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1940s & 1950s

1940s & 1950s. Post WWII: Red Scare, Cold War, Baby Boomers, and Elvis Presley. Summary of WWII. Japan invades Pearl Harbor—Dec. 7, 1941 US declares war on Japan & Germany—Dec. 8 VE Day—May 8, 1945

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1940s & 1950s

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  1. 1940s & 1950s Post WWII: Red Scare, Cold War, Baby Boomers, and Elvis Presley

  2. Summary of WWII • Japan invades Pearl Harbor—Dec. 7, 1941 • US declares war on Japan & Germany—Dec. 8 • VE Day—May 8, 1945 • Victory in Japan after “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” were dropped on Hiroshima & Nagasaki—Aug. 6 & 9, 1945

  3. US Occupation of Germany & Japan • Yalta Conference: Feb. 1945—US, UK, USSR, & French agree to split Germany into “zones” • Eventual creation of East & West Germany • US occupation of Japan—led by Gen. MacArthur • “demobilization” • Improved/increased Japanese farming • Break up zaibatsu (family monopolies)

  4. War Crimes Tribunals • Purpose of tribunals: create a set of laws for warfare • No more “I was following orders.” • Nuremberg Trials: 1945-1946 • 4 charges: planning war, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy • 12 sentenced to death • 7 sentenced to prison • Thousands of Nazi leaders fled to Latin America

  5. Tokyo Trials: 1946-1948 • Purpose: punishment for Pearl Harbor & atrocities like Nanking Massacre • 7 sentenced to death • Premier Hideki Tojo executed • 16 sentenced to life in jail • Other nations (China) executed far more Japanese

  6. Cold War: increased hostility & animosity • Economic sanctions • Attempt to limit other’s cultural influence • Political rhetoric • Alliances made with “enemy of the enemy” • Build up of military power • No “hot war”

  7. Berlin Airlift: US & UK effort to airlift supplies to West Berliners (June ‘48-May ‘49) • Stalin blocked off West Berlin b/c he wanted to supply the city • Dropped 13,000 tons of food/day

  8. Marshall Plan: Sec. of State George Marshall proposed giving aid to European nations that needed it • Stalin did not like—called it “dollar imperialism” • Felt the US was “buying” allies in Europe • Like giving candy to people to be your friend • Forbid Soviet countries from taking aid

  9. Truman Doctrine • Pres. Truman’s policy towards Soviet Union • Attempt to “contain” spread of Communism • Give aid to nations in trouble • Go to war in regions threatened by Communism

  10. 2 Superpowers—conflicting ideals • US: capitalism, freedom, individualism, religion • USSR: state-run economy, one-party rule, anti-religion & individualism • Soviet expansion: took “satellite nations”; Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Manchuria, parts of Poland • “Iron Curtain”—W. Churchill

  11. NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization • 1949 • US, Canada, W. Europe • Defensive military alliance • Warsaw Pact • 1955 • USSR & “satellite” nations • Response to NATO

  12. Brinkmanship • 1945: US detonates A-Bomb • 1949: USSR detonates A-Bomb • 1952: US detonates the H-Bomb • 1957: Soviets launch Sputnik I • 1958: National Defense Education Act • Creates NASA • Increase funding for US science & math programs • Creates the “space race”

  13. Red Scare • Political “witch hunt” • House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) • Effort was led by Senator Joseph McCarthy (R, WI) • Spurred on by events such as Berlin Blockade and espionage incidents (i.e. Rosenbergs) • Caused “red-baiting” & blacklisting

  14. McCarthy held hearings to find Communist sympathizers • Focused heavily on military & Hollywood • Kept “black book” of known Communists • Thousands accused • Led to the loss of jobs, stigmas, and sometimes imprisonment • J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI also led harassment campaigns of suspected Communists

  15. Effect on Hollywood • Blacklists: • Hollywood 10: group of writers & directors that refused to speak to HUAC • Sentenced to 12 months in prison and blacklisted • Movie productions became more “patriotic” • SciFi became popular • Used propaganda for educational purposes

  16. Election of 1948 • Harry Truman (D; MO) v. Thomas Dewey (R; NY) v. Strom Thurmond (States Rights; SC) • Truman: unpopular—poor economy • Truman pushed civil rights—end segregation in army & anti-lynching laws • Truman pushes “Fair Deal” • Higher wages, full employment, more welfare/aid, universal health care • Thurmond was nominated to continue & strengthen segregation

  17. Dewey was predicted to win • Truman SHOCKS country by winning 303-189-39 • Last second whistle-stop tour

  18. Election of 1952 • Dwight Eisenhower (R; NY) v. Adlai Stevenson (D; IL) • Battle over appearances • Stevenson defended Korean War & Truman’s policies—highly unpopular • Stevenson attacked for being “egghead” and having “more brains than hair” • Eisenhower seen with patriotism, virility, warmth, self-confidence, strength • Public felt he would be stronger against USSR • Ike wins 442-89

  19. Korean War • Post-WWII: Korea split @ 38th Parallel • North: Soviet control • South: US control • Soviets supplied North w/ weapons • 1950: North invaded South w/ intent of unifying nation • Controlled all of peninsula except for Pusan

  20. UN declares war—sends Gen. MacArthur to lead army • Sept. 1950: MacArthur leads surprise amphibious attack at Inchon • Pushes North back past 38th parallel • Chinese sent 300,000 troops in to push UN back past 38th • MacArthur begs Truman for nuclear strike • Argument leads to Truman firing MacArthur

  21. UN forces push North & Chinese back past 38th by 1953 • Jan. 1953: New President Eisenhower threatens nuclear strike • July 27, 1953: armistice signed • Creates the DMZ • Most dangerous place on Earth

  22. Election of 1956 • Rematch of 1952: Ike v. Adlai Stevenson • Ike ended Korean War • Economy was strong • Ike won in landslide (457-73)

  23. New American Family • Baby Boom • Highway Act of 1956—rise in suburbs • “Planned communities” • Increased interest in child rearing • B. Spock: The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care • Wife depicted as homemaker

  24. GI Bill of Rights: provided pensions & gov’t loans for school, homes, etc. • Consumerism: Happiness=consumption • “Keep up with the Jones’” • New gadgets (cars, fridges, radios, TVs) • Led to social conformity

  25. Television • 1959: 46 million homes had at least 1 TV • Sporting events • Quiz shows • Situational comedies • I Love Lucy: starred Lucille Ball & DesiArnaz • Broke social barriers

  26. Rock ‘n’ Roll • 1951: Cleveland DJ Alan Freed • Elvis Presley: listened to gospel, R&B, country in MS • Body movements were unique to time period • 1956: Elvis “gyrates” on Ed Sullivan Show • Chuck Berry • Jerry Lee Lewis

  27. Juvenile Delinquency • Antisocial behavior by the young • Movement to question social norms • Characterized by confusion, violence, crime, depression, substance abuse • Mad Magazine—Alfred E. Neuman • 1955: Rebel Without a Cause—James Dean • Beat Generation: writers & poets challenging middle class standards • Drug & sex culture • Search for individualism & adventure • Jack Kerouac’s On the Road

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