09: Post War Society

Question 1

When was the HUAC set up?

Answer 1

1938

Question 2

List 3 specific international events that caused the 2nd Red Scare

Answer 2

Cold War:
Korean War 1950
China becomes Communist in 1949
Berlin Blockade 1948
Soviet control in Eastern Europe (e.g. Albania, Poland, Romania sovietised)

Question 3

What did Americans fear that caused the 2nd Red Scare?

Answer 3

As in the Eastern European, they had no elections, Americans feared they would lose American democracy

War caused people to live Americsn Dream, and they feared this would be taken away

Also feared that Communists would subvert schools and labour unions

Question 4

What did the HUAC do?

Answer 4

Stars were blacklisted from working in Holywood

Question 5

How did Joe McCarthy initially gain influence?

Answer 5

He claimed he had a list 200 Communist in the government

Question 6

How did Joe McCarthy lose influence?

Answer 6

When he started accusing people in the army

Question 7

What was McCarthyism?

Answer 7

The unproven accusation of Communist sympathy and connections in the government

Question 8

How was media used to publicise the 2nd Red Scare?

Answer 8

Anti-Communist hearings were shown on TV

Question 9

How did the FBI show help for McCarthyism?

Answer 9

They investigated around 1 million suspects using phone-tapping and surveillance

Question 10

Economic Impact: What was the GI Bill

Answer 10

• guaranteed veterans cheap loans to buy homes + attend college/trade schools
• unemployed helped financially for up to a year

Question 11

What was/ what was the impact of the baby boom?

Answer 11

• 65 million + babies born (1944 - 1961)
• More babies = more homes needed
• Suburbs were built e.g. Levittowns
• (Mainly white middle class)

Question 12

Economic Impact: What was the Truman Fair Deal?

Answer 12

• slum housing replaced with affordable house
• raised hourly wage

Question 13

Economic Impact: Why did consumerism increase?

Answer 13

• USA producing 1/2 of worlds weapons (2x Germany + Japan’s production)
• Gov. told people it was their duty to spend to support economy
• Many had saved during the war so people had lots disposable income

Question 14

Economic: Give examples of how consumerism increased?

Answer 14

• In the space of 10 years, % of people with TV increases by 83%
• 7/10 people had a car
• shopping becomes a recreational activity

Question 15

TVs

Answer 15

• By 1960, American watched 5 hours of TV
• In the space of 10 years, % of people with TV increases by 83%

Question 16

Social: What was the media?

Answer 16

• changed people style + ideas
• influenced teens e.g. Rebels without a Course

Question 17

Give an example of how Rock and Roll was really loved?

Answer 17

• Elvis Presley had 170 hit singles

Question 18

Impact of Rock and Roll

Answer 18

• broke down racial barriers e.g. Chuck Berry
• new political + social ideas
• influenced teens