Cold War + 1950s Flashcards
Iron Curtain
Symbolizes the edges of communist control in Europe. Churchill made speech and came up with the term
Containment
Plan by US government to stop spread of communism to non-communism countries
Berlin Blockage a
Stalin blocks capitalist nations from west Germany to bring supplies to west berlin because he doesn’t want capitalists in his communist territory
Marshall Plan
plan to rebuild Europe by giving money to countries and they would spend it on American products ➡️ help spread capitalism
Chinese Revolution
communist/nationalists battle for control of China (PRC) nationals flee to Taiwan but both governments claim
domino theory
says if one country falls to communism, more will follow behind and given
Truman doctrine/containment
Truman gives 400 million to Greece and Turkey in order to keep communist from invading. containment ➡️ plan implemented
Korea
Civil War- North communist fight to take over south capitalist + UN police action.
- ends with armistice being signed
38th parallel
latitude line that separates north and south Korea
McArthur
wanted to take stronger approach against communism ➡️ invade China while in Korea
- gets fired
NATO and the Warsaw Pact
Alliance of capitalist or communist pledging to protect each other against an attack and HUAC
HUAC
House of American Activities Committee. Investigation of in communist and entertainment industry
Red scare
public scared of communist taking over US government
led to organizations like the federal loyalty program and HUAC
McCarthyism
” witch hunt “
- tried to expose over 200 communist in government
- many false accusations eventually lost his credibility
Response to nuclear threat
Duck and Cover
- people built bomb shelters
- Duck and cover videos made and showed to schools
G.I. Bill of Rights
provided a low income/mortgages
- opportunities for higher Ed ➡️ free books and tuition
lead to growth of white-collar jobs
franchise
Main Street ➡️ shopping malls
Restaurants ➡️ fast food
baby boom
rise in birth begun in 40s and continued into 50s
suburbs
people moved to suburbs and drove to cities
all houses look same ➡️ conformity
Levittowns
large suburbs that look the same
Rock and roll
- based on black rhythm and blues
- encourages equality between whites and blacks
how did the government attempt to stop the spread of communism
plan of containment of communist countries in order to prevent them from expanding/taking over the world
how did Europe successfully rebuild following World War II
- with help of Marshall plan Europe used US funds to rebuild by spending it on American products
- in return helps both Europe and US economies
what is mutually assured destruction and how was it a deterrent to war?
- thought both the USSR and USA have big enough bombs to destroy each other
- if declared war both would end in Rome
what was the space race and what is the importance of sputnik?
- race to see who was going to be the first in geo natural science between USA and Soviet Union
- sputnik was first satellite sent into space by Soviets. scared US because they feared a missile could reach US if reached space
what tactics did Joseph McCarthy use and how successful was he?
McCarthy use tactics such as false accusations, powerful position to convince government officials of being communist
first he was successful but then he started accusing trusted army generals and people stop believing him
what led to the economic boom of the 1950s
people restricted to spend money in late 30s and 40s because of rationing
In 50s there were no limits and they had extra money in pockets
what prompted the growth of the suburbs going to 1950s
everyone was coming home from war and wanted to fit into conformity
same house,car, job (etc)
what changes took place in America during the 50s
TV, shopping malls, highway system, rock ‘n’ roll, franchises, abstract art, suburbs
roles of men
held jobs
support family
where suit in work and office
roles of women
look nice
Cook dinner
clean house
how were the men and women alike
be like neighbors
don’t get divorced
