing racial segregation and hypocrisy during the Cold War.

• How did the Cold War reshape American freedom?

  • Tied freedom to anti-communism.

  • Increased emphasis on democracy and capitalism.

The Truman Presidency

The Fair Deal

• Truman’s domestic policy to extend New Deal programs.

• Focused on healthcare, housing, and civil rights.

The Postwar Strike Wave

• Large-scale labor strikes post-WWII.

• Workers demanded better wages and conditions.

The Republican Resurgence

• Republicans gained control of Congress (1946).

• Pushed back against New Deal-style policies.

Postwar Civil Rights

• Growing activism for racial equality.

• Truman desegregated the military (1948).

To Secure These Rights

• 1947 report calling for civil rights reforms.

• Recommended ending segregation and protecting voting rights.

The Dixiecrat and Wallace Revolts

• Southern Democrats (Dixiecrats) opposed civil rights.

• Henry Wallace ran as a pro-civil rights, left-wing candidate.

Key Questions

• How was the Fair Deal similar to the New Deal?

  • Both expanded government involvement in social programs.

• How did Taft–Hartley change unionized work?

  • Weakened unions by restricting their power.

• Was the federal government responsible for civil rights progress?

  • Partially—Truman took steps, but most gains came from activism.

• Why did Congress reject Truman’s proposals?

  • Republican control and Southern resistance to civil rights.

The Anticommunist Crusade

Loyalty, Disloyalty, and American Identity

• Government loyalty programs screened federal employees.

• Fear of communist infiltration in the U.S. government.

The Spy Trials

• Julius & Ethel Rosenberg executed for espionage.

• Alger Hiss accused of being a Soviet spy.

McCarthy and McCarthyism

• Senator Joseph McCarthy led a campaign accusing people of communist ties.

• Led to widespread paranoia and blacklisting.

An Atmosphere of Fear

• Red Scare caused loss of jobs and ruined reputations.

• Civil liberties were often ignored in anti-communist efforts.

The Uses of Anticommunism

• Used to justify military spending and foreign interventions.

• Suppressed labor movements and civil rights activism.

Cold War Politics & Civil Rights

Anticommunist Politics

• Both political parties used anti-communism to gain support.

• Used as a tool to discredit opponents.

The Cold War and Native Americans

• U.S. sought to terminate Native American reservations.

• Encouraged assimilation into mainstream society.

Cold War Civil Rights

• U.S. promoted civil rights reforms to counter Soviet propaganda.

• Highlighted racial progress to maintain global credibility.

Chapter 24 Vocabulary & Significance

• Levittown

  • Definition: Suburban communities with mass-produced homes in the 1950s, mainly for white middle-class families.

  • Significance: Symbolized postwar suburbanization and the "American Dream," but also reinforced racial segregation through restrictive covenants.

• Indian Urban Relocation Program

  • Definition: A federal program in the 1950s–60s encouraging Native Americans to leave reservations for urban areas.

  • Significance: Aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream society, but often led to economic struggles and loss of cultural identity.

• Housing Segregation

  • Definition: Practices that restricted minorities, especially African Americans, from accessing housing in certain areas.

  • Significance: Maintained racial divisions in cities and suburbs, contributing to long-term economic and social inequality.

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

  • Definition: Supreme Court case that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and declared school segregation unconstitutional.

  • Significance: Landmark ruling that fueled the Civil Rights Movement by legally challenging racial segregation.

• Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56)

  • Definition: A mass protest by African Americans against segregated buses in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest.

  • Significance: A major victory for civil rights, it led to the desegregation of public buses and elevated Martin Luther King Jr. as a national leader.

• Southern Manifesto (1956)

  • Definition: A document signed by Southern politicians opposing racial integration.

  • Significance: Showed strong resistance to civil rights progress and the federal government's push for desegregation.

• Military-Industrial Complex

  • Definition: Term used by Eisenhower in his farewell address, warning of excessive military spending and defense industry influence on politics.

  • Significance: Highlighted concerns about the growing power of the defense sector and its impact on government policies.

Chapter 24 Important People

• Dwight D. Eisenhower

  • Who: U.S. president (1953–1961) and former WWII general.

  • Significance: Led the U.S. during the early Cold War, enforced desegregation in Little Rock, expanded highways, and warned against the military-industrial complex.

• Thurgood Marshall

  • Who: NAACP lawyer who later became the first African American Supreme Court Justice.

  • Significance: Led the legal team in Brown v. Board of Education, helping to dismantle segregation in public schools.

• Rosa Parks

  • Who: Civil rights activist who refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in 1955.

  • Significance: Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a key event in the Civil Rights Movement.

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Who: Civil rights leader known for his nonviolent activism.

