1950s and Cold War

Based on the concept of collective security which each member pledged to defend each other if attacked.

• SEATO

• Alliance

• Partnership

• NATO

Massive aid program for war torn European countries.

• Berlin Airlift

• Marshall Plan

• Stalin Plan

• United Nations

Congressional committee questioned actors, directors, writers and others about their possible Communists sympathies.

• House of Un-American Activities Committee

• House Investigative Committee

• Communist Finding Committee

• Reds Be Gone Committee

Congressmen created fears of a communist conspiracy to overthrow the American government by infiltrating the US State Department with spies

• Communist witch hunt
• HUAC
• McCarthyism
• Senate Hearings

US would not attempt to overturn communism where it already existed, but they resolved not to allow it to spread

• Containment Policy
• One China Policy
• Vietnamization
• Domino Theory

US President offered military aid to Greece and Turkey when communist rebels threatened these two countries

• Eisenhower Doctrine
• Nixon Doctrine
• Truman Doctrine
• Roosevelt Doctrine

Soviet Union reacted to creation of Western European alliances by unifying Eastern European satellite countries

• NATO
• SEATO
• Warsaw Pact
• Moscow Pals

Communist North invaded the South, Truman chose to aid the South to prevent the spread of communism; sometimes referred to as the “Forgotten War”

• Vietnam War
• Korean War
• Gulf War
• Afghanistan War

Servicemen’s Readjustment Act; helped veterans with low interest home loans and money for college education

• Heroes Legislation
• G.I. Bill
• Soldier Service Bill
• College Aid Bill

Stalin ordered a blockade in 1947, the US organized a massive humanitarian relief effort to supply and feed the city

• Berlin Airlift
• Berlin Wall
• Berlin Blockade
• Winter in Berlin