American History



American History

“Post WWII America”

Notes

Establishing a Peaceful World

*Rebuilding

--Europe was devastated by the war

--Allied armies of occupation divided the Axis nations into zones of

occupation

1. Yalta Conference--Feb. 1945

-Stalin, Churchill, and FDR met at Yalta (USSR) to plan

the post war world

-Stalin was able to convince the others to let the USSR

control Eastern Europe

-begins a division between the Allies--East/West

2. USSR closed off its zones of occupation to the rest of the world

- “The Iron Curtain”--symbolism for the totalitarian

control of the Soviets--first mentioned by Churchill

in a speech to the US Congress

-results in a divided Germany--East and West

-Berlin is divided as well--was in East Germany--West

Berlin becomes a haven of freedom

-built walls, stationed military units on the borders

-limited personal freedom in the Soviet Bloc--group of

nations in E. Europe controlled by the USSR--put

together by a military treaty--Warsaw Pact

--The Marshall Plan

1. Western Allies (esp. the US) put together a plan to rebuild

Europe--wanted to avoid the mistakes of WWI

-hoped to keep people from becoming desperate and turn

to Communism or Fascism again

2. Consisted of billions of dollars in aid and investment, training

and personnel, and military occupation and assistance

3. helped to stabilize and reestablish governments and normal

routines

4. Finland is the only nation that ever repaid the US

5. established a foreign policy trend of helping troubled nations

and stabilizing volatile situations in foreign countries

--MacArthur and Japan

1. reorganization focused on removing aggressive military and

political elements and traditions in Japan

2. greatly increased democracy--made the Emperor a token leader

3. General MacArthur wanted to “leave Japan better than I found

it”

4. economy booms because of American investment and

training--US still provides military needs for Japan

--The United Nations

1. set up after the war to settle international disputes

2. organized and led by the US

3. military issues are dealt with by the Security Council

-5 permanent members--US, USSR, GB, France, China

--The North Atlantic Treaty Organization--NATO

1. alliance of Western Allies--designed to provide defense

against a Communist threat in Europe

2. goal is to maintain peace in Europe--avoid a world war

The Cold War--1946-1989

*Diplomatic, economic, and military tensions built up between democratic

and communist nations

--were competing for control--did not trust each other--neither wanted

a war--both thought the other group would invade them

--influenced smaller nations or developing countries with economic

and military incentives

--western nations vowed to stop the spread of communism

1. The Truman Doctrine--Pres. Truman vowed to fight to halt

communism wherever and whenever it spread--an

extension of the Monroe Doctrine--became the basis for

modern US foreign policy

--China and USSR became the leading communist nations

1. communists in China, led by Mao Tse Tung, overthrew the

Chinese government in 1948

2. communists took advantage of postwar confusion and lack of

order to control several smaller nations--“satellite

nations”

3. was an uneasy partnership--long history of mistrust between

the two nations

-were long-time rivals for the control of Asia

--was usually a war of diplomacy and aid—espionage—but war was also waged

1. Korea was divided into 2 countries after WWII--North/South

-communists in N.Korea invaded S. Korea in 1950

1) the UN came to the aid of the S. Koreans

2) the US supplied most of the military forces for

this “police action”

a. were commanded by Gen. MacArthur

3) forced the N. Koreans back across the border and

almost into China

-The Chinese entered the war with a massive assault in Nov.1950--pushed UN troops back into S. Korea

-MacArthur and Truman disagreed about attacking China

1) Truman did not want to violate the UN rules of engagement

2) MacArthur wanted to take out bridges on the Yalu River (border w/China) so the Chinese couldn’t get across

