George F. Kennan
Former American ambassador for the Soviet union, was a "soviet expert," claimed that US should contain the Soviets
Harry S. Truman
President during the Cold War, won 1948 election
Douglas MacArthur
General who led United Nations Command in the Korean war, but was removed from title by Truman for his aggression on Chinese
Dean Acheson
US Secretary of State under Truman, helped develop Marshall Plan, NATO, and Truman Doctrine
Joseph McCarthy
Senator from Wisconsin who made accusations that spies infiltrated the State Department
Alger Hiss
Communist spy in the State Department
Julius and Ethel Rosenburg
Husband and wife, American communists who were executed for committing espionage
Strom Thurmond
Southern segregationist who led "Dixiecrat" presidential campaign against Truman in 1948
Henry Wallace
Previous VP for FDR, ran representing democratic-progressive party in 1948 and lost to Truman
Thomas Dewey
Represented 1948 republican party, lost to Truman because he was arrogant and overconfident
Mao Zedong
Communist party leader in China, overcame nationalist party in Chinese civil war in 1950 turning China into a communist country
Chiang Kai-shek
Represented nationalist party in China during the civil war against communism, lost to Mao Zedong, however remained UN representative for China
Benjamin Spock
Physician who provided advice on child rearing to baby-boomers' parents after WWII
Bernard Baruch
Representative to the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission (UNAEC)
Taft-Hartley Act
Made unions liable for damages from disputes and required union leader to take noncommunist oath, also outlawed donation of money to federal election
Gross National Product (GNP)
Is the market value of all products and services produced in one year by labor and property supplied by the residents of a country
suburbia
the "white flight" of middle class citizens to outskirts of town, leaving minorities/poor people in town
Levittowns
Housing neighborhoods that mass-produced housing in the suburbs
Big Three
Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin
United Nations early successes and failings
Successes-helped establish Israel and former colonies gain independence, failures- couldn't ban atomic weapons
Berlin Airlift
USSR blockaded Berlin (which was then split into four zones like Germany was among France, Britain, US, and USSR) to starve allies out, however US airlifted supplies into Berlin until blockade was lifted
Marshall Plan
AKA European Recovery Plan-$12.5 billion to help Europe rebuild, it was strong humanitarian, political, and economic move for United States because European countries used money to buy supplies from American businesses
National Security Act
Reorganized defense system in America; est. Dept. of Defense, and est. the voice of America (radio broadcasts into the USSR spreading noncommunist ideology)
Smith Act
stated it was illegal to promote the overthrow of the US government
HUAC
House Un-American Activities Committee investigated communist activities
What four parties were in 1948 election?
Republican-Dewey
Progressive Democrat-Wallace
States Rights Democrat-Thurmond
Democrat-Truman
Who backed the Progressive Democrat party of 1948
Dissatisfied democrats who believed Truman's treatment of USSR was too harsh
Who backed the "Dixiecrats" or the States Rights Democrat party in 1948
People against Truman's civil rights policies
Who backed Democrat Truman in 1948 election
African Americans/Farmers/Laborers
NSC-68
Report that shaped US foreign policy during the Cold War
38th parallel
The divide between North and South Korea
Satellites
Countries under Soviet rule, "buffer" states to protect Soviets from European advancement
Iron Curtain
Term coined by Winston Churchill addressing join session congress about Soviet rule
Truman Doctrine
$400 million to help Greece/Turkey and other countries trying to eliminate communism in their governments
Describe the accidental president Harry S. Truman
FDR dismissed his VP Wallace, and then later wins new term with Truman as VP, however when FDR dies, Truman becomes president
What were some of the agreements reached at Yalta in February of 1945? Were they carried out?
-Germany zones
-creation of United Nations
-gave Poland, Bulgaria, Romania own governments
-Stalin gained control of Manchuria (and Chinese interest)
Why were postwar relations between the US and USSR so hostile towards one another?
Both had unclear intentions which were threatening to each other. Both were super powers at time. Both had conflicted political/economical ideals
What were the IMF and the World Bank?
IMF(International Monetary Fund)-regulates currency rates
World Bank-promotes economic growth
both created by United States
Why did FDR want create the United Nations before the end of the war?
FDR created UN before end of war while everyone was working together
How did the Allies punish the German leaders after WW2
Nuremburg Trials-gave death and long prison sentences to the German leaders
How was Germany divided after WW2? What about Berlin?
Both were divided into 4 zones. Each zone belonged to either US, Britain, France, or USSR
What was happening to the Soviet section of Germany as well as the Eastern European countries?
