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