POST WARLife of the 1950’s

PRESIDENT TRUMAN (1945 – 1953) Yalta to Potsdam: Soviets had

wanted Germany to pay reparations at Yalta. Truman would not allow it at

Potsdam. Reparations will be taken from the

zones. Marshall Plan – giving aid to

Western European Countries threatened with Communism. This is the idea of what

philosophy?

Truman Doctrine - U.S. Will aid a country trying to resist the spread of Communism.

Berlin Airlift – Britain and the U.S. airing supplies to West Berlin.

PRESIDENT EISENHOWER (1952-1961) Military leader who led D-Day. Brinksmanship - U.S. will build up

its air force and the use of weapons. Build up army, navy, air force Air force was to deliver bombs (if

needed) More nuclear missiles.

H-Bomb Advances nuclear technology 1 million tons of TNT – 67 x the

power of what was dropped on Hiroshima.

November 1, 1952: U.S. was the first to test.

U.S.S.R. – tested in 1953.

EISENHOWER Created the CIA (Central

Intelligence Agency)- Covert operations to defend the U.S.

from the spread of Communism. Information abroad. First took place in the Middle East

Iran nationalized its oil. US poured money in to help pro-

American Shah (leader) to control Iran to prevent the country from turning to U.S.S.R.

Eisenhower Doctrine – We will intervene in the Middle East to prevent the spread of Communism. January 1957 A warning.

HUAC AND MCCARTHYISM House Un-American Activities

Committee – investigated Communist influences. Biggest known was their

investigation of the Movie industry in 1947.

Hollywood 10 imprisoned for refusing to testify.

Goal was to hunt down and arrest Communist Leaders.

HUAC led by Joseph McCarthy. Republican from Wisconsin His tactics became known as

McCarthyism – accusing people of disloyalty without evidence.

Had a list, but never produced it, and gave names in Senate (protected from slander).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyBiSk97Hag

IMPACT Civil Rights and Liberties are violated

during McCarthyism. Hollywood blacklist – list of Communist

suspects denied acting and producing jobs. People denied work – Actor Charlie

Chaplin, W.E.B. DuBois, Langston Hughes, Robert Oppenheimer (director of the Manhattan Project).

Hundreds imprisoned, thousands lose their jobs.

Subpoenaed to testify in front of the HUAC

What does this tell you about the time period.

One group of Senators (about 6) led by Margaret Chase Smith of Maine – spoke out against McCarthyism in an attempt to stop the attacks.

ROSENBERGS

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg 1953

Ethel’s brother worked in Los Alamos and charges with giving information to the U.S.S.R.

Convicted of espionage by selling nuclear secrets to the U.S.S.R.

Executed in 1953. Increased fear of Communism.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=B33oE73tPUo

LIFE IN THE US GI Bill – Servicemen’s

Readjustment Act Provided money to veterans to go to

school or get loans. Rise of the suburb – millions of young

families can now buy homes, farms, or establish businesses.

Highway system and Growth of the Suburb Eisenhower sends millions of dollars

to build highways. Cities growing out instead of up. White Flight to the suburbs. Levittown's – first housing

communities. Baby boom – birthrates between the

1940s and 1960s soared.

BABY BOOM

LIFE IN THE US

Franchise begins – Assembly line for food preparation Franchise – a company with similar services in

many locations. McDonalds – most famous

opened in 1940s Became a Franchise in 1955