Cold War and Social Movements Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Michael Morgan from Lathrop High School discussing AP history review.
• Focus on post-World War II developments leading to the Cold War and subsequent social movements.

Post-World War II Political Landscape

• Shift to authoritarian right-wing conservative period followed by a reactionary libertarian left movement (1950s-1970s).
• Cold War context and ideological clash: authoritarianism vs. libertarianism.

The Start of the Cold War

• Distrust between Stalin and the West, exacerbated by delayed Western Front in Europe.
• Yalta Conference agreements on self-determination not fully honored by either side.
• Division into Western Bloc (democratic/capitalist) and Eastern Bloc (communist/authoritarian).
• Marshall Plan: U.S. aid program to rebuild Western Europe, promote capitalism.
• COMECON: Soviet aid program for Eastern Europe to support communism.

Military Alliances

• Formation of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): defensive alliance against Soviet aggression.
• Warsaw Pact: Soviet response with Eastern Bloc countries.

Development of Cold War Tensions

• Division of Germany and Berlin into East and West, leading to the Berlin Airlift.
• Construction of the Berlin Wall (1961) to prevent mass defections from East to West.

Cold War Characteristics

• Proxy wars: indirect conflicts between the U.S. and USSR, avoiding direct confrontation due to nuclear weapons.
• Key proxy wars: Greek Civil War, Chinese Civil War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Soviet-Afghan War.
• Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) prevented direct war between superpowers.

Domestic Cold War in the United States

• Second Red Scare: fear of communism leading to McCarthyism and HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee).
• Political persecution and blacklisting of alleged communists and sympathizers.

1950s Cultural Changes

• Economic boom and GI Bill benefits contributing to prosperity.
• Population movements to suburbs and Sun Belt states.
• Rise of new consumer technologies, TV, music, and a conservative Christian movement.

Social Movements of the 1960s

• Impact of postmodernism and counterculture challenging 1950s norms.
• Civil Rights Movement: legal challenges (Brown v. Board of Education), non-violent protests (MLK Jr.), and militant factions (Black Power).
• Second Wave Feminism: equality of opportunity, influenced by birth control and household appliances.
• LGBTQ and Environmental Movements: activism for rights and environmental protection.

Key Legislation and Social Changes

• Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, Equal Pay Act.
• Immigration Act of 1965: ended quotas, increased Asian and Hispanic immigration.
• Great Society programs: welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, affirmative action.

Conservative Resurgence and Economic Issues

• Silent Majority: backlash against social changes and stagflation.
• Stagflation: high inflation and unemployment due to oil embargo, increased labor supply.
• Roe v. Wade (1973): legalized abortion, intensifying cultural divides.

Political Scandals and Presidential Power

• Watergate scandal leading to Nixon's resignation.
• Concerns about presidential overreach and the Tonkin Gulf Resolution in Vietnam.

Conclusion

• Overview of domestic and international consequences of the Cold War era.
• Transition to Period 9 topics: continuation of Cold War dynamics, further social and political changes.