America in the 1950 Flashcards
The G.I. Bill
Passed in 1944 under the Roosevelt administration to provide aid and benefits to veterans.
- Established hospitals, made low-interest mortgages accessible, as well as higher education or vocational training.
- All veterans were entitled other than women
Truman’s foreign policy
Established the foreign policy of containment
- A large step from neutrality, it planted the widespread fear of communism across America
Containment
The popular policy during the Cold War that prioritized restricting the spread of communism to other countries
The Marshall Plan
Gave countries in Europe who were struggling after WWII 15 billion dollars in aid to ensure they were not taken advantage of in their weakened state and turned to communism
The Truman Doctrine
Extended the same measures laid out by the Marshall Plan to Turkey and Greece
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- An alliance between the U.S., Canada, and western European countries to prevent the spread of communism.
Berlin Airlift
Russia occupied West Berlin while the U.S., England, and France occupied East Berlin.
Stalin built the Berlin Wall and established a blockade of western goods, so to avoid war, Truman ordered supply planes to drop supplies to the people of West Berlin.
The Cold War (definition)
A geopolitical conflict between the United States and Russia over the spread of communism. No direct military conflicts occured.
The Korean War
After China became a communist country, communism began to spread to Korea.
The United States aided South Korea in its efforts to stop North Korea, which promoted communism, from taking over the country.
The Domino Theory
The belief that if one country, particularly in southeast Asia, becomes communist, the others will follow.
Pushed by Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The Fair Deal
Truman’s plan:
- increase minimum wage
- improve working conditions
- increase Civil Rights
- increase/improve healthcare
The 22nd Amendment
Passed in 1951; No person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice
Modern Republicanism
Ideology popularized by Dwight D. Eisenhower:
- Reduce taxes
- Balance budgets
- Return power back to states
The Warren Court
Considered one of the most influential Supreme Courts in history, ruled in favor of Civil Rights, lasted from 1953-1969 under the tenure of Chief Justice Earl Warren
Brown v. Board of Education
Under the Warren Court, Plessy v. Ferguson was overturned, finally making segregation illegal
This was a waterfall moment for the Civil Rights movement
Some Warren Court cases
Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Segregation is illegal
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): If someone can not afford an attorney it must be provided to them
Engel v. Vitale (1962): Public schools can not require students to pray or read the Bible
Thurgood Marshall and some of his cases
Thurgood Marshall was a prominent lawyer who constantly defended Civil Rights
Brown v. Board of Education
Murray v. Pearson (1936): Students can not be rejected from colleges and universities solely based on race
Chambers v. Florida (1940): The physical and mental mistreatment of a suspect during an interrogation in attempts to gain evidence or a confession is unconstitutional
Martin Luther King Jr.
Iconic Civil Rights Activist who promoted civil disobedience, non-violence, and peaceful protests
The Little Rock Nine
A group of nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School. In order to ensure their acceptance and safety in the school, Eisenhower has to send military personnel to enforce the ruling of the Brown case.
The Interstate Highway Act (1956)
This act would authorize the construction of a highway system spanning across the country. It would become the biggest public works project in American history.
Redlining
The process of using the new highway system to limit the availability of different services in certain areas, specifically in areas with higher populations of racial or ethnic minority groups
A woman’s role in the 1950’s
After the Roaring Twenties and WWII, women settled back into the role of the housewife, catering to their husbands every need.
This way of living was promoted by the creation of Suburbia and the rise of television.
The Red Scare
The fear of communism culminated to the Red Scare. If someone was suspected even slightly of being a communist they were put on trial and often convicted of being traitor with little to no evidence (ex. The Rosenberg’s Execution).
The Space Race
One of the many Cold War competitions between the Soviet Union and the U.S., which the U.S. won by landing on the moon in 1969.
The Arms Race
The rush to development nuclear weapons by the Soviet Union and America in an attempt to “check” one another’s power
