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House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
An investigative committee of the U.S House of Representatives created in 1938 to inquire into rebellious activities int he US
In the mid-1940s, the committee focused its in investigations on searching for communists in the US
most famous for investigating Alger Hiss and for the "blacklisting" of many Hollywood actors
Often inaccurately associated with Joseph McCarthy, who was a Senator (not a member of the House) -
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2nd Great Migration
Migration of 5 million African Americans from the South and North to the Midwest and West
Af Am moved from discrimination and for jobs in the defense industry
They went to cities like Los Angeles, Oakland and Long Beach -
G.I. Bill established
Wanted to create benefits and jobs for soldiers coming back from WWII
Benefits- low cost mortgage, start up loans for businesses, low interest loans, payed soldiers to go to college
Economy- was greatly improving in the US with the help of the G.I. Bill -
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Arms Race
Major superpowers- USA, Great Britain, Soviet Union and France details-both countries had nuclear weapons and was creating more to be = to each other civilian response- the schools made the students practice duck and cover in school to protect form falling debris and the bomb shelters were set up to protect ppl form missiles (Nuke War) mutually assured destruction ( have enough to destroy your country and every other country in the world -
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Baby Boom
An increase of Am. population occurred after WWII and the Korean War
By the end of the 1940's 3.4 million babies were born
War stricken men wanted to see their wives and tired of taking lives now wanted to creat life after the war in marriages and general prosperity came a demand for housing, federal highway construction, new industries, and increased military spending all of which helped create jobs -
Truman Doctrine
Purpose- The U.S made the policy to help stop the spread of communism and keep communism contained- was created to free a smaller country form a bigger force (communist)
Containment Policy- to stop the spread of communism to other countries
Domino theory- if one state came under communism the rest would follow -
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Cold War
Cold war started with the Truman Doctrine and ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall -
Marshall Plan
In 1947 Secretary of State, George Marshall proposed an economic program to contain communism
His Marshall Plan supported economic aid to Europe and generated increased trade btw the US and European nations
Marshall received the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize for the plam -
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Berlin Airlift
During the communist blockade of West Berlin, British and U.S planes flew humanitarian supplies into Berlin for nearly a yr
Actions (American and British) - flew over 200,000 with 4700 tons of necessities to the ppl of West Berlin
Berlin Airlift brought embarrassment to the Soviets May 1949 and resulted in the creation of 2 seperate German states -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Purpose- safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means
Why it was created: protect each other from the Soviet Union
Members: US, UK, Canada and 9 northern western European countries
Stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Soviet Response- they tried to expand and made the Warsaw Pact (defense treaty among 8 communist states) -
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Korean War
Causes- After WWII communist North Korea invaded South Korea US fighting the Soviets in Korea
Results- a treaty divided the peninsula along the 38th parallel
When North Korea turned communist- cease fire, today it is the most guarded border
Truman Doctrine- stopped the spread to other countries
Helping South Korea falls under the Truman doctrine bc America helped contain communism from going to South Korea or not past he 38th parallel -
Air Conditioning ( Man Made Weather)
Modern A/C invented in 1902 but not put to widespread use until WWII
Used 1st in a theater in the South-use old TV A/C & cars killed the use of front porch gatherings and drove up the use of electricity
Jobs and ppl migrated the the South b/c of the use of A/C ( ppl can escape the southern heat)
With more jobs and ppl int he South A/C helped boost the economy -
Senate Hearings led by Joseph McCarthy
Red Scare II also McCarthyism - term coined by political cartoonist Herbert Block in a 1950 cartoon in reference to Senator Joseph McCarthy extreme opposition to communism gained the name
"McCarthyism" from the efforts of Senator McCarthy in 1950 announced that communists worked int he State Dept. He identified known communists and accused others due to 1000's falsely accused he lost the senators race -
Sputnik Launch (Russia)
Important to the US- Sputnik launch ignites US- Soviet Space Race
President of the US- Dwight D. Eisenhower (WWII General)
Head of Soviet Union- Nikita Krushcev -
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Space Race
What it was about- national security reasons and symbolism
Began with the launch of Sputnik
Response- America tried to get the first man on the moon adn beat the Soviet Union in the space race effects on education and technology
Ppl were more interested in learning about space and going to space technology
America better and safer rockets for crews
Led to the creation of NASA -
Creation of NASA
Importance to the US- was the first space program made by the US after Russia launched the 1st space craft (Sputnik) US also pushed for math & science education in school ppl- president Eisenhower -
Berlin Wall
-In 1961, the Soviet backed the East German Gvt
(GDR) began construction a fence to halt the flow of human resources for the Eat to the West. The wall was a symbol of the division of Eat and West for the remainder of the Cold War until it was taken down in 1989.
Iron Curtain- phrase used by Winston Churchill to describe the division of Europe btw communist and democratic -
President Kennedy "Moon" Speech
" We choose to go to the moon " speech
meant to persuade the American ppl to support the effort of NASA to send a manned space flight to the moon -
Cuban Missile Crisis
During the October 1962 crisis
President John F. Kennedy warned Soviet leader Nikita- Khrushchev that an attack launched on the US from missiles based in Cuba would be considered an attack from the Soviet Union
In 1963 Kennedy secured a nuclear test-ban treaty with the Soviets
Direct communication btw the White House and the Kremlin was enacted so the nations leaders could communicate in times of crisis -
Friendship 7
Importance to America-first successful attempted by NASA to place an astronaut in space - John Glenn -
Rock-N-Roll
A form of popular music that evolved int he 1950's from rhythm and blues; characterized by the use of electric guitars, a strong rhythm with an accent on the offbeat, and youth-oriented lyrics it characterized a generational divide btw youths and adults