Confrontation and competition 

between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. 

is about

Causes 

Ideology: Capitalism  vs. Communism 

Economic: Marshall Plan 

Security 

American Society 

Red Scare

A‐Bomb

Berlin Airlift 

and how it affected

China 

Korean War 

Bay of Pigs 

Vocab ‐ Define and illustrate the meaning of each word.CW #1: 1. Peace 2. Prosperity 3. Progress 4. Cold War 5. Capitalism 6. Communism 7. Iron Curtain 8. Containment 9. Truman Doctrine 10. Marshall Plan 

CW #3: 1. Berlin Crisis 2. Satellite nations 3. Cease‐fire 4. Armistice 5. Domino theory 6. Paranoia 7. McCarthyism  8. Segregation  9. Consumerism 10. Quarantine 

CW #5: 1. GI Bill 2. Federal Highway Act 3. White‐Collar 4. Conformity  5. Suburbia 6. Baby Boom 7. Medical Miracles 8. Rise of Television  9. Youth Culture 10. Rock ’n’ Roll 

Paragraph Quiz ‐Write a 6 sentence paragraph using your own words. (use correct format)      CW #2:  Were the 1950s a time of great peace, progress and prosperity for Americans? CW #4:  Was containment an effective policy to stop communist expansion? CW #6:  Should Pres. Kennedy have risked nuclear war to remove missiles from Cuba? 

Unit 7: The 1950’s & Cold War  Standard: 11.8 & 11.9  

#2: Shade concept map using colored pencils. 

reacts to

Conflicts 

 

Big Idea: When World War  II  ended  in  1945,  the  United  States  emerged  as  a  superpower. However, America’s rivalry with the Soviet Union began a new era known as the Cold War.  The  USA  used  economic  aid,  formed  military  alliances,  built  up  nuclear weaponry,  and  fought  proxy wars  in  an  attempt  to  contain  the  growing  spread  of communism in Europe and across the globe. At home, the post‐war economy boomed and the U.S. standard of living increased. In the 1950s, America experienced surge in consumer spending, a baby boom, growth in suburbs, an independent youth culture, the emergence of  rock  ‘n’  roll and TV. New  foreign policy events  such as  the Berlin Crisis, Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis and Latin America escalate Cold War tensions. #1: Rewrite this paragraph in your own words using 75 words or less. 

Iron Curtain 

Germany divided 

NATO/SEATO 

Containment/ Domino Theory 

Technology

Sputnik Space 

Program 

Interstates 

Cuban Missile Crisis 

Vietnam (Unit 9) 

MAD 

shelters 

McCarthy 

Rosenbergs 

Hiss 

UNIT 7: The 1950’s and Cold War #3: Theme: Power may be used and abused; Change generates additional change. 

Task #1: Read and highlight important/meaningful facts/major points.  Task #2: Write 7 notes, questions and/or comments from your highlights. 

 The 1950s was a time of perceived consensus and congeniality, with numerous challenges and

conflicts brewing right under the surface. There was great prosperity after WWII as Americans cashed in on their war bonds, veterans went to college under the GI bill, and middle class women returned to the home to make babies and cookies. However, many people had strong critiques of American society and tried to challenge the suburban, Leave it to Beaver, happy family perception of America. By the way, the “50’s” lasts from 1945-1963. Check this article out from 1955…

US AGAINST THEM – GOOD AGAINST EVIL – USA AGAINST USSR

The Cold War pitted the “free” world against the grip of communism. Every aspect of American foreign policy and domestic politics from the end of WWII until the fall of the USSR in 1991 revolved around this conflict. America led the crusade against communism, aided by the free “bloc” of Western Europe. The conflict was most intense during the 1950s and 60s. By the 70s and 80s it had relaxed a bit, though various politicians and propagandists fanned the flames when it suited their needs.

The Cold War, named such because it never turned into a shooting or “hot” war, precipitated large amounts of propaganda. Both sides tried to demonize the other. It also sparked various races between the USA and USSR – the space race, the arms race, etc. And, occasionally, it caused wars in other areas of the world (Korea, Afghanistan, and Vietnam).

Throughout this unit follow the Cold War and notice how it affected not only foreign policy but also domestic politics. Politicians were made or broken by their reputation as a Cold Warrior. Notice how politicians tried to pitch themselves as “tough on communism”. Notice also how society reacted to the Cold War and perceived (or real?) communist threat. It was a large factor in developing the atmosphere of … fear.

