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The Rise of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley was born in 1935 and helped to create the music of rock ‘n’ roll. His music inspired John Lennon and Paul McCartney to form what would become known as the Beatles. -
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
This committee was established by the House of Representatives to look into “subversion” cases. -
Bretton Woods Conference
In Bretton Woods, New Jersey, the Western Allies of the Cold War met to establish the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to encourage international trade as well as the World Bank to encourage economic growth after the effects of WWII and the Great Depression. -
GI Bill of Rights
This bill provided $20 a week for up to 52 weeks to returning veterans due to the fear that employers wouldn’t be able to support them. -
Yalta Conference
In the aftermath of World War II, the Big Three, including Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, Winston Churchill of the UK, and, FDR of the US, decided that Germany would be split into four parts controlled by the latter militaries. -
United Nations
This organization was established to maintain international peace and security, as well as prevent wars like the World Wars from happening again. -
Employment Act of 1946
This required that people promote employment and maximum production. It ultimately out the responsibility of making sure employment rates were up onto the government instead of a laissez-fare mindset. -
Nuremberg War Crime Trial
The Allies of WWII agreed that Nazis would be completely dissolved in Germany, and included the punishment of Nazi leaders who were found. Some were sentenced to long term jail time, while some were hung for their crimes. -
Cold War
Throughout history, the Soviet Union and United States never seemed to come to an understanding. When they were joined in the “Grand Alliance,” society had little hope that they would last. The fear of communist Russia spreading to capitalistic, democratic America grew. Europe remained scarred after the results of WWII, and the USSR as well as the US yearned for power and imperialism. -
Taft-Hartley Act
This law restricted the power of labor unions. Leaders of unions condemned this act as a “slave-labor law.” -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine claimed that the US would provide military assistance to any democratic nation. -
Marshall Plan
Secretary of State, George C. Marshall, invited European powers including the Soviet Union to a meeting in Paris where he would offer the same military assistance that Truman offered in the Truman Doctrine. However, the Soviet Union would have to accept some outside controls if they were to agree. -
Berlin Blockade
Out of spite for the US, the Soviet Union attempted to block off Berlin to prevent the US from traveling to their half. -
Executive Order 9981
This order was given by President Truman in 1948 to bring together the United States military forces. This ultimately ended discrimination against race or color in the US military and provided that opportunity to colored people. -
Operation Dixie
This protest aimed at unionizing workers to support the idea of mixing races in the workplace. In the end, workers received the raise they fought for and paid vacations. -
Berlin Airlift
As a result of the Berlin Blockade, the US decided to fly aircrafts that had in years prior dropped the nuclear bombs in Asia over Berlin to deliver much needed supplies such as food, water, and medicine. -
Fair Deal
This deal similar to the name New Deal established by FDR was made to improve housing, have full employment, provide national health insurance, a higher minimum wage, and many more. -
Sunbelt
The sunbelt became the name of the area passing through fifteen states including Virginia, Florida, Texas, and California. This region increased in population twice as fast as the rest of America. -
Korean War
Very quickly and without permission, Truman ordered naval and air troops to go support South Korea. Great Britain, Canada, and the Philippines contributed troops, however the US made up 88% of the UN participation. General Douglas MacArthur, UN commander, took his orders from Washington instead of the Security Council during this war. -
National Security Council Memorandum Number 68
After the North Korean attack against South Korea, Truman’s council decided that the US should quadruple it’s military force spending. After WWII, the US was not taking any chances postwar. Truman took advantage of the Soviet Union’s absence from UN’s Security Council and received a vote that North Korea was an aggressor. Thus, the Korean War commenced. -
Checkers Speech
California Senator Richard Nixon’s address to the public denying the charges of an accusation regarding illegal donations.This reassuring speech guaranteed his spot on the ballot for Vice President of the United States. -
Army-McCarthy Hearings
Americans in groups of up to twenty million gathered to witness the hearings of accusations and investigations between the United States Army and US Senator Joseph McCarthy. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
During this case, the justices on the Supreme Court ruedo that segregating in schools based on color was unconstitutional. Therefore, the case made in 1896, Plessy v. Ferguson, was reversed. -
Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
This group was formed by southern black students who wanted to raise awareness to the violence and discrimination that was happening throughout the nation. -
The Feminine Mystique
Feminist Betty Friedan wrote this book in hopes to raise awareness and support to the women’s movement.
