United States v. Soviet Union

United States v. Soviet UnionUnited States v. Soviet Union

• CapitalismCapitalism– Private ownership of Private ownership of

industryindustry– Freedom of Freedom of

competitioncompetition– Survival of the fittestSurvival of the fittest– Laissez-faire: Laissez-faire:

government keeps government keeps “hands off”“hands off”

– Creates different Creates different economic classeseconomic classes

• SocialismSocialism– Government Government

ownership of ownership of industryindustry

– Created as reaction Created as reaction to capitalismto capitalism

– Goal is to bring Goal is to bring economic equality to economic equality to peoplepeople

– Classless societyClassless society


• DemocracyDemocracy– Government by Government by

the peoplethe people– Two forms:Two forms:

• Representative Representative • DirectDirect

• TotalitarianismTotalitarianism– Government by one Government by one

or a fewor a few– Total control over Total control over

any aspects of any aspects of people’s livespeople’s lives

– No freedom of press No freedom of press or speechor speech


• FreedomFreedom– The condition of The condition of

being freebeing free– Highly valued:Highly valued:

• Freedom of the Freedom of the presspress

• Freedom of Freedom of speechspeech

• Freedom to do Freedom to do businessbusiness

• EqualityEquality– Condition of Condition of

being equalbeing equal– Highly valued: Highly valued:

basic needs—basic needs—food, housing, food, housing, education, and education, and jobs—supplied jobs—supplied for all peoplefor all people


• IndividualismIndividualism– Stresses the need Stresses the need

for people to do for people to do things on their things on their ownown

– Competition; the Competition; the best individuals best individuals reach higher reach higher levels of power, levels of power, status, or moneystatus, or money

• Collectivism Collectivism – Stresses the need Stresses the need

for people to work for people to work together to together to benefit the wholebenefit the whole

– ““all for one, and all for one, and one for all”one for all”

Beginning of the Cold WarBeginning of the Cold War

HealingHealing the Wounds of Warthe Wounds of War

Life in America after WWIILife in America after WWII

• During the war, factories had worked During the war, factories had worked overtime to supply the Allied forces.overtime to supply the Allied forces.

• Now the orders for tanks, planes, ships Now the orders for tanks, planes, ships and weapons dropped sharply. Some and weapons dropped sharply. Some predicted that this would lead to predicted that this would lead to economic trouble.economic trouble.

• 12 million men and women serving in 12 million men and women serving in the armed forces at the end of the war the armed forces at the end of the war were returning to civilian life. were returning to civilian life.

• These veterans were looking for jobs, These veterans were looking for jobs, but they were often not available. but they were often not available.

• Also, many women workers were Also, many women workers were pressured to leave their jobs so that the pressured to leave their jobs so that the male veterans could take their place.male veterans could take their place.

The GI BillThe GI Bill

• Began before WWII ended in June 1944, FDR Began before WWII ended in June 1944, FDR signed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act signed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944. of 1944.

• This Act became known as the GI BillThis Act became known as the GI Bill• Different from WWI government promise of Different from WWI government promise of

financial bonuses for vets. Provided financial bonuses for vets. Provided immediate benefits.immediate benefits.

• GI stood for “government issue”GI stood for “government issue”– A nickname for members of the armed forcesA nickname for members of the armed forces

• The Bill was aimed at helping veterans The Bill was aimed at helping veterans make a smooth entry into civilian life.make a smooth entry into civilian life.– Provided money for veterans to attend Provided money for veterans to attend

college or receive advanced job training.college or receive advanced job training.– Arranged for loans for homes, farms, or Arranged for loans for homes, farms, or

businesses.businesses.– Provided help in finding work as well as a Provided help in finding work as well as a

year’s worth of unemployment benefits for year’s worth of unemployment benefits for those who could not find work.those who could not find work.

Increase in demandIncrease in demand

• After the war, demand for consumer good After the war, demand for consumer good rose sharply.rose sharply.

• People who had delayed purchasing during People who had delayed purchasing during the war now decided to buy.the war now decided to buy.

• Demand for houses, furniture, and Demand for houses, furniture, and appliances increased.appliances increased.

• Family size also increased.Family size also increased.• The two decades following WWII marked the The two decades following WWII marked the

beginning of the “baby boom,” a dramatic beginning of the “baby boom,” a dramatic rise in the birthrate.rise in the birthrate.

Labor UnionsLabor Unions

• After the war, labor unions began seeking the After the war, labor unions began seeking the increases in wages that had been limited increases in wages that had been limited during the war.during the war.

• 1946—the number of strikes rose.1946—the number of strikes rose.• 1947—Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act 1947—Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act

despite President Truman’s veto.despite President Truman’s veto.– Reduced the power of labor unions.Reduced the power of labor unions.– President able to stop strikes when national President able to stop strikes when national

interest was at stake.interest was at stake.

Racial minorities after WWIIRacial minorities after WWII

• Executive Order Executive Order 9981—passed by 9981—passed by Truman in June Truman in June 1948. This ended 1948. This ended segregation in the segregation in the U.S. armed forces.U.S. armed forces.

Politics in Postwar AmericaPolitics in Postwar America

• 1946 Congressional elections1946 Congressional elections– During the war, govt. had acted to keep prices During the war, govt. had acted to keep prices

low. After the war, prices shot up as a result and low. After the war, prices shot up as a result and Truman was blamed.Truman was blamed.

– Elections were a disaster for the Democrats. Elections were a disaster for the Democrats. Republicans gained became the majority in Republicans gained became the majority in Congress for the first time since 1930.Congress for the first time since 1930.