1950s Politics and Prosperity Economic Legacy of WWII

Great Depression is _______ Full _________________during the war Americans __________ money during the war years (_____________ and limited ____________ goods) New types of ___________________ emerged post-WWII

o More men going to _________ + ______________ = growth in ______________ workers and __________ industry… ___________________________________.

Americans were ____________ to pursue the _____________________ they had _________________for during the Depression and WWII

The American Dream… Americans wanted that “Dream” by ___________________ (to conform) by getting married, having babies, and buying

that _______________ home. Suburbia: Expanding families search for the American Dream

1. Baby Boom (1946 – 1964) created the _______________________________________________

2. GI Bill of Rights Provided free _____________ and__________ to buy houses

3. Levittowns ______________________ in the suburbs developed by William J. Levitt Average American could _________ homes A whole new society was ____________ into the ___________________.

4. The Automobile Dependence on car to get to _________ Led to new ______________ (federal/interstate highways, gas stations, repair shops, parts stores,

___________________ & restaurants) 5. Teen Consumers

Teens became a _____________ part of population due to baby boom – word _____________ enters American vocabulary

Teens contributed in the ______________economy Companies used _________________ to appeal specifically to teens

Prosperity for All? While new suburbs grew, housing in _________ rapidly declined, with existing structures ________________

(primarily home to most __________ groups) Dependence upon car for wealthy led to the decline of _____________ (primarily ________ & _____________

affected because they cannot afford cars) Women & other minorities were forced _______ into ______ paying jobs or were ____________ entirely with

returning soldiers Politics: Truman (1945-53) and Eisenhower (1953-61) President Harry Truman (Democrat)

Attempted to continue FDRs economic policies in post-war years with the __________________. Republican’s feared Democratic control (__________________________________________)

o Example: Successes: 1. 2.

President Eisenhower (Republican) Former commander of Allied forces (___________________________) Introduced “Modern Republicanism” 1. 2. Domestic Policies 1. 2.

Money to increase science and math education to compete with the USSR in the Arms & Space Race Cold War: Political, Economic, & Military competition between the U.S. & U.S.S.R.

Began a new era, The Cold War

o o

o

Democracy vs. Communism Who would be the #1 World Power?

Best Years-Post WWII Era 1. What does Churchill warn the world about in Missouri in 1946? How is it received in the USSR? 

2. What was the situation for American GI’s after WWII? What was the GI Bill? 

3. Explain the transformation of the American economy between 1945‐1947. 

4. What is Levittown and why is it important for America’s middle class? 

5. What was the baby boom and how do women’s roles change? 

6. What situation did Black veterans confront after WWII? How does President Truman respond? 

7. Who is Jackie Robinson and why is he significant for baseball and America itself? 

8. What is America’s place in the world and how did Americans feel about themselves after the war? 

9. What is the Marshal Plan and what did the U.S. fear would happen without aide? 

10. What does Stalin do to try and get the U.S. out of West Berlin? How does the U.S. respond? 

11. What happens in China in 1949 that shocks America? 

12. Why does the U.S. send troops to Korea in 1950? What other nations also had troops there? 

13. How did the American people view the Korean War? 

14. Who is Joseph McCarthy and why was he able to do what he did? How was Hollywood involved? 

15. Why does President Truman fire General MacArthur? 

16. What was the hydrogen bomb and why did it signal a new age in the Cold War? 

17. What impact does television have on politics and society?  

Wrap‐up: What did you find interesting, entertaining, disturbing, and/or upsetting in the video, explain? (2‐3 sent.) 

France  Spain  Atlantic Ocean USSR  Turkey  Mediterranean Sea Poland  Finland  Black Sea Italy  Iceland  North Sea Portugal  Switzerland  Baltic Sea East Germany  Hungary  English Channel Belgium  Bulgaria  Adriatic Sea Sweden  Greece  Berlin West Germany  Luxembourg  London Yugoslavia  Norway  Rome United Kingdom  Romania  Moscow Ireland  Netherlands  Paris Czechoslovakia  Denmark   Austria  Albania   

   Mapping the Cold War‐Europe1. Using your textbook, label the countries, bodies of water and cities (dot) below.                                

Use pages 631 and 635. 

      2.    Create a map key for the following and shade each one on your map a different color   

NATO countries   Warsaw Pact countries   Communist nations not part of the Warsaw Pact   Non‐Communist nations not part of NATO   “Iron Curtain”  (red)  Bodies of water (blue)  The Marshall Plan (use symbol) 

 

 Mapping the Cold War‐Southeast Asia: Korea and Vietnam  

 A.  Use the map on page 638 (Korea) 801 and 774 (Vietnam) in the your textbook.        B.  Label neatly.  C.  Color in countries of different colors. D.  Use a dot for cities.  1.  Inchon  2.  Ho Chi Minh Trail  3.  China 4.  Yalu River 5.  Thailand  6.  Hanoi  7.  North Korea 8.  (DMZ) Demilitarized Zone 9.  Haiphong 10.  Seoul 

11.  Phnom Penh 12.  Saigon 13.         Mekong River  14.  South China Sea 15.  North Vietnam 16.  South Korea 17.  Da Nang 18.         Laos 19.         Gulf of Tonkin 20.         Mekong River Delta 

21.         South Vietnam 22.         Cambodia 23.         Burma 24.         Dien Bien Phu 25.         Pusan 26.         Philippines 27.         17th parallel 28.         38th parallel

 

 

Cold War Europe 1945

S.E. Asia Map

Cold War Basics 

From the post war era came decades of tension between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. 

As WWII came to a close, the alliance between the U.S and U.S.S.R began to disintegrate. Why? 

No longer allied by having a ___________________  Each side felt ______________ by actions during WWII 

o American use of _________________ o US did not help fight on ___________________ o USSR did not help fight against ___________ 

U.S. create political and economic alliances with democratic nations (_____________________) in Europe as soon as WWII ended 

USSR forced ___________________________________ upon countries in Eastern Europe when war ended. _________________________________________. 

Cold War “1945 – 1991” 

War fought ________________ (cold) between 2 superpowers (U.S. and U.S.S.R) over _________________________________________________________ 

Conflicts were fought through ______________ or dependent countries (ex: ______________ & ________________) 

War of ______________ ‐ _________________ vs _________________  The U.S. ____________ with other democratic or “western” nations  The USSR ____________ with communist or “eastern” nations  ______________  & _____________ policy for both the US and USSR was dictated by this tension.  War of ________________ (political/economic)  __________________ to see what ideology would _______________ the world – who would have a 

larger _______________________________________  Battlefields were __________________________________ called __________________ 

Both the U.S. and Soviet Union engaged in actions and decisions that contributed to the ongoing tension that 

lasted nearly 50 years 

                           The world was divided into East vs. West 

           East =  

          West =  

                                                                             ie:  

 

There are four major categories of competition: 

Military Battles – use of _____________________________ to spread ideology  Political Battles – attempt to __________________________________ to other countries  Economic – use of _____________ to influence other countries  Technological – develop new ___________________ to prove superiority of a nation 

Question: Why couldn’t the two nations co‐exist peacefully? 

 

 

Overview of the Korean War

Korea was a ___________________ colony during WWII When Japan lost the war, ______________ and ______________ troops ________________

Korea The Russians and Americans decided that Korea should be ________________ at the ______ parallel

in 1945 Puppet Governments: What is a puppet government?

The U.S. administered the ___________ and put an _______________________, pro-American ____________ in ____________.

The USSR administered the ______________ and put a ______________ leader in charge. Russian and Americans _____________ troops from this area in 1948 & 1949. Both Northern and Southern leaders wanted to _____________ the country – but with

____________ types of ________________. Kim Il Sung (___________________________) understood that to resolve the problem of unifying

the two Koreas was very difficult – that he would need help. Of course the help he was hoping to get would come from the ________________.

Attack:

1950 – North Korea ___________ South Korea with 90,000 troops equipped with ___________ weapons and __________.

Afraid that Korea would fall to ______________ like _______, the U.S. began to rush in __________.

The U.S. brought the Korean situation up with the ________... o The Russians were _____________ the U.N. so the U.S. convinced the UN to authorize a

“____________________” to help the South Koreans. o About _______ of the troops were ____________.

Why American Involvement?:

President Truman: “Korea is a small country, thousands of miles away. But what is happening there is important to every American. The fact that communist forces have invaded Korea is a _____________ that there may be similar acts of _________ in other _______ of the world.”

The U.S. led UN forces pushed the ___________________ back to the _____ parallel and then kept

going. They pushed all to the border of __________.

After several more years of _____________ fighting ______ and forth, a cease _______ was signed.

Signed in _______, it declared the ______ parallel once again as the ________ between the two

countries. Significance:

The Second Red Scare Definition:

___________ of communism ________________ around the world

and becoming the _______ ____________ form of government –

eventually leading to the ______ of ____________ in the United States.

Why the Fear? According to Senator McCarthy: Other Reasons: Results:

Americans were _________________________________ to prevent the ___________ of

____________________

both at _________ and ______________.

Government Reactions: 1. 2. 3.