-Truman removed him from command for

Insubordination

-The Korean Conflict ended in a stalemate

-UN forces were unable to gain land past the 38th parallel

but did not lose any more ground

-When Eisenhower was elected in 1952 he vowed to end

the war

-a treaty was finally signed in July 1953

-the two nations have lived in an uneasy peace ever since

-33,629 Americans died

2. Cuba became communist in 1958-59 after a US-supported

rebellion--was led by Fidel Castro--became a communist

after he took over

-put a Soviet “satellite nation” less than 100 miles off the

US coast--Monroe Doctrine was being challenged

-the US tried to overthrow Castro’s government with the

1961 “Bay of Pigs” Invasion

1) had been set up by Pres. Eisenhower in 1959-60

2) John F. Kennedy became Pres. in 1960

3) was a CIA operation--was mismanaged and

ended in disaster--Kennedy was blamed

-the USSR put nuclear missile bases in Cuba--Kruschev

1) Kennedy forced them to remove them by threatening nuclear war

2) Called the “Cuban Missle Crisis”

3. The Vietnam Conflict changed America

-Vietnam had long been struggling for independence

1) was a French Colony--French Indochina

2) was occupied by the Japanese for much of WWII

3) revolted against the French in the early 1950’s

4) France withdrew in 1954

5) nation was split into two countries (north/south)--North

was communist & South democratic

-Ho Chi Minh vowed to unite Vietnam as a communist

nation--had sent political operatives (spies) into the

South before the split--began to disrupt the system

and move to take over local governments in the

late 1950’s

-civil war broke out in 1960

-the US had been an advisor to the Vietnamese since

WWII--had signed a treaty of alliance with South

Vietnam after the partition--wanted to help them

establish a democratic form of government-China

and the USSR were aiding the North

-President Kennedy increased the number of US military

advisors when the civil war broke out--began to

send technical support/training personnel in 1962

-By 1964 the US had troops, ships, planes, and armor in

the region

-Direct US involvement came with the Gulf of Tonkin

Resolution in 1964--North Vietnam attacked US

ships that were assisting South Vietnamese forces

in the Gulf of Ton kin--President Johnson was

given the power to attack the N.V. forces in South

Vietnam--limited where/how by the wording of

the resolution and by the UN--would prove to be a

major drawback for the US military

-Results in a confused, bureaucratic war--no clear

objectives or goals for the forces--rules of combat

limited US capabilities--civilian casualties

-much of the battle took place in the press--media was

looking for scandals--military was covering up

(false casualty reports)--anti-war movement was

strong in America (even aided the enemy-->info.)

-Richard Nixon was elected in 1968--tried to reach “Peace

with Honor”--expanded the war to neighboring

Laos and Cambodia to try to eliminate Viet Cong

supply lines--was unpopular politically

-US withdrew in 1973--over 50,000 killed

-S. Vietnam fell to Communists in 1975--Saigon Airlift

-impacts of the war are still felt today:

1) protests against the war and the government

led to drastic changes within America’s

political system

a) split the Democratic Party

b) less trust in government

2) makes the US tentative to get involved in

“another Vietnam”

3) troops still suffer from the effects

a) drug addiction--part of Viet Cong’s strategy

b) mental illness--were rarely “welcomed” back--anti-war movement called them “baby-killers”--pro-war movement rejected them as “losers”--tortured in POW camps--some soldiers were never released

c) injuries still plague their health—chemical weapons/wounds have disabled many of these veterans the nation made a conscious effort to heal these wounds in the 1980’s and 1990’s

Cultural Changes of the Post WWII World

*End of the Cold War

--Arms Race

1. Eastern and Western nations built up huge, advanced

militaries

-US and USSR become the leading military super powers

1) spent BILLIONS on weapons

2) was a drag on the economies of BOTH nations

a. USSR collapsed economically in 1989-90

b. US builds up a huge national debt

--Changes the politics of Europe

1. break up of the Soviet Bloc is still taking place

2. Germany reunified in 1990-91

*America redefined “Freedom”

--The “Red Scare”

1. part of the paranoia of the Cold War

2. Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wisc.) headed the Senate

Committee on “Unamerican Activities”

-did uncover some Communist groups

-was really just a “witch hunt” for political enemies of

McCarthy in politics, education, and entertainment

-ruined many careers--“Black List”

--The Civil Rights Movement

1. Black Americans worked to end segregation and

discrimination

-segregation was still legal--Plessy v. Ferguson (separate

but equal)

-Brown v. the Board of Ed. (Topeka, KS)--1954

1) was a case of school segregation--students were

forced to go to schools because of race, not

location--Sup. Ct. saw that segregation could

not be equal--one group was always favored--

Outlawed Segregation--was ignored in the

South--states’ rights

-Black leaders worked to expose the reality of segregation

and discrimination

1) Martin Luther King, Jr.--Baptist minister who

used his pulpit to fight injustice

a. formed the Southern Christian Leadership

Council--made up of ministers and

community leaders (black and white)

who favored change

b. believed in non-violent protests--would

expose the ignorance of discrimination

and violence--used boycotts, sit-ins,

marches, “freedom rides”, etc. to

challenge segregation--he and his

followers were attacked, beaten,

imprisoned, and even murdered--

violence was the only argument that

segregation had

c. became a national issue--public was

appalled by what they saw

d. led to Federal Government intervention

by Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy,

Johnson, and Nixon--Civil Right Act

of 1964 enforced the Constitution

e. King was murdered on April 4, 1968 in

Memphis, TN--riots broke out in

many cities--the nation mourned

2) Malcolm X

a. was an Islamic leader--wanted to increase

pride of Black Americans in their

heritage--rejected non-violence--called

for total separation of races--religious

experience changed him--called for

equality under the law--saw separation as racism--shot by Black radicals (1965)

--Americans change politically

1. greatly influenced by the presidency of John F. Kennedy

-elected in 1960--1st Roman Catholic Pres.--1st Pres. of the

WWII generation

-had definite goals for the nation:

1) zero tolerance for Communism--increase Space

technology--man on the moon before 1970

(Apollo 11 landed in 1969)--increase

educational opportunities--increase civil

rights--zero tolerance for organized crime

(Robert Kennedy was the Attorney General)--

use America’s gifts to improve the world

(Peace Corps and VISTA) programs helped

the less fortunate

-was a young father and a decorated veteran--“America’s

New Frontier”--inspired a new generation

-controversy and scandal marred this image--affairs and

corruption were later revealed

-was assassinated in Dallas, TX--Nov. 22, 1963

1) conspiracy and cover-up surround the murder

a. possible links with Cuba, organized crime,

and the CIA

b. only suspect--Lee Harvey Oswald--was shot before he could be brought to trial--evidence was confusing--cover up?

c. only credible evidence points to a single gunman (Oswald) acting on his own

2) made Kennedy a martyr--began America’s

disillusion with politics

2. Watergate brings America more scandal and controversy

-members of Richard Nixon’s campaign staff set up a

break in at the Democratic headquarters in the

Watergate Hotel--before the 1972 election--info.

taken was never used--Nixon won in a landslide

over Sen. George McGovern (D-SD)

-Nixon learned of the break in and decided to cover it up

-the media got the story and exposed the cover up

-Congress brought up articles of impeachment

-Nixon resigned rather than disgrace the office--1974

-V.P. Gerald Ford was sworn in as President

-every controversial story is a “scandal” now

-increased the power of the press in America

3. Jimmy Carter’s presidency was largely ineffective (1976-1980)

-former Gov. of Georgia--was elected because he was

honest and was not a “Washington Insider”--was

the choice of the people, not the party--much of his

program for Am. was blocked by his own party

-Energy Crisis--Started with oil embargoes by the Middle

Eastern petroleum companies against the US

(OPEC) in the early 1970’s--Carter’s energy programs

were aimed at conserving energy and developing

alternative fuel sources

-Peace Between Israel and Egypt--Carter hosted a series of

meetings between Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat and

Israeli leader Menachim Begin--led to the first peace

treaty ever signed between an Arab nation and the

Israelis

-Iran Hostage Crisis--Islamic terrorists overthrew the Shah

of Iran--seized the US Embassy--took hostages--Pres.

Carter was unable to get them home--was wrongly

blamed for problems at home and abroad

*The “Reagan Revolution”

--Ronald Reagan (R-California) was elected by a landslide over Jimmy

Carter in 1980--was re-elected in 1984 over former V.P. Walter

Mondale (D--Minn.)

