Chapter 36 Main Idea Log

Thesis: The Cold War had vast impacts on the way that the United States is viewed today, especially in the arms race with the Soviet Union, "American" ideals and culture, economic and political practices, and the forging of America as the dominant world power.

1. Postwar Economic Anxieties: After WWII when Americans were nervous about another Great Depression arising, laws and tariffs were passed to try to ease the mind of the public.
• Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act. It banned "closed shops" (closed to anyone not joining the union). It also made unions liable for certain damages and that union leaders take a non-communist oath. Opposite of the Wagner Act of the New Deal, Taft-Hartley weakened labor unions
• The Employment Act (1946) got the government to "promote maximum employment, production, and purchasing power." The Council of Economic Advisors were to give the president solid data to make solid decisions.
• The Servicemen's Readjustment Act (1944) was better known at the GI Bill of Rights. It sent 8 million former soldiers to vocational schools and colleges.
2. The Long Economic Boom, 1950-1970: As the economy remained stable through the 1940's and began to shoot up in the 1950's, America had reached a level of prosperity that broke all previous records, shown in the expansion of the middle class and push for more rights.
• The economy held its ground through the late 40's. By 1950, the economy began to skyrocket. America pushed toward, and reached, a new age of prosperity.
• Women benefited from the good times as well. Many women found jobs in new offices and shops. Women were 25% of the workforce at war's end, about 50% five years later.
• The middle class was the big winner during these years. The class doubled in size and they expanded their ambitions: two cars in the garage, and a pool out back, and whatever else can be thrown in.
3. The Roots of Postwar Prosperity: The postwar economic boom resulted from multiple sources, including military projects (providing thousands of jobs), cheap energy, and increased standards of living.
• Post-war military projects kept the "military-industrial complex" in business. There were tons of jobs in military-related areas, such as aerospace, plastics, electronics, and "R and D" (research and development).
• Energy was cheap and plentiful. High car sales reflected the cheap gas. A strong infrastructure of power lines, gas lines helped feed homes and businesses. 
• Worker production increased. More Americans went to and stayed in school. Increased education meant increased standard of living.
4. The Smiling Sunbelt: The Sunbelt, from California to Florida, began to form a new, unprecedented role in shaping American politics and the regional power dynamic.
• There was a shift-of-power from the old Northeast and Midwest to the new South and West—from the Frostbelt and Rustbelt to the Sunbelt. Symbolizing this shift, California became the most populous state in the 50's, passing New York.
• Many of the government's new military facilities were built in the Sunbelt. Good-paying jobs came with them.
• A political battle was shaping up. By 1990, the Sunbelt received $125 billion more federal money than the northern areas. And, with their populations increased, more Congressional and presidential votes had moved down to the Sunbelt states.
5. The Rush to the Suburbs: After the war, whites abandoned the inner-cities and moved out to the grass and trees of the suburbs.
• Cheap home loans offered by the FHA and the Veteran's Administration made buying a home more sensible than renting an apartment in town. 25% of Americans lived in the suburbs by 1960.
• The Levitt brothers perfected the "cookie cutter" house. They were identical but also very affordable. Despite their monotony, many in the 50's actually preferred the standardization, conformity, and comfort-factor the houses gave. It was like the McDonald's theory (which also started and boomed at the time)—no matter which McDonald's you go in, you always get the same burger.
• This so-called "white flight" left blacks in the inner-cities, and left the cities poor. 
• Blacks often had a hard time getting loans, even from government agencies, due to the "risk" involved. Thus, whites were able to move to the suburbs, blacks were not.
6. The Postwar Baby Boom:  When the soldiers returned from war, the baby boom began. The birthrate peaked in 1957. It then slowed and started a "birth dearth."
• While they grew up, entire industries rode their wave. For example in clothing, Levi's jeans went from work pants to standard teenage wear; burger joints boomed; music changed (rock 'n' roll).
• The baby boom, and later birth dearth, created a swell and then a narrowing, in the population of generations. Simply put, the baby boomers far outnumber other generations.
• By 2020, when most baby boomers are retired, it is projected that the Social Security system will go broke.
7. Truman: the "Gutty" Man from Missouri: Harry S Truman was at the helm just after WWII. He had a big smile, was a sharp dresser, and a small but very spunky fellow. He was the first president in many years without a college education.
