Tuesday, June 12, 2012

23: The United States and the Cold War (1945-1953)

During the 160th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, the Freedom Train released to the Philadelphia's public. The Freedom Train was a peacetime patriotic campaign that originated in 1946. The Department of Justice, along President Harry S. Truman held the Freedom Train as a contrast of American freedom to the annihilation of liberty during Hitler's reign of terror. The Freedom Train attracted more than 3.5 million visitors and many participated in the civic activities it offered.

The Cold War emerged after the first atomic bomb was created in Arizona. The project to construct the weapon was called the Manhattan Project. After the second World War, a a conference in in Yalta took place where there were disagreements amongst attendees. Roosevelt and Churchill could not trust Russie or Stalin.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Chapter 14: The Postwar Period and Late Twentieth Century (1945-2000)

Berlin Blockade is commonly confused with Berlin Wall, but the blockade was an event that occurred during the Truman administration. The Berlin Wall rose during the Kennedy administration. The Truman administration took place in 1948 while the Kennedy administration took place in 1961. The Soviets detonates the first atomic bomb right after the United States joins NATO. The National Security Council was then created to by a group of advisers for foreign affairs when there was concern for Soviet invasion. The United States also created the Central Intelligence Agency to prevent such attacks.

        
Founders of NATO

The Chinese Revolution and reconstruction of Japan were two major issues to take care of. The United States had occupied Japan post-World War. The United States controlled the Pacific islands and southern half of Korea. The USSR controlled the northern half of the country. Japan created a democratic constitution by General Douglas MacArthur's command.