Chapter XXXVII: The Cold War Begins

REVISED

  1. Why did the economy of the United States boom so much from 1950-1970?
  2. What were the most significant demographic shifts in post-WWII America?
  3. What kinds of impacts did the "Baby Boom" have on American life?
  4. What was the Cold War, and why did it happen?
  5. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the United Nations?
  6. Explain George F. Kennan's theory of containment. Was it a necessary response to Soviet aggression, or did it needlessly drive the two superpowers farther apart?
  7. What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan? How were America's interests served as well as Europe's and Japan's?
  8. What was the original purpose of NATO? How well has it achieved its intent? How is the organization different today?
  9. Who were the leading promoters of the Red Scare of the 1950's? How did the Red Scare impact American society? What ultimately became of "Tailgunner Joe?"
  10. Why was Truman's election in 1948 such a surprise? How did he do it?
  11. How did Truman respond to North Korea's invasion of South Korea in 1950? Why was NSC-68 such an important "Cold War document"?
  12. Describe the military operations which created the four situations depicted by the situational maps on page 890.
  13. Why did Truman fire MacArthur? In your opinion, was Truman's decision a wise one?
  14. How do the "New Left Revisionist" historians differ with the traditional interpretation of responsibility for the Cold War?
  15. Is the Cold War really over? How do you know?
  16. Identify:
    • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
    • Alger Hiss
    • Richard Nixon
    • McCarran Internal Security Act
    • Berlin Airlift
    • Nuremberg War Crimes Trials
    • Benjamin Spock
    • Servicemen's Readjustment Act
    • Truman Doctrine
    • Taft-Hartley Act
    • The Fair Deal
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