The 1950s

"Iron Curtain"- A phrase used by Winston Churchill in the 1946 to describe an imaginary line that separated the communist countries in the Soviet block of Eastern Europe from countries in Western Europe. The political military and ideological barrier by the Soviet Union is to seal off itself from any open contact with either the West or the non-communist areas after World War II.

Baby Boom- The sharp increase in the the United States birthrate following World War II. The corporations began to grow and grew larger and more profitable. The labor unions were then promised better wages along with better benefits to members and consumer gooos were more affordable. The term Baby Boom had a particularity confining effect on women int suburban areas. By the creation of books and magazines, it urged women to leave the work force and embrace their role as a housewife and mother.

Blacklists- A list or register of people, who are being denied a service or recognition. By denying someone in a particular held due t o social circle. Circulating among employers, containing names of people that are not allowed to be hired to a specific job.

Cold War- A state of political hostility without direct military conflict developed between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II. The Cold War is characterized by threats, propaganda and other measures short of open warfare. Lasting for much of the second half of the 20th century resulting in mutual suspicions, tensions and international incidents bringing the world to the brink of disaster.

Containment- The blocking of another nations attempts to spread its influence especially the efforts of the United States to block the spread of Soviet Union influence. Containment was the first major policy during the Cold War and used numerous strategies to prevent the spread of communism in other countries. By creating NATO, it established a defense against any communist influence. 

Cult of Domesticity- The home and the idea of domesticity were so important in the 19th century culture that historians speak of the "cult" of domesticity. Women saw their behavior regulated by a social system known today in the Nineteenth century. Prevailing value system among the upper and middle class. 

Domino Theory- The theory that a political event in ones country will cause similar events in neighboring countries, like a falling domino causing an entire raw of up ended dominoes to fall. Governing much of the United States foreign policies in the early 1950s. Holding the communist victory in one nation would lead to a chain reaction and takeovers of neighboring states. More the less of a global impact than had been assumed.

Fallout Shelters- A enclosed shelter is a small space especially designed to protect occupants from radioactive debris or fallout resulting from a nuclear explosion. Many such shelters were constructed as civil defense measures during the Cold War. 

G.I. Bill- A law passed in 1944 that provided educational and other benefits for people who have served in the armed forces in World War II. Benefits are still available to people's honorable discharged from the armed forces. Many various Congressional bills enacted to provide any funds for college educations, home-buying loans, or any other benefits for veterans. 

HUAC- The House Committee of Un-American Activities was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representative. Originally created in 1938 to uncover citizens with Nazi ties within the U.S. The committee wielded its subpoena power as a weapon and called citizens to testify in high-profile hearings before Congress. 

Eisenhower Doctrine- Under this doctrine, a Middle Eastern country could request American economic assistance or aid from the Unites States' military forces if it was being threatened by armed aggression from another country. Singling out the Soviet Union threat in his doctrine by authorizing the comitment of U.S forces "to secure and protect the territorial integerity and political independence of such nations, requesting such aid against over armed aggression from any nation controlled by communism.

Martin Luther King Jr.- An African American clergyman and political leader of the twentieth century. One of the most prominent member of the civil rights movement in the 1950's and the 1960's. He was famous for his non-violent methods of opposition to segregation, such as boycotts of segregated city buses or sit-ins at lunch counters. King's "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial is regarded as one of the greatest speeches in American History. April 4th, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis TN. 

Korean War- A war, aslo called the Koren Conflict, fought in the early 1950's between the United Natiosn, supported by the United States. Beginning of the 1950's when North Korea invaded South Korea. Aided by the United States and other United Nations members forming a United Nations armed force. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet and United States zones.

Levittowns- Name of four large suburban developments created in United States. Built after World War II for returning Veterans and their new families. Modeled in as assembly line manner and thousands of identical homes were produced in the 1950's. Freatured large numbers of similar houses that were built as quickly as possible and allowing rapid recovery of costs. Due to the baby boom in the 1950's, making identical houses was much easier than builting each house differently.

Little Rock Nine- A group of African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Followed by a crisis in which the students were initally prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Orval Faubus. The students that were a part of Little Rock Nine were consisted of Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Minnijean Brown , Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed, and Melba Pattillo Beals. Ernest Green was the first African American to graduate from Central High School.

Marshall Plan- In 1947 the United States offers $13 billion in economic aid to Europe after World War II. However, the Soviet Union and the satellite  nations reject the offer. The money weakens communist appeal in Western Europe.

Massive retaliation - a military doctrine and a nuclear strategy used during the Cold War when a state commits itself to retaliate in much greater force in the event of an attack, also known as brinkmanship.

McCarthyism- a congress led by Senator Joseph McCarthy to investigate communist activities, make accusations of disloyalty, treason or subversion without proper evidence or no evidence at in the United States. In 1954 McCarthyism started to fall because McCarthy claimed that the Army was full of communists. The hearings were televised which showed bullying tactics. The public support for McCarthyism began to drop. The Senate censures Joseph McCarthy in 1954, destroying his political influence.

Montgomery Bus Boycott- The boycott first began when Rosa Parks did not give up her seat to a white male on a segregated bus and was arrested. Rosa was arrested for using the method of civil disobedience, deliberately breaking a law to show that is upset. Martin Luther King Jr. leads a boycott of city’s buses in Montgomery, Alabama. The social protest campaign started in 1955 and lasts for 381 days.

Parks, Rosa- A United States civil rights leader, “the first lady of civil rights”, she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white male in Montgomery, Alabama. She was arrested for the refusal and it fueled the start of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955.

Red Scare- a period of intense fear of communism and the spreading of communist rule.

SEATO- stands for Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, an organization formed in Manila, comprising France, Great Britain, Australia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand, and the United States for collective aggression in Southeastern Asia and the Southwestern pacific, on September 8th, 1954.

Segregation- the practice of segregating people based on different races, classes, ethnic groups in schools, housing, public or commercial facilities as a form of discrimination.

Sit-ins - a form of protest used by African Americans when the protesters seat themselves and refused to move, sometimes this was used as a mean of peaceful protest. Blacks would sit in the white’s only section on segregated lunch counters. They refused to move until they were served. Eventually, whites began to join the movement due to violent response of authorities.

Space Race- competition between the two superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States regarding achievements in the field of space exploration and full supremacy.

Sputnik- the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4th, 1957. The launched shocks and frightens the United States.

Suburbs- residential community surrounding a city. The growth of suburbs was caused by the baby boom and the need for a house. Levittown started to develop in the 1950’s because of the mass production of identical houses.

The Warren Court- Chief Justice Earl Warren of the Supreme Court, between 1953 and 1969. Under Warren's leadership, the Court actively used Judicial Review to strictly scrutinize and overturn state and federal statutes, to apply many provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states, and to provide opportunities for those groups in society that had been excluded from the political process.

Truman Doctrine- President Truman asked Congress for money to fight off communist aggression in Greece and Turkey, to stop the spread of communism to those two countries.