  • Significance: Led major protests like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and March on Washington, delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech, and played a key role in ending segregation.

The Golden Age

A Changing Economy

• Post-WWII economic boom driven by consumer spending, government investment, and suburbanization.

• Shift from blue-collar (industrial) jobs to white-collar (office, corporate) jobs, increasing wages and stability.

A Suburban Nation

• Suburbs expanded due to the GI Bill, housing demand, and the interstate highway system.

• Levittown became the model for mass-produced suburban homes.

• Housing segregation kept minorities out of white suburbs.

The Growth of the West

• Federal investment in defense, aerospace, and infrastructure led to rapid growth in California, Texas, and Arizona.

• The Sunbelt became an economic and political powerhouse.

The TV World

• Television became central to American culture, shaping public opinion and reinforcing gender roles.

• Advertisements promoted consumerism and suburban values.

Women at Work and at Home

• Women entered the workforce but were often limited to low-paying, service jobs.

• Media promoted the ideal of the suburban housewife, reinforcing traditional gender roles.

A Segmented and Segregated Landscape

• Redlining and racial steering kept African Americans and other minorities in urban areas.

• Urban decline followed as middle-class families moved to the suburbs.

Native American Relocation

• The Indian Urban Relocation Program aimed to move Native Americans from reservations to cities.

• Created job opportunities but also led to cultural displacement and poverty.

The Divided Society

• Economic inequality grew, with minorities facing discrimination in employment, housing, and education.

Religion and Anticommunism

• Communism seen as anti-religion, leading to increased church attendance.

• "In God We Trust" added to U.S. currency (1956) to emphasize American religious identity.

Selling Free Enterprise

• U.S. promoted capitalism as superior to communism, influencing foreign and domestic policies.

Libertarian Conservatives vs. New Conservatives

• Libertarians: Wanted small government, low taxes, and free-market policies.

• New Conservatives: Focused on morality, tradition, and anti-communism.

The Eisenhower Era

Ike and Nixon (1952 Campaign)

• Eisenhower’s "Modern Republicanism" aimed to balance New Deal programs with fiscal conservatism.

• Nixon’s "Checkers Speech" defended him against corruption accusations, saving his vice-presidential bid.

The Social Contract

• Agreement between unions and corporations: workers got higher wages and benefits in exchange for avoiding strikes.

Massive Retaliation

• U.S. threatened full-scale nuclear war against any communist aggression.

• Led to increased Cold War tensions and fears of mutual destruction.

Ike and the Russians

• U-2 Spy Plane Incident (1960): U.S. caught spying on the USSR, increasing distrust.

The Emergence of the Third World

• U.S. saw developing nations as battlegrounds for influence against communism.

• CIA interventions in Iran (1953) and Guatemala (1954) to protect U.S. economic interests.

Origins of the Vietnam War

• U.S. supported South Vietnam to prevent a communist takeover.

• Domino Theory: If one nation fell to communism, others would follow.

Mass Society and Its Critics

Rebels Without a Cause

• 1950s youth culture rebelled against conformity (rock & roll, films, the Beats movement).

• Criticized consumerism and materialism.

Advertising and Consumerism

• Mass marketing influenced public behavior and spending.

The Beats Movement

• Writers and artists rejected mainstream values, emphasizing spiritual exploration, spontaneity, and personal freedom.

The Freedom Movement

Origins of the Civil Rights Movement

• NAACP used legal strategies to fight segregation.

• Grassroots movements (boycotts, sit-ins) grew in strength.

The Legal Assault on Segregation

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)

• Sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest, led to desegregation of buses.

• MLK emerged as a civil rights leader.

Massive Resistance

• Southern politicians opposed desegregation with legal and violent measures.

• Virginia closed schools rather than integrate.

Eisenhower and Civil Rights

• Sent federal troops to enforce integration in Little Rock, Arkansas (1957).

• Civil Rights Act of 1957: First federal civil rights law since Reconstruction, but had limited impact.

Voices of Freedom

Rev. William H. Borders, Confronting Segregation (1957)

• Advocated for peaceful resistance and civil rights activism.

The Southern Manifesto (1956)

• Southern politicians opposed desegregation, arguing states’ rights.

Contrasting Views on Freedom

• Civil rights activists saw freedom as racial equality and desegregation.

• Southern politicians defined freedom as state autonomy and maintaining segregation.

The Election of 1960

Kennedy vs. Nixon

• Both supported Cold War policies, but Kennedy promoted a more aggressive stance.

• Kennedy’s youth and charisma gave him an edge.

Major Issues Beyond Foreign Policy

• Economic concerns, civil rights, and the role of government.

Significance of the 1960 Election

• First televised debates played a major role.

• Marked a generational shift in leadership.