Saturday, April 19, 2008

World War 2 Notes 02 4/17/08

WWII forced America to change how they interact with the world

America takes the role of putting down potential aggressors before they become a threat

"Munich Mentality"

If America had joined the Munich Conference, the Nazi rise might have been prevented

America is one of the only remaining superpower, needs to supervise the world

Only other is the Soviet Union

Iron Curtain develops as Russia builds a buffer zone to protect itself from aggressors

Greece has a communist uprising

U.S. develops the Marshall Plan, to give aid to Turkey and Greece to prevent communist uprising

Also builds an American presence in these countries

Creates trade in Europe

America could have prevented WWII atrocities, but didn't have enough intelligence on Ger/Jap

Truman creates CIA to help America keep tabs on the world

Study of Social Sciences accelerates after WWII 

Race to Berlin

Soviets take East Berlin, Allies take the west

Eastern Berlin was poor

Pacific

Korean War

Starts June 1950 when N. Korea attacks S. Korea

S. Korea appeals to the UN (Formed 1945)

League of Nations has failed

UN

General Assembly

Each nation gets one vote

Deals with resolutions, trade, human rights

Security Counsel

Made up of 15 members

5 Permanent: USSR, China, Fr, Great Britain, U.S.

Can veto

Other 10: Elected by GA

Communist Chinese take over China in the 1950's

Pushes Chiang Kai Shek to Taiwan

U.S. and U.N. recognizes Taiwan as the real China

This upsets the Soviet Union and causes them to boycott the Security Counsel in 1949

USSR backs N. Korea

U.N. backs South Korea and builds a force to drive the North Koreans out

Gov't Changes

300 Billion dollars spent on the war

Most spent ever

Government contracts and purchases from overseas creates economic boom

WWII ends the Depression

National War Labor Board

Strikes not allowed during wartime

Expansion of the Federal Gov't

Economic and Social Changes

Full Employment

Migration to the West

No discrimination in Gov't contracts (in theory)

Full production needed

Rise in Union membership

Military Service expands

15 Million

Social expectation to enlist for young people

Service of blacks, minorities, women

Women's branches and jobs created

Units segregated based on race

Japanese 442nd from camps and Hawaii

Fought in Europe, not Pacific

Navajo code talkers

Results

Rising expectations and post-war activism-but delayed

Job Opportunites for Blacks minorities and women increase

6 million women join the work force during the war

Proved women could do men's jobs

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