Week Seven

  • House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

    An investigative committee of the U.S. House of Representatives created in 1938 to inquire into rebellious activities in the U.S.(It was abolished i 1975)
    -In the mid-1940's, the committee focused its investigations on searching for communists in the U.S
    -Most famous for investigating Alger Hiss and for the "blacklisting' of many Hollywood actors
    -Often inaccurately associated with Joseph McCarthy, who was Senator(Not a member of the House)
  • G.I. Bill Established

    Wanted to create benefits and jobs for soldiers coming back from World War II
    -Benefits: low cost mortgage, start up loans for businesses. low interest loans, payed soldiers to go to college
    -Economy was greatly improving in the U.S. with the help of G.I. Bill
  • Truman Docttrine

    -Purpose: the U.S. made the policy to help stop the spread of communism and keep communism contained-was created to free a smaller country from bigger force(communist)
    -Containment policy: is to stop the spread of communism to other countries-domino theory: if one state came under communism the rest would follow
  • Marshall Plan

    -In 1947 Secretary of State George Marshall proposed an economic program to contain communism
    -His Marshall Plan supported economic aid to Europe and generated increased trade between the United States and European nations
    -Marshall received the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize for the plan
  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO)

    Purpose: safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means
    Why it was created: protect each other from the Soviet Union
    Members: U.S., UK,Canada, and 9 North Western European countries
    -Stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
    -Soviet response: they tried to expand and made the Warsaw Pact(defense treaty among 8 communist states)
  • Air-Conditioning (Man Made Weather)

    -Modern A/C invented in 1902 but not put to widespread use until after WWII
    -Used 1st in a theater in the South- use of TV A/C and cars killed the use of front porch gatherings and drove up the use of electricity
    -Jobs and people migrated to the south b/c of the use of A/C (people can escape the Southern heat)
    -With more jobs and people in the South A/C helped boosted the economy
  • Rock-N-Roll

    A from of popular music that evolved in the 1950's from rhythm and blues; characterized by the use of electric guitars, a strong rhythm with and accent on the offbeat, and youth-oriented lyrics it characterized a generational divide between youths and adults
  • Senate Hearings Led By Joseph McCarthy

    RED SCARE II also McCarthyism McCarthyism-
    Term coined by the political cartoonist Hebert Block in a 1950 cartoon in reference to Senator Joseph McCarthy
    The fear of communism(a second Red Scare) increased throughout the 1950s extreme opposition to communism gained the name "McCathyism" fro m the efforts of Senator McCarthy in 1950 announced that Communist worked in the State Dept. He identify known communist and accused others due to 1000's falsely accused he lost the senators race