Handout: Read the Introduction Loyalty Review Boards Read & Answer Questions:

1. What were these boards? 2. When were they established? 3. By whom? 4. Who would be investigated? 5. What were the “conditions of disloyalty?”

House Un-American Activities Committee Read & Answer Questions:

1. What was HUAC? 2. Who did they investigate?

3. Why would the government care about communists in Hollywood?

4. How would you describe the HUAC “trials?”

National Security Act Read & Answer Questions:

1. What did the 1947 National Security Act create? 2. What was the job of the CIA?

3. How did the CIA “protect” Americans from communism?

Effect

Americans experienced widespread _________ of a __________________takeover. Question:

Was the fear of communism (______________________) based upon:

valid threats to American ______________?

OR irrational ________________?

Society & Culture of the 1950s The 1950s was an era of __________________. 

Def: _________________________________________  Americans were encouraged to ____________to traditional American ________________.      ___________, ___________, and ____________were NOT encouraged  However, _____________________struggled to conform to ___________, ________________ culture.  The _________, rise of __________, rise in _____________ further developed this new American culture.  

And __________________ rebellion could only __________ for so long! Minorities in the 1950s Chinese Americans: 

Many ________ limiting the rights of Chinese Americans were ____________ lifted.  ___________ increased, and a Chinese‐American _____________ emerged  Most Chinese‐Americans chose to ____________ into American society 

Native Americans:  The government stopped supported Indian ________________  Led to a loss of ___________ and _________________ of many Native Americans  The __________________ for Native Americans dropped  Native Americans had a hard time adjusting to life in _______________ America 

Japanese Americans:  Following _________________ most had to ___________ their lives ___________  Ongoing _____________________ made it difficult to find __________ and __________.  Most took jobs in _________________ 

Mexican Americans:  During WWII U.S. government created the __________________  Most Mexican Americans lived in ________________  Faced discrimination in _____________________________________  In mid 1950s, government began __________________ 

o   o  African Americans: South: North: 

Segregation was _____________ but still ____________  Blacks faced discrimination in ______________ & _________ opportunities  White neighbors would not _________ or _________ to African Americans  Black ___________ was more than ____________ White unemployment  Blacks earned _________ of what white workers earned 

Civil Rights Movement Begins     

Women in the 1950s  __________ promoted the idea that a woman’s job was only in the ___________  Women were expected to only be ___________ & ____________  By late 1950s nearly _________ of young women in college ____________ out before graduating  In reality many ___________ women worked (about 39% of women with school age children worked)  Those who worked outside the home earned significantly ___________ then men and primarily worked in 

_____________ or _____________. Teenagers & Pop Culture 

Teens as _________________ had a major influence on ______________  Many teens continued the trend of ____________ (watched mainstream ________ shows like ________________ 

and __________________; listened to pop music on _________________________)  While others began to challenge conformity (began to listen to ________________ and go to movies like 

____________________).  The Beat Movement 

o A small _______________ of youth emerged o Supported ___________________ and __________________ o Inspired various art forms o Became the ____________________ for the 1960s ________________________ movements 

 The ___________ generation is about to _______________ American society – __________________the ___________ 

generation and their societal ______________. 

 Happy Days-1950’s 1. What type of America did Eisenhower wish to return to? What does Eisenhower get the U.S. out of? 

2. How had the nature of work changed in America? What type of jobs were preferred? 

3. What were women’s roles in society an in the workplace? What role does marriage play in American society? 

4. Where are Americans living in the 1950s? Describe life there! 

5. What was driving America’s economy in the 1950s? What does the term “keeping up with the Jones’s” mean? 

6. What impact does television have on American culture? American business? 

7. What types of things were threatening the status quo in the 1950s? Why? 

8. Why were people attracted to Rock‐n‐roll? Why did Rock music & Elvis Presley offend many adults? 

9. What was the situation for black Americans in the 1950s? 

10. How did MLK and the blacks of Montgomery react to the arrest of Rosa Parks? How did they resist? 

11. What was being attempted in Little Rock and why? 

12. How do the whites of Little Rock react? 

13. How is the desegregation of Central High School achieved? How is it viewed in the black community? 

14. How did American’s view of the automobile change in the 1950s? What impact does its popularity have on America? 

15. What weapons was being tested in the 1950s? How? Why? 

16. What impact does Sputnik have on America psychologically and practically? 

17. How does the word “conformity” fit the 1950s?  

Wrap‐up: What did you find interesting, entertaining, disturbing, and/or upsetting in the video, explain? (2‐3 sent.) 

TV “The American Dream?”