– Republicans fought against Truman and he had a Republicans fought against Truman and he had a difficult time putting in place his own programs. difficult time putting in place his own programs. Exception: the Marshall Plan.Exception: the Marshall Plan.

President President TrumanTruman

• 1948 Presidential election. 1948 Presidential election. – Truman appeared to be in trouble. Popularity Truman appeared to be in trouble. Popularity

extremely low (among voters and many fellow extremely low (among voters and many fellow Democrats).Democrats).

– Seemed that he was certainly lose to the Seemed that he was certainly lose to the Republican candidate Governor Thomas Dewey Republican candidate Governor Thomas Dewey from NY.from NY.

– One of the most surprising elections in U.S. One of the most surprising elections in U.S. history.history.

– Truman now felt confident enough to introduce Truman now felt confident enough to introduce his Fair Deal program.his Fair Deal program.

Trying to Build a Better WorldTrying to Build a Better World• New desire to understand New desire to understand

and prevent the causes of and prevent the causes of war.war.

• United Nations (UN) was United Nations (UN) was established at the end of the established at the end of the war.war.– Member nations agreed to live Member nations agreed to live

in peace and to unite to in peace and to unite to maintain security.maintain security.

– Force would only be used to Force would only be used to serve the common interests of serve the common interests of the membership.the membership.

• Human rightsHuman rights

• Universal Declaration of Human RightsUniversal Declaration of Human Rights– Called for an end to slavery, torture, and Called for an end to slavery, torture, and

inhumane punishment.inhumane punishment.– Demanded a variety of civil rights, Demanded a variety of civil rights,

including the right to assembly and access including the right to assembly and access to the courts.to the courts.

– Stated that elementary school should be Stated that elementary school should be free and available to all.free and available to all.

• Trade and economic developmentTrade and economic development– World Bank: aimed to help poor countries World Bank: aimed to help poor countries

build their economies.build their economies.– International Monetary Fund (IMF): International Monetary Fund (IMF):

designed to encourage economic policies designed to encourage economic policies that promoted international trade.that promoted international trade.

– General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT): reduce barriers on trade(GATT): reduce barriers on trade

The Second The Second Red ScareRed Scare

Growing Fear of CommunismGrowing Fear of Communism

• By 1949, two events added to the By 1949, two events added to the nation’s growing anxietynation’s growing anxiety– The discovery of the Soviet’s possession The discovery of the Soviet’s possession

of an atomic weapon.of an atomic weapon.– The news that Communists had gained The news that Communists had gained

control of China—the most populous control of China—the most populous country in the world.country in the world.

Fighting the Spread of Fighting the Spread of Communism at HomeCommunism at Home

• House Un-American Activities House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC): Began in the Committee (HUAC): Began in the 1930s; the original purpose was to 1930s; the original purpose was to investigate the full range of radical investigate the full range of radical groups in the U.S. including: Fascists groups in the U.S. including: Fascists and Communists.and Communists.

• Over time, focused only on the threat of Over time, focused only on the threat of Communism.Communism.

• Hollywood TenHollywood Ten– A famous HUAC investigation that began in A famous HUAC investigation that began in

1947 that was intended to explore possible 1947 that was intended to explore possible Communist influence in the American film Communist influence in the American film industry. The names of Hollywood writers and industry. The names of Hollywood writers and directors who were on the list and refused to directors who were on the list and refused to answer questions about their beliefs or those answer questions about their beliefs or those of their colleagues.of their colleagues.

– As a result, the Hollywood Ten were found As a result, the Hollywood Ten were found guilty of contempt of Congress and were guilty of contempt of Congress and were sentenced to a year in jail.sentenced to a year in jail.

• Truman’s policyTruman’s policy– Created a new plan that investigated all Created a new plan that investigated all

federal employees.federal employees.– Those who were “disloyal to the United Those who were “disloyal to the United

States” could be barred from federal States” could be barred from federal employment.employment.

– Over 3 million people were investigatedOver 3 million people were investigated– A few thousand resigned A few thousand resigned – About 200 people were judged to be About 200 people were judged to be

disloyaldisloyal

• The Smith ActThe Smith Act– 1940 law that made it a crime to call for the 1940 law that made it a crime to call for the

overthrow of the U.S. government or overthrow of the U.S. government or belong to an organization that did so.belong to an organization that did so.

• The McCarran ActThe McCarran Act– Required Communist organizations to Required Communist organizations to

register with the government and register with the government and established a special board to investigate established a special board to investigate Communist involvement.Communist involvement.

– Made it illegal to plan for a creation of a Made it illegal to plan for a creation of a totalitarian dictatorship and prevented totalitarian dictatorship and prevented Communists or other radicals from Communists or other radicals from entering the U.S.entering the U.S.

Senator Joseph McCarthySenator Joseph McCarthy

• On February 9On February 9thth 1950, McCarthy visited 1950, McCarthy visited Wheeling, WV and delivered a speech Wheeling, WV and delivered a speech on the dangers of Communism. on the dangers of Communism.

• In the speech, he claimed that there In the speech, he claimed that there were 205 known Communists working were 205 known Communists working for the U.S. Department of State.for the U.S. Department of State.

• He never produced this list and the He never produced this list and the Senate committee found no evidence of Senate committee found no evidence of Communists in the State Department.Communists in the State Department.

• McCarthy’s claims frightened many McCarthy’s claims frightened many Americans despite the lack of evidence Americans despite the lack of evidence and they felt he was on the right track.and they felt he was on the right track.

• Continued to make charges against Continued to make charges against people without any evidence.people without any evidence.

• One critic called McCarthy’s tactic of One critic called McCarthy’s tactic of spreading fear and making baseless spreading fear and making baseless charges “McCarthyism”charges “McCarthyism”

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United States v. Soviet Union