• Truman was called "The Man from Independence" (Missouri). His cabinet was made of the "Missouri gang", and like Harding of the 20's, Truman was prone to stick by his boys when they got caught in some wrong-doings.
• Truman gained confidence as he went along. He also earned the nickname of "Give 'em Hell Harry." He also a bit prone to making hot-headed or rash decisions, or sticking with a bad decision out of stubbornness.
• Despite little drawbacks, Truman was decisive, "real", responsible, had moxie. He loved the sayings "The buck stops here," and "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
8. Yalta: Bargain or Betrayal? The Big Three (Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin) had met at the Yalta Conference in Feb. 1945 (their last meeting). That meeting shaped the Cold War to come. It was highlighted by distrust between the U.S./Britain and the Soviet Union.
• Russia promised to enter the war against Japan. In return, Russia would get land—1/2 of Sakhalin Island, Japan's Kurile Islands, railroads in Manchuria, and Port Arthur on the Pacific.
• This promise was kept. However, by the time Russia entered, the U.S. had all but won. It appeared Russia entered to just look good and accept the spoils of victory.
• Russia pledged free elections for Poland and a representative government; also elections in Bulgaria and Romania. These promises were flatly broken. The Soviets set up puppet communist governments.
9. The United States and the Soviet Union:  The post-war world had two superpowers: the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). Distrust was high.
• The Soviet Union felt put-out by the Americans because: (1) the U.S. had waited until 1933 to officially recognize the U.S.S.R., (2) the Allies had been slow to start a second front, (3) America withdrew the lend-lease program to Russia in 1945, and (4) America rejected Russia's request for a $6 billion reconstruction loan, but gave one for Germany for $3.75 billion.
• Russia had been attacked from the west twice within about 25 years, so, Stalin wanted a protective buffer from Western Europe. To create that protection, Russia set up puppet communist governments in Eastern Europe. These "satellite nations" would serve as a buffer zone to the Soviet Union.
• Both the U.S. and U.S.S.R. had now been thrown into the international spotlight. They'd both been isolationist, but now had to drive international policies. Both had a history of "missionary" diplomacy—of trying to press their ways onto others. The U.S. and U.S.S.R. had opposing economic-political systems (capitalism and democracy vs. communism) and they didn't trust the other side. The "Cold War" had begun. Their actions and policies would dominate international affairs for the next 40 years.
10. Shaping the Postwar World: After the turmoil of WWII, measures were taken internationally to clean up the global mess and reorganize attempts at peace and negotiations.
• A meeting was held at Bretton Woods, NH (1944). There, the Allies set up the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to propell world trade and regulate currency exchange rates. It also started the World Bank to give loans to needy nations (ravaged by war or just poor).
• Days after FDR died, a charter was drawn up for the United Nations in April 1945 in San Francisco. 50 nations participated. It's headquarters would be in New York City. The U.N. was like the League in concept, the U.N.'s structure was different. It had three main categories… The General Assembly—the main meeting place where each nation got 2 votes. The Security Council dealing with conflict and war. It had 11 member nations, 5 were permanent with total veto power (U.S., Britain, France, U.S.S.R. and China). The Security Council would prove to be the most influential and active in world affairs. Other relief-based agencies, such as UNESCO (U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Org.), the FAO (Food and Agricultural Org.) and WHO (World Health Org.).
• The pressing issue was atomic weaponry. America was the only nation with an atomic bomb at the time—though Russia was getting very close. The Soviets proposed a total ban on atomic weapons. Neither proposal was accepted and thus regulation of atomic weapons did not happen. The nations were to go at it on their own.
11. The Problem of Germany: There was disagreement with what to do about Germany. The U.S. wanted Germany to rebuild as that's good for Europe's economy. Russia wanted reparations.
• Nazi leaders were tried at the Nuremberg Trials just after the war for crimes against humanity. Everyone's rationale was that they'd just been following their orders. Twelve hanged, seven were given long sentences. Hermann Goering killed himself with cyanide.
• To avoid Germany rearming, the country was divided into four zones. The U.S., France, Britain, and Russia would oversee one zone. The idea was to reunite Germany, but Russia balked at the idea. Germany was going to remain split.
• West Germany would be a democracy, East Germany was a puppet communist nation. Berlin was located in East Germany (Russia's section) and it was also split into four zones. The end result was a free West Berlin located inside Russian-controlled East Germany, like an island.