Appearances Might be Deceiving…

FACTS ABOUT TV IN THE 1950S: Average American family watched ___________ hours of TV/day New homes were built without formal dining rooms, but with TV rooms

o Within these rooms the TV was the ___________ piece of furniture TV _____________ the nature of _________________ lives and family

_____________________ POPULAR GENRES:

Variety Shows Cartoons Westerns Family Sitcoms

TV Promotes Conformity (especially family sitcoms)

most women were shown as ________________ and __________ ______________________________ - perfect home, perfect children, perfect

father, mother, neighborhoods, neighbors, jobs, marriages. plots focused on ____________________ of life and showed

_______________________ within the format of a comedy _________________ were almost always represented in a ______________ way to

further _____________ racist ______________________ DID TV REFLECT REALITY? Appearances:

_______ - clean cut, white, work to support family, make all family decisions ____________ - marry young, cook, clean, raise kids, and support all of husbands decisions _______________ - work to support or entertain white families, often shown as less

intelligent/uneducated

Most Americans viewed TV as a ___________________ of reality, but _________________________

REALITY: 25% - 30% of __________________ worked (over 39% of with children worked) ________ married women worked than single women many women experienced __________ levels of ______________ (about ______ openly

expressed __________________ with staying at home) Many __________ were ______________ to provide enough money to fund the American

_____________ ______________________ increased during the 1950s And as the _________________ generations turns into _________________ they are not

always willing to conform

However, American _________ _________ refused to acknowledge reality & ____________ on _____________ _____________

The Cold War in Cuba  

The Cuban Revolution  Revolution broke out in _________ after years of political corruption  _______________ led the revolutionaries  Castro was a _____________ & asked the _______________________________  Castro & his followers were rebelling against the ___________________________________ dictator 

Fulgencio _________________  

Bay of Pigs Incident  After __________________________________ of the Cuban government in 1959 he began to 

_______________ Cuba into a ____________________ state (began to _______________________________ ‐ including land and businesses ___________________________________________) 

In response, the U.S. began trade restrictions against Cuba  Castro increases his _________________________ with the U.S.S.R  About ___________________________________________________________________ (most to the 

U.S.)  The ________ begins training these _____________ to invade Cuba and 

________________________________.  

Cuban Missile Crisis 1. In the Summer of 1962 the ________________________________________________________ 

(including ___________ weapons) to Cuba 2. In October, _________________________________________ discover nuclear 

___________________________ sites in ________________ 3. It is determined that Soviet missiles could reach 

____________________________________________________ 4. The USSR _______________ to deliver more missiles but the U.S. Navy set a 

__________________________ & the Russian __________________________________________________ 

5. Kennedy & Khrushchev make a ____________________________: a. The U.S.S.R will ________________ the missiles from Cuba b. The U.S. promises to NOT _____________ Cuba c. The U.S. also promises to _________________ our missiles from Turkey 

          Why Significant? 

‐ Closest the world has ever come to _______________ war ‐ Showed ___________________ was ________________ between the nations ‐ Permanently ____________________ the Cuba‐U.S. relationship 

Crisis Ends, but Concern Does Not  While nuclear war was avoided, Cuba remained ____________________ & an _________ of the 

USSR  U.S. fearful of the ________________________________________ of Castro in power  In November of 1963 Kennedy was assassinated, but the CIA continued to try and 

________________ Castro 

 

Superpower  

1 How much does the average American family make compared to those in Europe?     2  What is the first problem modern America must solve? Whose mission is it to get the job done?  

a     b    

3 What is the common theme to the greatest innovations in American history?        4 What do American highways giver to the American spirit?          5 How many cars are produced in post WW2 America?  

    6 In 1946 how many babies are born every hour?  

   

7 How fast can the Levites build a house??      

8 What would a Levitt house cost today? How much do you think a 3 bedroom house costs today?   a    

  b  

9 How long does it take now to cross the US (New York to LA)? How important is that? (i.e compared to how long it once took)  a        b   

10 What is the equivalent of fuel to go to the moon?          11 When did America land on the moon (month & Year)?     

  

12 How many Americans have walked on the moon? Russians? Chinese?   

a    

b   

c  

13 When the Moon landing unites the nation, what is still dividing it?   

  

14 How were African American soldiers the first leaders of the Civil Rights Movement?  

 15 How many people marched on Washington to hear the “I have a dream Speech”?  When was it? Who said it?  

a    

b   

c  

16 Who becomes America’s great rival on the world’s stage?   

 

17 How much does the US spend on nuclear weapons (give dates too)?    

 18 According to some what are the values of America? To do these relate to the cold war fight?