History

Demobilization

The US Army reduced from 12,000,000 to 3,000,000

peacetime economy

Job shortages because of all the soldiers returning

fair deal

domestic program by Truman, called for the creation of more jobs, reduce discrimination against blacks

1948 election

Truman was predicted to go down and defeat, pulled off Major upset by winning against Thomas Dewey

desegregation of US military

1948, Truman orders military to desegregate

cold war

Battle of diplomacy, propaganda and nerves

iron curtain

Term made by Winston Churchhill describing the Soviet union control of eastern Europe

containment

US foreign-policy of stopping the spread of communist influence around the word

truman doctrine

Truman's policy of supporting free people from atto take over by armed minorities

Marshall plan

secretary of state George Marshall's plan for helping postwar Europe, rebuild Europe, contain communism, ensure economic stability of economy

Berlin blockade

soviet union blocked of land access to city

berlin airlift

US and British planes carried in surprise to blockaded city

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty organization catch to defend each other in the event of attack

chang Kai-shek

Nationalist leader of the Chinese after world war 2

Mao Zedong

communist leader who ultimately takes control over China in 1949

HUAC

House on United nation American activities committee: investigated many Americans of charges of being communist

Joseph McCarthy

senator who led attack on communism during early 50s

38th parallel

line agreed upon at Potsdam marking the division of Soviet and American influence of Korea after world war 2

Syngman Rhee

leader of Pro American South Korea

Kim Il Sung

leader of communist North Korea

United Nations involvement

after North Korea invaded, the US when to the United Nations for support. after the USSR walked out of the meeting in protest, the security council voted and approved military action to help South Korea

Douglass MacArthur

American general placed in command of United Nations/South Korean forces

Inchon

City where MacArthur launched a surprise counterattack behind enemy lines and saves South Korea from defeat

truman vs MacArthur

MacArthur wanted to escalate the war and bomb chinese cities because of the support that they were giving to the north

end of war

after a back and forth battle costing the US 54,000 soldiers lives, the war ended in a stalemate with the creation of two countries, north and South Korea

election of 1952

Eisenhower elected, defeated the Democrats that had been in power since 1932, Korean War was one of the causes of Democrats loss

Hydrogen Bomb

150 times more powerful than bombs dropped on hiroshima

brinkmanship

foreign policy of willingly going to the brink, or edge, of war

U2 incident

US spy plane shot down at same time as peace summit was going to take place between Eisenhower and Khrushchev

U2. spy plane

high quality cameras, 10 miles high, can take detailed pictures on earth, flies very slow,

baby boom

time period After World War II that family size grew and population went from 140 to 180 million

sputnik

soviet union satellite put into orbit in 1957. Stunned America. Many feared nuclear weapons raining down from orbit

automobile

American dependence on the car continues to grow with the growth of suburbs. Government response by massive Highway building efforts

television

TV replaces radio as favorite media of the Americans. I love Lucy and game shows to dominate. scandal involving a rigged game show almost eliminates game shows from TV for years

Dr. Spock

Pediatrician Who wrote how to books on raising children. He advised not to spank and to give children voice in family

New products

polyester, plastics, hi-fin(stereo) record players. Many other electronics

planned obsolescence

Products that were purposefully designed to either ware out or become outdated in a short period of time

movies

hollywood's golden age. Most movies were now in color and new techniques like wide screen encouraged great epics to be filmed

alfred Hitchcock

first director to have film associated with their name. Master of suspense. Movie include: north by northwest, vertigo, the Man who knew to much, rear window, and psycho

beat movement

literary artist expressed their ideas of non-conformity Beatnik lived lives very different from the American dream

jack kerauac

leading beat movement writer who's book on the road encouraged people to set out to find alternative lifestyles

Rock 'n' roll

Elvis takes black music crossed to the mainstream and revolutionizes American music.

Elvis presley

King of rock 'n' roll dominated the teen scene of the 50s. 45 of his records sold more than 1 million copies. Also stared in many movies

jackie Robinson

first African-American to play in the major natures. Join the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 (baseball only real popular sport, everything else uncommon)

USSR

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics