Reviewing: Cold War to Contemporary United States

1
Reviewing Cold War to Contemporary United States

• SOL VUS.13 - 15

2
Cold War (VUS.13)

• from end of WW2 until collapse of Soviet Union
  (1991)

3
US v. USSR

• Democratic political institutions and Free market
  Economy
• After WW2, occupied West Germany Japan (both
  became Democratic)
• Created Marshall Plan to help rebuild Europe
• Joined Western Europe in NATO

• Totalitarian government Communist (Socialist)
  Economy
• After WW2, occupied East Germany much of
  Eastern Europe (didnt become Democratic)
• Joined Eastern Europe in the Warsaw Pact
• Didnt ally with China when it became Communist

• United States

• Soviet Union

Both joined the United Nations to try to prevent
future wars
4
Cold War Hot Spots

• Result of Truman Doctrine policy of Containment
  of Communism Eisenhowers policy of Massive
  Retaliation
• Millions of Americans served in military to
  defend Freedom

5
War in Korea (1950 1953)

• Communist North Korea invaded South Korea
• US UN helped South Communist China helped
  North
• War ended in Stalemate South Korea
  Non-communist

NORTH
SOUTH
6
Conflict in Cuba (1961 1962)

• 1950s Fidel Castro (Communist ) took over
• Cuban exiles in Florida tried (but failed) to
  invade Cuba Overthrow Castro (Bay of Pigs
  Invasion)

See how close Cuba is to Florida??
7
1962 Soviet Union put Missiles in Cuba (Cuban
Missile Crisis)

• President Kennedy ordered the Soviet to remove
  their missiles and for several days the world was
  on the brink of nuclear war.
• Soviets Removed their missiles.

8
War in Vietnam (1954 1975)

•  Communist North Vietnam invaded South Vietnam
  US helped South Soviets supplied North
• Presidents Kennedy then Johnson sent US troops
  US won many Battles, but couldnt win the War
• US became Divided some Supported the war and
  others (esp. College students) Opposed it

9
War in Vietnam

• President Nixon started Vietnamization to get
  Peace with Honor, but it failed
• Nixon Resigned due to Watergate
• 1975 North South merged under Communism
• Vietnam Veterans were not well treated until later

10
Impact of the Cold War at home

• Fear of Communism Threat of Nuclear War
• Schools held Duck Cover drills people built
  Bomb Shelters in their basements
• Fear of Spies like Alger Hiss and Julius Ethel
  Rosenberg
• Joseph McCarthy exploited these fears and accused
  many of being Communist

11
Cold War at Home

• Foreign policy was a big issue in Elections
  (especially for the President)
• Virginia benefited from Military spending, esp.
  in Northern VA Hampton Roads

12
End of the Cold War

• Collapse of Soviet Union
• Internal problems (rising Nationalism, Gorbachev
  Glasnost Perestroika)
• Pressure from US (increased Defense Spending,
  Reagan Tear Down this Wall) 

13
Foreign Policy After Cold War

• Humanitarian Foreign Aid and support for
  Human Rights.
• George H.W. Bush Fall of Communism,
  re-unification of Germany Collapse of
  Yugoslavia Persian Gulf War
• Bill Clinton NAFTA, Relations with Vietnam, NATO
  involvement in former Yugoslavia no more
  sanctions against South Africa
• George W. Bush 9/11 Attacks, War in Iraq and
  Afghanistan

14
Civil Rights Movement (VUS.14)
15
Civil Rights Movement (VUS.14)
16
Contemporary United States (VUS.15)

• The membership of the Supreme Court has changed
  over time to include
• woman (like Sandra Day OConnor and Ruth Bader
  Ginsburg) and
• minorities (like Thurgood Marshall and Clarence
  Thomas).
• Supreme Court decisions have enlarged individual
  rights, including the right to privacy.

17
The Reagan Revolution

• Ronald Reagan and conservative Republicans
  advocated for tax cuts, reduction in spending on
  social programs and a stronger military.
• The Reagan Revolution later contributed to the
  election of other Republicans and a centrist
  Democrat.

18
Immigration

• New immigrants, especially from Asia and Latin
  America, come to the US for Political Freedom
  Economic Opportunities.
• Immigrants contribute to Diversity, provide Cheap
  Labor impact Education Politics.

19
New Technology

• Space Program President Kennedy supported, Neil
  Armstrong 1st Man on Moon (One Giant Leap for
  Mankind) Sally Ride (1st US Woman in Space)
• Mars Rover , Hubble telescope, space shuttle,
  Voyager missions

20
New Technology

• New Technology like Satellites, GPS, Robots
  personal Communication devices have improved
  access to Global information led to offshoring,
  growth of service industries, increased
  Telecommuting Distance Learning breakthroughs
  in medical research like imaging technologies

21
Contemporary Government

• The President, Congress and the Federal Reserve
  all promote a healthy economy through taxation,
  government spending and monetary policy.
• In response to terrorism, the United States has
  increased security at home (Patriot Act) and
  pursued diplomatic and military initiatives.