Cold War Anxiety and Domestic Reforms

1. 22.4 Notes The United States and Canada

2. The Economy and the Cold War at Home • After WW2, the U.S. economy reached new peaks of productivity, with huge new industries and rapid growth of new construction • The 1960’s was also a period of economic growth • Economic prosperity led to a rising standard of living in the U.S. • However, the Cold War made some Americans feel anxious and insecure • Eventually, a climate of anticommunist hysteria developed • Some Americans came to believe that Soviet gains occurred because certain people in the U.S. were sympathetic to communism • Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin- leading spokesman for this this belief

3. The Economy and the Cold War at Home (continued) • Between 1950 and 1954- Senator Joseph McCarthy questioned the loyalty of some government officials • Without any real evidence, he accused people of anticommunist activities • In the process, he ruined the careers and destroyed the reputations of many Americans • 1954- Senate committee investigated McCarthy’s conduct • Committee found his claims of communist influence in the U.S. government were groundless • McCarthy lost his influence

4. Domestic Reforms and Civil Rights • November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy assassinated • Lyndon Johnson becomes president • Johnson hoped to create what he called the Great Society • His program included a war on poverty and important civil rights legislation • NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) • Fdkljfsljf • 1954- Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka- U.S. Supreme court declared that state laws requiring black children to attend separate schools unconstitutional; forced states to integrate their schools

5. Domestic Reforms and Civil Rights (continued) • Martin Luther King Jr.- best known civil rights leader of this time • Called for the use of nonviolent methods, such as boycotts, marches, sit-ins • Receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 • Was assassinated- his death dealt a severe blow to civil rights movement • Also sparked a wave of riots across the country • The U.S. civil rights movement had global effects as well • People protesting their rights throughout the world found inspiration from the civil rights movement

6. Foreign Policy and the Cold War • U.S. foreign policy during the postwar period focused on the containment of communism • In Asia, the U.S. sent troops to South Korea in a “police action” to stop North Korean Communists from taking over the country • President Eisenhower created the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization • Created this in an attempt to halt further communist advances in the region • Also announced the Eisenhower Doctrine • Provided economic and military assistance to noncommunist nations in the Middle East • Efforts to ease Cold War tensions during this period failed

7. Cuban Missile Crisis • 1959- a Marxist named Fidel Castro led rebel forces that overthrew the corrupt government of Cuba • The Eisenhower administration feared that a communist Cuba would become a base of Soviet Operations • April 1961- newly elected President Kennedy authorized an invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro forces • U.S. air support for the invasion was canceled and Cuban forces captured or killed the invaders

8. Cuban Missile Crisis (continued) • Castro turned to the Soviet Union for support against the U.S. • Khrushchev decided to strengthen Soviet military by building nuclear missile sites in Cuba • For 13 days the world stood on the brink of nuclear war • Finally, the Soviet Union agreed to move the missiles, if the United States promised not to invade Cuba • The Cuban missile crisis was the most dangerous moment of the Cold War

9. Canada and the United States • During and after World War 2, United States and Canada’s relationship grew stronger, especially with regard to economic and military affairs • These two nations built a line of radar installations called the Distant Early Warning Line, or DEW Line • Designed to give early warning of air attacks • Together, Canada and the United States also established the North American Air Defense Command

10. 22.4 Questions • Explain Joseph McCarthy’s impact on the Cold War. • Who was the best known civil rights leader of this era, and what were some of the methods he used? • Who created the Southern Asia Treaty Organization and what did it entail? • Describe the events of the Cuban missile crisis. • What is the DEW Line and what two nations formed this?