Korean War, The Space Race, The Arms Race

Korean War: Many Americans believed their government had not done enough to prevent the fall of China to Communism. This criticism of the U.S. foreign policy affected American actions at the time of the outbreak of the Korean War. (1950-1953)The Arms Race: Atomic Bomb / Hydrogen

Bomb / Nuclear DeterrentThe Space Race: Sputnik : 1957

Arms Race

America did not share atomic bomb secrets

1949, Soviets have their own a-bomb

1952: U.S. developed Hydrogen Bomb (Much more powerful than the original a-bomb)

Arms Race

In less than 1 year the Soviet Union exploded its first hydrogen bomb.

Two Superpowers have a smaller technology gap than had previously be thought

Space Race

Sputnik: Soviet Union launches first satellite

1957

Not much larger than a basketball

184 pounds

Space Race

Orbited the Earth once every 98 minutes with a radio transmitter that did little more than issue a frequent beep that allowed it to be tracked

Raised fear that the Soviet Union might use missiles to send Nuclear Bombs to the U.S.

1958: U.S. launched its own satellite into space

Cold War at Home

Loyalty Review Boards: Investigated individual “un-American” activities. ◦These victims were often not able to defend

themselves or even know who had accused them. (HUGE violation of their Constitutional Rights)

House Un-American Activities Committee: Congress conducts its own loyalty checks◦Questioned actors, directors, writers, and others

about their possible Communist sympathies.◦Those identified as present, former or showing

sympathies towards the Communist Party were usually “Blacklisted” & lost their jobs.

Cold War at Home

Julius & Ethel Rosenberg: Were charged with selling national secrets to the Soviet Union about the atomic bomb. Found Guilty. Executed.

Venona Papers: National Security Agency released these formerly classified papers in 1997. A secret effort by the U.S. to gather and decode messages sent by Soviet military intelligence agents. Revealed the identities of several Americans who had spied for the Soviets. Julius Rosenberg was on that list

Cold War at Home

Joseph McCarthy: U.S. Senator who claimed he had the names of Communist who had infiltrated the U.S. State Department and other government agencies. No proof. Eventually formally criticized by the Senate

McCarthyism: Term that has become identified with making harsh accusations without evidence.

Cold War at Home / Eisenhower

Eisenhower Doctrine:1957; We would send U.S. forces to any Middle Eastern nation that requested help in defending against Communism

Interstate Highway Act: Created a system of federal highways

Cold War at Home / Eisenhower

Housing Boom: Home ownership increased by 50%. The movement of middle-income families to the suburbs led to a declining urban tax base and decaying inner cities.

Baby Boom: High Birth Rate.

G.I. Bill: Servicemen’s Readjustment Act. Pays for college!

Cold War at Home / Eisenhower

Economic Prosperity: Millions of autos & TV sets were sold. America dominated world trade

Conformity: Greater emphasis on conformity