The 1950s The 1950s
Chapter 16/17
Chapter 16/17
Yalta Yalta
-U.S. & USSR had a shaky alliance up to the end of WWII -U.S. & USSR had a shaky alliance up to the end of WWII
-At Yalta, Allies agree to split Germany -At Yalta, Allies agree to split Germany
-W. Germany under U.S., Britain, France -W. Germany under U.S., Britain, France
-E. Germany under USSR -E. Germany under USSR
-1948 Britain, France & US give up control of W. Germany -1948 Britain, France & US give up control of W. Germany
-Becomes the Federal Republic of Germany -Becomes the Federal Republic of Germany
-USSR refuses to give up control of E. Germany -USSR refuses to give up control of E. Germany
-Renames it German Democratic Republic -Renames it German Democratic Republic
-Major disagreement at Yalta was over Poland -Major disagreement at Yalta was over Poland
-USSR finally takes over Poland but agrees to allow free -USSR finally takes over Poland but agrees to allow free
election in Poland
election in Poland
The United Nations
-The United Nations was also created at Yalta
-April 1945, 50 nations meet to create rules for U.N.
Today 192
-Main job is to prevent world wars
-U.N. is divided into 2 groups:
General Assembly
-All member countries have one seat, one delegate, & one vote on issues
Security Council
-11 countries in 1945
-Today 15
-Permanent members are U.S., Britain, France, China, & USSR
-Have power to veto any rule made by General Assembly
UN Security Council Member UN Security Council Member
Nations Nations
2009 Members 2009 Members
Austria, Burkina-Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, Austria, Burkina-Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia,
Japan, Libya, Mexico, Turkey, Uganda, Japan, Libya, Mexico, Turkey, Uganda,
Vietnam Vietnam
Permanent Members Permanent Members
US, United Kingdom, France, Russian US, United Kingdom, France, Russian
Federation, China
Federation, China
Post-War Goals Post-War Goals
► -US & USSR had very different ideas about Europe -US & USSR had very different ideas about Europe
► -US felt it fought for democracy in Europe -US felt it fought for democracy in Europe
► -Felt if USSR held Europe, democracy would die -Felt if USSR held Europe, democracy would die
► -USSR lost 20 million people during WWII -USSR lost 20 million people during WWII
► -Wanted to protect its borders -Wanted to protect its borders
► -Used -Used Satellite Nations Satellite Nations
-Countries on USSR’s border that were under USSR control -Countries on USSR’s border that were under USSR control
► -Take over 7 satellite nations: -Take over 7 satellite nations:
► 1. 1. Albania Albania 4. 4. Hungary Hungary
► 2. 2. Bulgaria Bulgaria 5. 5. Romania Romania
► 3. 3. Czech. Czech. 6. 6. Yugoslavia Yugoslavia
► 7. 7. Finland Finland
► -Stalin wanted even more satellite nations -Stalin wanted even more satellite nations
► -Creates the -Creates the Cominform Cominform to do it to do it
-Agency to spread Communism around the world -Agency to spread Communism around the world
The Iron Curtain The Iron Curtain
-March 1946, Churchill visits Westminster -March 1946, Churchill visits Westminster College in Missouri
College in Missouri
-Gives his famous Iron Curtain Speech -Gives his famous Iron Curtain Speech
-Said an Iron Curtain now divided E & W Europe -Said an Iron Curtain now divided E & W Europe
-Divided Democracy and Communism -Divided Democracy and Communism
-Sets the tone for the -Sets the tone for the Cold War Cold War
-Political & economic war between US &USSR -Political & economic war between US &USSR
-No shots fired -No shots fired
Containment & The Truman Doctrine
-US realizes they could not co-exist with USSR
-Begins a policy called Containment
-US would resist attempts to start Communism in other parts of the world
-Truman 1st used containment in Turkey & Greece
-1947 he creates the Truman Doctrine
-The US will aid any country that is threatened by Communism
-Truman gives $400 million to Greece & Turkey
-Stops Stalin’s plan to take over both
-Truman Doctrine becomes US policy for next 40 years
-Shows the world that US & USSR only 2 world
superpowers left
The Marshall Plan
-WWII destroyed most of Europe
-US promised to help rebuild homes & businesses
-To help Europe, US creates Marshall Plan
-US will give money & aid to help rebuild Europe after WWII
-Plan created by Sec. of State George C. Marshall
-Congress approves plan in 1948
-17 nations participate
-USSR refuses US aid
-$13 Billion sent to rebuild Europe
-Main reason European countries more modern today
Berlin Airlift
-Berlin is located in E. Germany
-Still divided between the Allies
-USSR refuses to let Allies give supplies to W.
Berlin
-Truman begins Berlin Airlift
• -15 month plan of dropping supplies into W. Berlin by
• air -13,000 tons of goods dropped
-USSR finally gives up & allows Allies into W.
Berlin in May 1949
NATO NATO
-USSR was making UN useless b/c of veto power -USSR was making UN useless b/c of veto power
-1946 Canada proposes new peacekeeping body -1946 Canada proposes new peacekeeping body
-Called -Called North Atlantic Treaty Organization North Atlantic Treaty Organization
-NATO -NATO
-Organization to protect the countries of W. Europe and -Organization to protect the countries of W. Europe and W. Hemisphere
W. Hemisphere
-Made up of US, Britain, France, Belgium, Canada, -Made up of US, Britain, France, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, & Portugal
Norway, & Portugal
-NATO agreed that an attack on a NATO member -NATO agreed that an attack on a NATO member would be considered an attack on all NATO
would be considered an attack on all NATO members
members
-Idea was called -Idea was called Collective Security Collective Security
-USSR responds by creating -USSR responds by creating Warsaw Pact Warsaw Pact
-Military alliance between the countries of E. -Military alliance between the countries of E.
Europe
Europe
Communism Gains Power Communism Gains Power
• -USSR & Communism increase their strength -USSR & Communism increase their strength
• -Sept. 1949 USSR tests their atomic bomb -Sept. 1949 USSR tests their atomic bomb
• -To keep one step ahead, US creates -To keep one step ahead, US creates Hydrogen Bomb on October 31
Hydrogen Bomb on October 31
stst1952 1952
• -Begins an -Begins an Arms Race Arms Race
– Competition to get the best weapons Competition to get the best weapons
• -Communists gain more power in 1949 when -Communists gain more power in 1949 when China becomes Communist under new leader China becomes Communist under new leader
Mao Ze Dong Mao Ze Dong
• -Also gives Communists more power in UN -Also gives Communists more power in UN
HUAC HUAC
-People in US hated & feared “Reds” [Communists] -People in US hated & feared “Reds” [Communists]
-Truman uses his power to deport Communists -Truman uses his power to deport Communists
-All govt. employees investigated -All govt. employees investigated
-Hundreds fired -Hundreds fired
-House on Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) -House on Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
-Lead by Sen. Joseph McCarthy -Lead by Sen. Joseph McCarthy
-Created in 1938 to investigate Communists in Hollywood -Created in 1938 to investigate Communists in Hollywood
-1947 Hollywood members brought before HUAC -1947 Hollywood members brought before HUAC
-Had to say if they were Communists & turn in people they -Had to say if they were Communists & turn in people they knew were Communists
knew were Communists
-Those who were named to HUAC were put on a -Those who were named to HUAC were put on a Blacklist Blacklist
– List of suspected Communists that were not to be hired in List of suspected Communists that were not to be hired in Hollywood
Hollywood
-Most famous blacklisted were -Most famous blacklisted were Hollywood Ten Hollywood Ten
– 10 people who refused to testify & went to jail 10 people who refused to testify & went to jail
The Red Scare
-US people extremely scared of Communists
-Feared they would take over US & destroy American way of life
-Called The Red Scare
-To stop Communists from coming to US, Congress passes McCurran-Walter Act
-Set a quota for immigration based on the
country
Communist Spies
-2 major spy cases during Red Scare:
1. Alger Hiss
-Member of US State Dept.
