8.2 The Cold War from 1945 to 1980
This U.S. policy aimed to stop the spread of communism by providing economic and military aid to countries resisting Soviet influence.
What is the Truman doctrine?
This president launched the “Great Society” program to fight poverty and racial injustice, creating programs like Medicare and Head Start.
Who is Lyndon B. Johnson?
After World War II, this landmark piece of legislation provided benefits such as low-interest home loans, unemployment compensation, and college tuition assistance to returning veterans, contributing significantly to the growth of the middle class.
What is the GI Bill?
During the 1950s, this form of popular culture became a central part of American life, promoting consumerism and reinforcing traditional gender roles through shows like Leave It to Beaver and Father Knows Best.
What is television?
This Wisconsin senator became infamous for accusing government officials of being communists without proper evidence.
Who is Joseph McCarthy?
This U.S. senator became the face of anti-communist hysteria by claiming to have a list of communists in the government.
Who is Joseph McCarthy?
In the years following World War II, the United States experienced a period of unprecedented economic growth fueled by increased consumer demand, a growing labor force, and expanded government spending. This prosperity led to higher living standards and a dramatic rise in home ownership.
What is the postwar economic boom?
This genre of music emerged in the 1950s and blended African American blues with country and pop influences. It became a symbol of youth rebellion and was popularized by artists like Elvis Presley.
What is rock and roll?
This 1954 Supreme Court case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
What is Brown v. Board of Education
This executive order, issued by President Truman in 1947, established loyalty review boards to investigate federal employees for ties to communism.
What is Executive Order 9835?
Signed by President Eisenhower, this 1956 law funded the construction of over 40,000 miles of highways, facilitating suburban expansion, boosting the automobile industry, and reinforcing Cold War concerns by ensuring troop mobility in case of a national emergency.
What is the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956?
This group of writers and artists in the 1950s rejected materialism, suburban conformity, and traditional American values, paving the way for the counterculture of the 1960s.
Who are the Beat Generation (or Beatniks)?
This 1968 surprise attack by the Viet Cong during the Vietnamese New Year eroded U.S. public support for the Vietnam War.
What is the Tet Offensive?
This couple was executed in 1953 for allegedly passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union, symbolizing Cold War fears.
Who are Julius and Ethel Rosenberg?
Widely accepted by economists and policymakers during the mid-20th century, this economic theory advocated for increased government spending during downturns and reduced spending during booms, with the goal of stabilizing the economy and maintaining full employment.
What is Keynesian economics?
In 1949, this Protestant minister and evangelist began holding massive revival events across the U.S., symbolizing the growing influence of religion in American public life during the Cold War era.
Who is Billy Graham?
This organization, founded in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, advocated for African American self-defense and community programs and was labeled a threat by the FBI.
What is the Black Panther Party?
This 1947 congressional committee investigated suspected communists in Hollywood and led to blacklists for actors and writers.
What is the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)?
Passed in the immediate aftermath of World War II, this law made it a formal responsibility of the federal government to promote maximum employment, production, and purchasing power. It led to the creation of the Council of Economic Advisers to guide presidential economic policy.
What is the Employment Act of 1946?
While 1950s culture is often associated with conformity, this book by sociologist David Riesman argued that Americans were shifting from "inner-directed" to "other-directed" behavior, highlighting concerns about loss of individuality.
What is The Lonely Crowd?