McCarthyism

Senator Joseph McCarthy was an anti-Communist activist in the U.S. He was a crazy man of alcoholism. Americans feared that communism was going to spread around the world. McCarthy did not help the fear, he took advantage of people's concerns about communism. He even charged the Democratic Party guilty for allowing Communist infiltration into the government. Accusing the soldiers in the U.S. Army was a big mistake, which was on national television. This hurt him being a Senator, convicted of improper conduct.

Space Race

In the early 1957, the U.S. felt confident with military technology with guided missiles. The Soviet Union showed there advancement in technology and launched a satellite called Sputnik on October 4, 1957. Americans felt inferior to the Soviets, so they improved education and attempted to launch satellites. The U.S. finally launched a successful satellite on January 31, 1958. The U-2 incident was a secret mission of the U.S. The CIA makes a secret flight over the Soviet Union to take photos. Soon the Soviets find out.Eisenhower considers to discontinue the U-2 to allow for negotiations with Khrushcher. Francis Gary Poweres made out the last U-2 flight on May 1, 1960. He was shot down by a Soviet pilot and taken prisoner. The 1960's begins with as much tension as ever.

Civil War in China

The Communist leader Mao Zedong led Northern China. The Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek led Southern China. A civil war broke out between the two groups. The Americans favored the south because they opposed communism. Some corrupt Nationalist leaders fled to Taiwan for help. The U.S. didn't help fight, but did send over supplies and money. The U.S. had failed containment and should have provide greater support to the Nationalist. The U.S was afraid communism would spread.

Arms Race

The U.S. wanted to be superior to the Soviet Union. Scientists developed a bomb more powerful than an atomic bomb. They created the H-bomb (hydrogen bomb), which has the fore of 1 million tons of TNT. J. Robert Oppenheimer was the leader of the bomb team. Truman authorized the H-bob creation because of political pressure. Less than a year after the Americans blasted the H-bomb, the Soviet Union exploded their own. This started tension between the two superpowers, the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Korean War

Korea's government is divided into north and south at the 38th parallel. South Korea is occupied by the U.S. and the leader is Syngman Rhee. North Korea is communist and led by Kim Il Sung. At one point North Korea attacks South Korea, which starts the war around late June 1950. This alarmed Americans! Truman quickly takes military action, by helping South Korea. General Douglas MacArthur took the responsibility of commanding the U.S forces.

Cold War Summary

The cold war began after WWII during the 20th century. The two superpowers were U.S and the U.S.S.R. During the time Truman was president for the U.S after F.D.R died. Truman was left with the responsibility of the top secret atomic bomb, which was under covered as the Manhattan Project. There was an important meeting called the Potsdam Conference, who included Stalin, Churchill, and Truman. Truman wanted to help other countries with free trade, while influencing democracy. He started foreign containment. Soviet Union tried to keep Germany divided and weak. The U.S. used the Berlin Airlift, which was flying food and supplies into West Berlin. The NATO Alliance (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed by ten western European nations, joined with the U.S and Canada.