HIS-450 Topic 1 From World War to Cold War Worksheet PDF

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HIS-450 Topic 1 From World War to Cold War Worksheet Instructions: In 200-300 words, respond to the following prompts. Each prompt should be supported with research. Each response is worth 7 points.

1. Describe the significance of the Truman Doctrine to the Cold War. The Truman Doctrine was President Truman speaking to the citizens of the United States regarding the imminent threat of the Soviets. He addresses the value of assisting other countries to fight against oppression. The doctrine declares that “free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms” 1. With this insight it is the people of the United States responsibility to help others protect their freedom. If the U.S. fails to do so, then the U.S. jeopardizes the nation and our freedom as well. If the United States permitted the Soviet Union to take possession of just one nation what would stop them from further domination that would lead to endangering our very own country. The Truman Doctrine was advising Americans that they should eliminate the Soviets before they got out of hand and affected the United States as well. The doctrine was giving the United States the reasons they needed to engage in the Cold War.

1 MyHistorylab, Harry S. Truman, The Truman Doctrine (1947), Pearson Education Inc. 2009

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2. How did the Marshall Plan impact the future of Europe? Following World War II Europe had been ravaged. Most of Europe’s roads and bridges were demolished. The dangerous conditions of undetonated bombs and ammunition blanketed the fields. The canals and rivers were obstructed by fallen bridges and sunken ships. Survivors of the war were devastated by inflation. Obliteration of the crops all over the continent had Europe starving. The United States was one of the remaining powers left strong enough to aid Europe2.George C. Marshall established a strategy to assist Europe in its healing after the war. Marshalls Plan says “It is logical that the United States should do whatever it is able to do to assist in the return of normal economic health in the world, without which there can be no political stability and no assure peace”3. The plan was to aid Europe back to operating efficiently until they could do so for themselves.

3. How did the social and racial changes that occurred during WWII impact U.S. society after the war? World War II the United States was fighting against fascism. The fight was to combat against one race being superior to another. During this America was faced with their own hypocrisy in American democracy and treatment of minorities. Throughout the war the NAACP acted to stop prejudice in the armed forces. “Jim crow Laws enforcing segregation in the south also made the Untied States vulnerable to Soviet propaganda that sought to highlight the inequities of American democracy in order to win influence among Third World people of color”4. Civil Rights after the war became a topic of interest throughout the world. 2 Mee, C.L. (2015) Saving a Continent. The Untold story of the Marshall Plan. New World City Inc. 3 Myhistorylab, George C. Marshall, The Marshall Plan, 1947. Pearson Education Inc. 2009 4 Moss, G. and E. Thomas(2019) Moving On: The American People Since 1945, Fifth Edition

4. What is NATO and why was (is) it important to the West? The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO is an international defense alliance established in 1949. This is an alliance was created with twelve countries for their defense against the Soviet Union. In the Cold War NATO was the central defense in Europe against any faction that posed as a danger hostile to any country that was apart of the alliance. North Atlantic Treaty Organization is still working today for protection, and it has expanded to twenty-nine allying countries5

5 Bowman, J. & C. Goodwin (2019) NATO: Overview. Points of view

5. What was the Red Scare? What role did the HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) play during the Red Scare? What was the overall impact of the Red Scare on U.S. society?

The Red Scare was a general concern of a probable increase of communism. The HUAC was formed in 1938 to examine alleged disloyal and rebellious activities of private citizens, public employees, and organizations speculated of having relations with communist. HUAC to me was essentially a witch hunt seeking to wipe out all communist groups in America. The fear mongering in the United States had the general public scared that communist could be your neighbor. With this paranoid environment books were prohibited from schools, PTA, campfire girls, and Boy Scouts all were under question. Hollywood was also investigated, and people were blacklisted6

References Bowman, J. & C. Goodwin (2019) NATO: Overview. Points of view 6 Moss, G. and E. Thomas (2012) Moving On: The America People Since 1945, Fifth Edition

Mee, C.L. (2015) Saving a Continent. The Untold story of the Marshall Plan. New World City Inc. Moss, G. and E. Thomas (2012) Moving On: The America People Since 1945, Fifth Edition Myhistorylab, George C. Marshall, The Marshall Plan, 1947. Pearson Education Inc. 2009 Myhistorylab, Harry S. Truman, The Truman Doctrine (1947), Pearson Education Inc. 2009...