Untitled Flashcards Set

Cold War & Political Developments

• Second Red Scare – A period of intense fear of communist influence in the U.S. (late 1940s-1950s), leading to government investigations and accusations against suspected communists.

• Loyalty Review Board – Established by President Truman in 1947 to investigate government employees and dismiss those suspected of being disloyal to the U.S.

• HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) – A congressional committee that investigated suspected communist influence in the U.S., particularly in Hollywood and government.

Espionage & McCarthyism

• Alger Hiss – A former U.S. government official accused of being a Soviet spy in the late 1940s; convicted of perjury in 1950.

• Julius & Ethel Rosenberg – American citizens executed in 1953 for allegedly passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union.

• Joseph McCarthy/McCarthyism – Senator McCarthy led aggressive accusations of communist infiltration in the U.S. government, creating an era of paranoia and blacklisting.

Post-WWII America

• Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (GI Bill) – Provided benefits like education, housing loans, and unemployment aid to returning WWII veterans.

• Baby Boom – A sharp increase in birth rates in the U.S. between 1946-1964, following WWII.

• Levittown/suburbs – Mass-produced, affordable suburban housing developments that symbolized postwar American homeownership.

• Sun Belt – The southern and western regions of the U.S. that experienced rapid population and economic growth after WWII.

Labor & Politics

• Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 – A law that restricted the power of labor unions, outlawed closed shops, and allowed states to pass "right to work" laws.

• Dixiecrats – A group of Southern Democrats who opposed civil rights and split from the Democratic Party in 1948 to support segregationist policies.

• Truman's "Fair Deal" – President Truman’s domestic policy that aimed to expand social programs, civil rights, and economic opportunities.

Infrastructure & Economy

• Interstate Highway System – A nationwide highway network created in the 1950s under President Eisenhower, improving transportation and boosting suburban growth.

Kennedy Era & Cultural Changes

• Kennedy’s “New Frontier” – JFK’s policy agenda focused on social reforms, economic growth, space exploration, and civil rights.

• Kennedy Assassination – President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, leading to widespread national mourning.

• Warren Commission Report – The official government investigation into JFK’s assassination, concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

Media & Pop Culture

• Television – Became a dominant form of entertainment and news in the 1950s, shaping American culture and politics.

• Rock-and-roll music – A new genre blending rhythm & blues and country music, popularized among youth in the 1950s.

• Elvis Presley – The "King of Rock and Roll," a cultural icon who revolutionized American music and youth culture.

Social & Intellectual Movements

• The Affluent Society – A 1958 book by economist John Kenneth Galbraith analyzing the postwar economic boom and growing consumer culture.

• Beatniks – A countercultural group in the 1950s that rejected materialism and traditional values, often associated with poetry and jazz.

• Allen Ginsberg/"Howl" – Ginsberg was a leading Beat poet; Howl (1956) was his famous poem criticizing American conformity and capitalism.

• "Silent Generation" – The generation born during the Great Depression and WWII (1928-1945), known for their conformity and focus on stability.