-Accused of being Communist
-Convicted of Perjury & jailed for 4 years
-Lying under oath
2. Julius & Ethel Rosenberg
-Members of the Communist Party in the US
-Tried & convicted of selling atomic secrets to USSR
-Executed for Espionage in 1953
Korean War Korean War
-Korea was divided between Democratic & Communist -Korea was divided between Democratic & Communist
-North was Communist; South was Democratic -North was Communist; South was Democratic
-Divided at 38th Parallel -Divided at 38th Parallel
-June 1950, N. Korea invades S. Korea -June 1950, N. Korea invades S. Korea
-Begins Korean War -Begins Korean War
-USSR & China support N. Korea -USSR & China support N. Korea
-US & Britain support S. Korea -US & Britain support S. Korea
-Allied troops were led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur -Allied troops were led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur
-MacArthur fired by Truman in 1951 for refusing to obey orders -MacArthur fired by Truman in 1951 for refusing to obey orders
-Truce between N & S signed in 1953 -Truce between N & S signed in 1953
-Country still divided at 38th Parallel -Country still divided at 38th Parallel
-55,000 American troops die in Korea -55,000 American troops die in Korea
-103,000 wounded -103,000 wounded
-Often called -Often called The Forgotten War The Forgotten War
-US people didn’t know what we were fighting for [Containment] -US people didn’t know what we were fighting for [Containment]
-No respect for Vets -No respect for Vets
-Begins US peoples’ hatred of war -Begins US peoples’ hatred of war
Cold War in the Sky Cold War in the Sky
USSR creates a new missile USSR creates a new missile
-Called -Called ICBM ICBM
-Intercontinental Ballistic Missile -Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
-Could reach US in 2 hours from USSR -Could reach US in 2 hours from USSR
-1st direct threat to US mainland -1st direct threat to US mainland
-1957 USSR launches 1st satellite -1957 USSR launches 1st satellite
-Called -Called Sputnik Sputnik
-3 weeks later Sputnik II launched -3 weeks later Sputnik II launched
-Carried 1st living thing in space -Carried 1st living thing in space
-Dog called -Dog called Laika Laika
-USSR far ahead of the US in Space Race -USSR far ahead of the US in Space Race
New Technology
-Technology boomed in 1950’s
-Although the 1st TV was created in 1930’s, it was not perfected or able to be used until
1950’s
-Becomes status symbol in 1950’s
-By 1953, 2/3 of all US homes had TVs
-Avg. family watched 5 hours a day
-All shows were live
4 most popular shows were:
4 most popular shows were:
Mickey Mouse Club Mickey Mouse Club
I Love Lucy I Love Lucy
American Bandstand American Bandstand
Howdy Doody Howdy Doody
-Computers were also created in 1950’s -Computers were also created in 1950’s
-Software created by Grace Hopper at Harvard -Software created by Grace Hopper at Harvard Univ. called UNIVAC
Univ. called UNIVAC
-Bell Telephone created 1st -Bell Telephone created 1st Transistor Transistor in 1950’s in 1950’s
-Tiny circuit -Tiny circuit
-Pre microchip -Pre microchip
-Made machines smaller -Made machines smaller
-Also portable -Also portable
-Ex. Desktop computer -Ex. Desktop computer
-Transistor Radio -Transistor Radio
-1957 1st nuclear power-plant opens in -1957 1st nuclear power-plant opens in Shippingport, Pa.
Shippingport, Pa.
-1954 Dr. Jonas Salk & Dr. Thomas Francis -1954 Dr. Jonas Salk & Dr. Thomas Francis create the Polio Vaccine
create the Polio Vaccine
US Society Changes
-Life in US changed for many in 40’s & 50’s
-Birthrates in 1940’s & 1950’s rose higher than at any time in US history
-Called Baby Boom
-More Americans were educated in 1950’s
-To help educate people, especially veterans, Congress creates The GI Bill
