The Cold War and American Society

1945-1991Unit 10- The Cold WarOrigins of the Cold WarMain Idea The United States and the Soviet Union emerged from WWII as two - superpowers with vastly different political and economic systems that resulted in a bitter rivalry known as the Cold War.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpYCplyBknI

Former Allies ClashUSSRCommunist economic system = the state controlled all property and economic activityTotalitarian government = Communist party controlled the government with no opposition political partiesLed by Joseph Stalin during and after WWII

Free market economic system (Capitalism) = private citizens controlled almost all economic activityDemocratic political institutions = private citizens vote on leaders from competing political partiesLed by President Harry Truman during and after WWII

United Nations50 nations (INCLUDING U.S.)Goals:1.Prevent war2.Promote international cooperation3.End hunger and disease4.Improve educationInitial success:Created Israel and preserve peace in the Middle EastFailure- to control the use/build up of nuclear weapons

Eastern EuropeThe Soviets faced a lot of death in WWII and for that they justified their claims to Eastern Europe.Felt they could stop future invasions from the westStalin installed communist governments in Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and PolandCalled satellite nationsEurope was now divided into two political regionsWinston Churchill of Britain made a speech creating the phrase iron curtain, which stood for the division of Europe.

The Iron Curtain

Activity Post-WWII GermanyPost-WWII Germany was divided into West Germany and East Germany.West Germanyunder the control of western nations, eventually became democratic and resumed self-government after a few years of U.S., British, and French occupation.East Germanyunder control of the Soviet Union, did not develop democratic institutions.

U.S. Reactions To The Cold War and CommunismTruman DoctrineContainment of communismGuiding principle of American foreign policy throughout the Cold War.Didnt want to roll it back but wanted to keep it from spreading and to resist communist aggression into other countries.Truman asks Congress for $400 million in military aid for Greece and Turkey to fight communism.Created alliances- most famous being NATO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyoviiavusk

NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Formed as a defense alliance among the US and western European countries (12 nations in total) to prevent a Soviet invasion of Western European attack on one is an attack on allSoviet allies in the eastern Europe formed the Warsaw PactFor nearly 50 years both sides maintained large military forces facing each other in Europe

Marshall PlanThe Marshall Plan- the U.S. provided the nations of western Europe with massive financial aid ($13 billion) after WWII to rebuild their economies and prevent the spread of communism.Significance it worked and increased future trade with western European nations

Berlin AirliftRemember, Berlin is split but is located right in the middle of USSR territory.1948- Stalin attempted to push the U.S., Great Britain and France out of Berlin by blocking rail and road traffic in and out.Thought West Berlin would suffer from lack of supplies and eventually get absorbed into USSR.U.S. Air Force supplied West Berlin by air for a year forcing an end to the blockade.Later, the USSR built a wall around West Berlin.Prevent a U.S. invasion of East Germany and to separate E. and W. Germanyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH-GVf9floo

The Arms RaceRace between the U.S. and USSR to be militarily superior to the other.U.S. was ahead from the start due to knowledge base and materials obtained.1949: Soviet Union detonated its first nuclear weapon1952: U.S. tests H-Bomb (Thermo-Nuclear Bomb)USSR tested one in 19531954: Castle Bravo H-Bomb test at Bikini Atoll in Pacific Both built up a stockpile of Inter-continental ballistic missiles that the H-Bombs could be put intostarts in 1957.

The Cold War Heats UpCommunist takeover in China!Revolution in 1949: Nationalists v. CommunistsCommunists win- Mao ZedongIncreased American fears of communist domination of most of the world.The communist nations of China and the Soviet Union eventually became rivals for territory and diplomatic influence.

Korean WarBackground: At the end of WWII, Korea was split into a pro-communist North Korea and a pro-democratic South Korea along the 38th parallel line.North Korean forces attacked South Korea in 1950 = Korean War

Both the U.S. and the USSR wanted to establish Korea in their likeness- Korea Split- North Korea (communist) vs. South Korea (democratic) American involvement in the early 1950s reflected the American policy of containment of communism.Communist North Korea invaded South Korea.American forces led a counterattack that drove deep into North Korea.Communist Chinese forces came into the war on the side of North Korea and threatened to widen the war.It eventually ended in a stalemate with South Korea free of communist occupation.In the end, Korea remained split U.S. achieved its goal of containing communism.

