US HISTORY – 1945-1962

The Cold War, Fear of Communismstart of Baby Boom

From 1945-1989, the USSR and the U.S. were indirectly fighting, starting with the USSR being excluded from the Manhattan Project. This created animosity and distrust between the two leading to the Cold War.
The Soviets were aggressive in their attempts to overthrow capitalism and dominate governments of other countries through communism (i.e. East Germany, Poland, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Romainia). They were labeled “puppet states” behind Europe’s “iron curtain”. All of this created more Cold War tension and created fear of communism in the U.S. It seemed that communism was winning because there was a huge communist revolution in China at the time.
When the USSR tested their atomic bomb, it shocked the U.S. and started an arms race between the two. Both begin to create and house new weapons, missiles and bombs. Soviets sent in spies and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated people in the government and Hollywood for spying.
When the U.S. saw that the USSR was leading in the “space race” with missile technology, they feared that their education system was failing so they created the National Aeronautics and Space Association (NASA). They created more science spending through the National Defense Education Act. The government also started school bomb drills and bomb shelters.
After WWII, Korea was divided into two governments: the northern communist government and the southern democratic government. A stalemate occurred when the North invaded the south until the U.S. forced them back to the Chinese border so the Chinese then decided to help the north. Korea is still divided to this day.
The 1950’s became a time of family and religious focus in the U.S. With the growth of businesses (conglomerates and franchises) and advances in transportation (highways and interstates), medicine (immunizations and vaccines) and communications, the U.S. had widespread prosperity and a baby boom. New suburbs (“white flight”) developed outside of the cities. There were less farms, but the remaining large farms produced more, driving food prices down. Television, movies and radio influenced many, creating a counter-culture and religious resurgence. / Important People, Things & Events
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg- the couple was arrested in 1950 for giving the USSR information on the atom bomb; there was a trial then execution in 1953 (filled the news)
Alger Hiss- was a top State Department official who was accused of espionage (spying)
Venona Papers- these were the decoded messages that proved Rosenberg (and possibly Hiss) were guilty
McCarthyism- Senator Joe McCarthy accused many of ruining careers and reputations of many other people with no evidence that they were involved in communist activities.
Truman Doctrine (1947)- policy to help non-communist countries resist communism
Marshall Plan (1948)-U.S. provided financial aid to help Europe rebuild and stay non-communist
Berlin airlift (1948-1949)- Berlin, Germany was divided (West and East) after WWII. USSR tried to get all of Berlin, so President Truman responded by dropping food, fuel and gifts from military planes until USSR stopped.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949)- US and its allies promised to help each other with military assistance for better security.
Warsaw Pact- USSR counter-acted NATO by forming their own alliances with the east european socialist states
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)- Cuba was in a communist revolution and let the USSR ship nuclear weapons over so President Kennedy set up a naval blockade
Fidel Castro- led the communist revolution in Cuba
GI Bill/Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944-war veterans got low cost mortgages and college assistance
Petroleum-based materials/ new products- plastics and coolants were developed
Popular TV shows-The Ed Sullivan Show, Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver, The Mickey Mouse Club
Popular music- Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley (rock and roll); Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline (country)
Hollywood-teenage rebellion movies like Rebel Without a Cause
Coaxial cables- allowed for pre-recorded television
Billy Graham-famous, protestant evangelical
1956 national motto- “In God We Trust” was an attempt against the Cold War’s “godless communism”
Counter culture- there was a rebellion against traditional and conformist views. More music and films shared more drug and sex experimentation.