Monday - Forum post leader talked about topics , took notes, Take quiz on Thursday over key terms
The Second Red Scare 1947-57
Causes:
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Trial
Found guilty of spying for the Soviets-Executed in 1953
Causes of 2nd Red Scare Cont.
The Iron Curtain surrounding East Europe- 1945
The USSR detonating their atomic bomb -1949
China becoming communist-1949
The Korean War starting in 1950 -Domino Effect
Stalin’s actions in Germany-Berlin Blockade
Alien Registration Act of 1940 (Smith Act)
Made it illegal to advocate the overthrow of the U.S. government
Required all non-citizen adult residents to register with the government
Approximately 215 people were indicted under the legislation , including alleged communists, Anarchists, and fascists
- Prosecutions under the Smith Act continued until the Supreme Court decision declared the law unconstitutional in 1957
McCarthy’s Downfall
McCarthy’s downfall finally began in October 1953, when he started to investigate “communist infiltration into the military.”
This was the final straw for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who realized that MCCArthy’s movement needed to be stopped
In late 1954, the Senate voted to censure him got his conduct and to strip him of his privileges
McCarthyism
The practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence.
House Un-American Activities Committee - HUAC -1945-1975
This organization went after directors and actor in Hollywood
The committee believed that films were spreading communist propaganda
They set up hearing to investigate the movie industry
Hollywood Ten
Each Man was found guilty and sentenced to spend a year in prison and pay a $1,000 fine
US Test Hydrogen Bomb - 1952
1000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima atomic bomb
Set off on Bikini Island in the Marshall Islands
Yuri Gagarin -1961
Caused US to panic
JFK’s Moonshot speech
Eisenhower Embarrassment
Khrushchev:
“I must tell you a secret. When I made my first report I deliberately did not say that the pilot was alive and well... and now just look how many silly things [the Americans]” have said.
Tuesday - Notes
Berlin Wall - 1961
was a barrier that divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Constructed by the German Democratic Republic , starting on 13 August 1961, the Wall completely cut off (by land) West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin until government officials opened it in November 1989.
Bay of Pigs
What was it? - was a failed military invasion of Cuba
What were the results?They didn’t want it to look like the US did this, so after going in it doesn’t go well. The Cuban military goes in and have to defend for themselves.
How did it hurt President Kennedy? It was a loss for him and it hurt his presidency. It was a huge embarrassment they thought he was weak against communism.
The Compromise
The Soviets would remove their missiles from Cuba
The US would promise to never invade Cuba
The US would secretly remove our nuclear missiles from Turkey within six months
Ronald Reagan Becomes President-1981
Ran on a very strong anti-communist platform
Soviets had just invaded Afghanistan
SDI - “Star Wars”
Strategic Defense Initiative
1983- Ronald Reagan- Large Scale Funding
Intended to be a defensive shield against the potential Soviet threat
Aim was to make nuclear weapons obsolete
- This would be achieved by developing technology to shoot down inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in space
Wednesday - Notes
Perestroika and Glasnost- 1985
Perestroika-Restructuring of the Soviet economy and political system
More Democracy
Free Elections
Glasnost- More openness of the Soviet government and for it’s people
Free speech and press
We had close ties with our Allies and the USSR didn’t
China started siding with us after 1972
The Soviet economy was in shambles whereas the US’s was flourishing
Huge Deficit
High Inflation
Corruption
Social problems
Shortage of Basic Needs (Food,Housing)
4. The strong anti-communist presidency of Reagan
5. Gorbachev’s willingness for change and reform
Glasnost and Perestroika
Admitted Soviet mistakes
Took blame for Cold War
COmmunist system had failed
Allowed Easter Europe to do what they wanted
6. Arms Reduction Talks
SALT, INF, Reagan-Gorbachev meetings
7. Soviet Mistakes
Invasion of Afghanistan
Ignoring Social Concerns
Spent Everything on Military
Post- Cold War
In the 1990’s the world seemed to be a much more peaceful place
We didn’t have any major threat to worry about
President Clinton closed down numerous military bases around the country reducing the size of the US Military
9-11 caught the US off guard
Russia vs. Ukraine-2014-15
Ukraine wanted to join the European Union but leader did not want to as he was Pro-RUssia
Ukrainian leader is forced out
Russia moves troops in the Crimean Peninsula and annexes it after Crimean voters vote to approve annexation
- Cease-fire was signed in February.2015
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