They became satellite countries of the USSR
Describe the telegram sent by George Kennan to President Truman regarding Soviet behavior. What did the policy become known as
"containment" Kennan said that the USSR power could be stopped by a "firm and vigilant containment"
What historic phrase was used by Winston Churchill to describe Soviet actions in Eastern Europe?
"An iron curtain has descended across the continent" of Europe
Describe the events that were occurring in Greece and Turkey that led Truman to decisive action
Communist rebels within Greece (whom Britain couldn't keep aiding). If Greece fell to communism, so would Turkey. Also, Stalin wanted control of Turkey's Dardanelles... led to Truman Doctrine
How did the struggle against the Soviets take on a religious aspect?
Protestant, Reinhold Niebuhr, clergyman, gave ideological support for Cold War as good vs. evil
What did Truman do in May of 1948. What was America's interest in the Middle East? What impact did that decision have over the past half-century?
He officially recognized Israel as country. Middle east contained American interest in oil. Since then, Arab relations haven't been strong
What was the US policy after WW2 toward Japan? Who oversaw this? Was it successful?
Institute new democratic constitution, was overseen by General MacArthur. Successful because Japan cooperated to get it over with
What two events happened in 1949 that tilted the world balance against US and its allies?
China became communist and USSR created first atomic bomb
What did President Truman announce after the Soviet bomb testing in 1949? Who was bitterly against it and why?
He ordered production of the hydrogen-bomb which angered scientists who claimed it was too dangerous
Why had the nuclear race reached such a perilous point?
The nuclear weapons handled were so dangerous to everyone that if set off would cause "genocide"
What did the federal govt. start in 1947 to keep communists out of federal work force
"Loyalty program" where employees were asked to take oaths and had background checks before accepted into job
What was the Smith Act and describe what happened in 1949. What supreme court case upheld convictions?
Smith Act-prohibited advocating violent overthrow of government. Dennis vs. US (1951) prosecuted 150 people
Describe events in the Rosenberg case
Husband and wife, were American communists executed in 1953 for espionage
Why was General MacArthur's move north across the 38th parallel a big mistake?
China was brought into the war to take action against US forces
Why was General MacArthur relieved of his duties by Truman?
For insubordination, MacArthur disobeyed Truman's formal orders
What was the sticking point that dragged cease-fire negotiations on until June of 1953 after the Korean war
Peace discussions and prisoner exchanges dragged the negotiations on
Explain why the end of the second world war in 1945 was both a time of joy and anxiety
Joy-allies beat enemies
anxiety-GNP slumped, inflation 33%, labor strikes
How was the economy in the immediate postwar years similar to after WW1
-Labor strikes and employment problems
-inflation
Who was the target of the new Republican controlled Congress after WW2? What did they pass?
Taft-Hartley Act limited union's actions
What public assitance program did Congress pass to help veterans after WW2?
Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill) let returning vets enter education and buy home/farm loans for cheap
In what ways did the explosion of affluence transform society?
Economy shifted from manufacturing to service based, provide more jobs for women
How did standard of living change for Americans during 1950-1970?
Increased, many Americans entered middle class
What group benefited most from postwar prosperity? What ideological problems were posed?
Women-civil and women's rights fought together after the war. However, women now started to struggle between lifestyle staying at home and lifestyle in workforce
What were three major reasons for unprecedented growth in 1950-1970s
1-Cheap fuel
2-Military budgets
3-WW2 ends depression
What does production mean?
Making items for selling (amount of output pet hour of work)
What factors effected productivity during 1950-1970s?
New technology and education of workers
How did agriculture change in the postwar years?
Introduced agribusiness, machinery made agriculture a big business, eliminated small scale family farms
Why did Americans move to the Sunbelt in Southern and Western United States?
Climate, taxes, potential job opportunities
What interesting political fact did Kennedy discuss in our book with regards to the Sunbelt?
Since 1964, every elected president has come from the Sunbelt
What two government policies encouraged the white flight into the suburbs?
The Federal Housing Administration and the Veterans Administration
What innovators made it possible for families to move? Describe how they were built.
Levitt brothers created Levittowns, revolutionized techniques of home building
What consumer purchase was needed for the growing families of the 1950s?
A second car because government created new highways and interstates to drive from suburb to work
What was the huge leap in birthrate called between 1945 and 1960?
Baby boom
What effect did white flight have on cities?
Left minorities/poor people in town and lead to poverty problems and social discrimination