Effects of the Korean War34,000 Americans killed, 103,000 woundedContainment of communism had occurred without a nuclear warFirst war in which whites and African Americans served in the same unitsWar led to a huge increase in military spending (mobilized troops around the world)Helped shape future U.S. policy in Asia (Japan)Created a tiff between Communist China and the U.S.http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war/videos#sherman-pratt-survives-the-korean-war

The Cold War at HomeMain Idea The fear of communism and the threat of nuclear war affected American life throughout the Cold War. The Cold War made foreign policy a major issue in every presidential election during the period.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07buRRJ6s4k

Fear and ParanoiaThe Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and the Communist take over in China fueled a fear that communism would spread around the world and to the U.S.At the height of WWII, about 80,000 Americans claimed membership in the Communist PartyPeople thought they had loyalty to USSRLoyalty Review Board- set up to investigate government employees and dismiss those found to be disloyal to the USList of 91 subversive organizations was formed- membership in these groups were grounds for suspicion

HUACHouse Un-American Activities CommitteeInvestigated Communist influence in the movie industryBelieved the Communists were sneaking propaganda into filmsHollywood Ten- group of actors that refused to testify- sent to prisonHollywood execs issued a blacklist- list of people condemned for having communist backgroundActors, writers, producers and directors (about 500 in total)

Soviet SpiesAlger Hiss(1948) former State Department official who was accused of spying for the Soviet UnionConvicted of perjury and sent to jail due to the efforts of Richard NixonSignificanceincreased fears of communism in the U.S.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg- accused of spying for the USSR.When the USSR exploded their atomic bomb quickly, people thought that they were spying on the USThe Rosenbergs were activist in the American Communist PartyDenied the charges and said they were being persecuted b/c they were Jewish Found guilty of espionage and sentenced to death

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-6BfCbrvuM

McCarthyismRepublican from WisconsinTook advantage of peoples concerns about communismRecklessly accused many American government officials and citizens of being communistBased these accusations on flimsy or no evidenceLed to the term McCarthyism- making of false accusations based on rumor or guilt by association1954, McCarthy made accusations against the Us Army which resulted in a nationally televised Senate investigationMcCarthy bullied the witnesses and alienated the audience

McCarthy eventually became chairman of the Senate subcommittee on investigations.Using his new found power he forced government officials to testify about alleged Communist influences. He never had any credible evidence to support his theories.His tactic of damaging reputations with vague and unfounded charges became known as McCarthyism.After a six week televised Army-McCarthy hearings involving the investigation of U.S. Army officials, America had enough. Threat of Nuclear WarThe fear of communism and the threat of nuclear war affected American life throughout the Cold War.U.S. developed the Hydrogen bomb- more powerful than atomic bombUSSR developed one too!!U.S. encouraged math and science programs in schools in order to get ahead of the Soviets.During the 1950s and 1960s American schools regularly held drills to train children what to do in case of nuclear attacksduck and coverAmerican citizens were urged by the government to build bomb shelters in their basements.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw60

Fallout Shelters (Nuclear Attack)

Massive RetaliationPresident Eisenhowers policy to deter any nuclear strike by the Soviets.Based on the idea that the threat of a nuclear war would destroy both countries.

http://www.history.com/topics/john-f-kennedy/videos#john-f-kennedy

Kennedy and the Cold War

Space Race1957- the USSR launched Sputnik 1- satellitePeople thought it was used to either spy on the US or launch missiles at the USApril 12, 1961- Soviet cosmonauts went into spacePresident Kennedy saw this as a challenge and set out to send a man to the moonJuly 20, 1969- Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moonUniversities expanded their science programs

http://www.history.com/topics/space-race/videos#the-space-race

The Cold War in VirginiaThe heavy military expenditures throughout the Cold War benefited Virginias economy proportionately more than any other state.Hampton Roads was home to several large naval and air bases.Northern Virginia- home to the Pentagon and numerous private companies that contracted with the military.

Election of 1960Election of 1960-John F. Kennedy (Democrat) defeated Richard Nixon (Republican)Importance of television first televised debates favored KennedyKennedy looked and sounded better on TV than Nixon did (Nixon looked like a sinister chipmunk according to one viewer)

In President Kennedys inaugural address he pledged that the U.S. would pay any price, bear any burden , meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

Famous line of speech: Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s6U8GActdQ

Crises Over CubaFidel Castro, a communist, led the Cuban Revolution and took over the government in Cuba in 1959Castro relied on support and aid from the Soviet UnionMany Cubans fled to Florida

Bay of Pigs Invasion1961 failed invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles that had been trained by the CIA.Wanted to overthrow Castro and his communist regimeSignificance-Kennedy accepted blame for the failure humiliating defeat for the U.S.

Cuban Missile Crisis(1962) 2 week crisis over offensive nuclear missiles in CubaNikita Khrushchev (Soviet Unions leader) gave Castro nuclear missilesU.S. spy planes (U2) photographed missiles, Kennedy demanded they be removedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S3HHkSA3z0

U.S. and U.S.S.R. were on the brink of nuclear warNaval confrontation resulted in U.S.S.R. backing downDean Rusk (Sec. of State) said We are eyeball to eyeball, and the other fellow just blinked.Resolution = U.S.S.R. removed the missiles in exchange for U.S. pledge not to invade Cuba

Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 in Dallas, Texas, by Lee Harvey Oswald.This event shook the nations confidence and began a period of internal strife and divisiveness.Fueled the division over U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-LA0ypFXig