1. “Cultural Conservativism”--Reagan’s main philosophy as

President was based on conservative Judeao-Christian

values--was against abortion, divorce, “immoral” behavior,

communism, drugs, etc.

2. Fiscal Conservatism--wanted to reduce the size of the

government by cutting taxes and eliminating federal

programs

-created a “boom” in the economy

-military defense spending created a huge budget deficit

that led to a recession or down turn in the economy

in the early 1990’s--was blamed on Pres. Bush (sr.)

3. Was shot by John Hinkley, Jr. in 1981--Hinkley was found

mentally incompetent to stand trial and placed in a

psychiatric hospital--Reagan’s press secretary, James Brady,

was also badly wounded and later works for hand-gun

control--“The Brady Bill”

4. Farm Crisis, Unemployment, and Homelessness were problems

that arose during Reagan’s Presidency

5. Restores pride in the nation and brings more respect to the

Presidency--Grenada Rescue Operation and Libyan Bombings

6. Scandals did arise in the military build up and funding of anti-

Communist forces in Central America

-Iran-Contra--members of the administration diverted illegal funds from arm sales to Iran to fund the “Contras” who were fighting communist governments in Nicaragua and El Salvador—many were charged with crimes—Reagan was “out of the loop” and was unaware of the incidents

-Deficit Spending—by winning the arms race and cutting taxes, Reagan’s administration increased the Federal Deficit (money borrowed by the government) at an incredible rate—However, the economy continued to boom for most Americans

--George Bush was elected President in 1988

1. Opposition in the Congress worked against many of his

programs--party politics

2. Was successful in foreign policy issues

-Panama (1989)--a military dictator, Manuel Noriaga, was

helping to smuggle drugs and weapons into and out

of the U.S.

1) Bush deployed Army and Marine forces to “arrest”

him

-The Persian Gulf War--Iraqi dictator Saddham Hussein

tried to take over the neighboring country of Kuwait

and threatened to take over Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and

Israel--was contained and defeated by a U.S.-led

coalition of United Nations countries--the coalition

rules were so strictly written that Hussein could not

be pursued and captured and remains in power

4. Economic difficulties forced Bush to go back on a campaign promise not to raise taxes

-ended a recession and closed the deficit on the budget—bipartisan economic package with the Democrats to improve economy

-opponents used this against him in 1992—“broken promises”

-pushed many Republicans and Conservative Democrats toward H. Ross Perot’s Reform Party

5. Was defeated by William J. Clinton in 1992

-Clinton promised an economic turnaround

-Perot claimed that neither party could break the gridlock of politics that was stagnating the nation’s growth

-Bush could not overcome the “No NEW TAXES” pledge

-Election results:

|Clinton |Bush |Perot |

|Electors: 370 |Electors: 168 |Electors: 0 |

|Pop. Vote: 43% |Pop. Vote: 37.4% |Pop. Vote: 18.9% |

--William J. Clinton capitalized on Bush’s lack of success on economic and certain foreign issues and the rise of Reform Party candidate H. Ross Perot

1. Was seen as a Washington outsider—former Gov. of Arkansas

2. Economy turned around in 1993—1992 Bush Budget Compromise

3. Benefitted from growth of internet and “website business”

4. Increased capital gains tax (tax on personal profits from the sale of land or from stock market activity) and greatly reduced defense spending (Post Cold War Military) to shrink the US budget deficit

5. Worked to reform welfare system—“workfare” programs pushed for less dependancy on welfare programs and encouraged people to seek jobs—compromised with BOTH parties in Congress

6. Won re-election in 1996 over Sen. Robert Dole of Kansas by moving to more moderate positions—Perot ran as well, getting 12% of the vote, again taking votes away from the more conservative candidate, Dole

7. Personal scandals involving real estate deals, campaign contributions, misuse of FBI files, sexual affairs, and perjury consumed much of his efforts and credibility as President

8. Impeachment—was impeached by the House of Representatives—Senate fell one vote short of convicting him on perjury and obstruction of justice charges

9. First Democratic President to win and serve 2 full terms since FDR

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