CW - The Cold War, Civil Rights, and Social Change Module Overview

The Cold War, Civil Rights, and Social Change

Introduction

This period of 1945-1980 was punctuated by several major movements and events that characterized the post-war years: the Cold War, the cultural shifts of the 1950s, the civil rights movement of both the 1950s and 1960s, and the tumultuous 1970s with the women’s movement, Watergate, and the economic doldrums. This module is divided into two general parts to make the vast amount of content more manageable.

By the mid-1940s the long struggle against fascism was over and Americans celebrated the end of World War II with enthusiasm.

However, the celebration was short lived as a new conflict emerged between two former unlikely allies, the United States and the Soviet Union. This conflict dominated America's politics and its foreign policy for four decades, leading to a war in Korea, a crisis in the Middle East, and widespread suspicion of American citizens’ imagined disloyalty at home.

Although the Cold War had an enormous impact on domestic affairs in the 1950s, many Americans experienced a time of prosperity rather than a time of anti-Communist fear. Popular culture celebrated the growing middle class and its suburban lifestyle, although many minorities and poor people were excluded from economic gains.

In the early 1960s, the mood of the country dramatically shifted as the new Democratic president, John F. Kennedy, faced some of the most dangerous Soviet-American confrontations of the nuclear age. After Kennedy's assassination in 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson continued to implement Kennedy’s civil rights agenda and launched his own campaign against poverty and discrimination known as the Great Society.

Remember during Radical Reconstruction when African Americans were granted the right to vote and greater opportunities became available to them? You also may remember that those rights were taken away after Reconstruction and a system of racial segregation emerged.

During the mid 20^th century new leaders emerged to lead a movement that pushed for equal rights in society. In the 1950s and 60s, African Americans successfully challenged segregation, won voting rights, and accomplished other goals. Civil rights legislation was part of a much larger drive for equality for a variety of groups.

American involvement in Vietnam grew over time until half a million U.S. troops were involved in a ground war to prevent the spread of communism. As the war dragged on, many Americans became involved in a movement to end American involvement in the conflict.

Richard Nixon began withdrawing troops from Vietnam and pursued a policy of attempting to relax Cold War tensions known as détente. Later, his involvement in the Watergate scandal led to his resignation.

The 1970s featured many challenges on the economic front with unemployment, inflation, and rapidly rising gas prices.

 

 

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

• Key Concepts, Part One: The Cold War
  
• 1950s & the Korean War
• 1950s American Culture
• 1960s
• The Great Society
• Key Concepts, Part Two: Social Change
  
• Civil Rights Movement
• The Vietnam War
• Movements
• The 1970s: The Presidencies

 

Essential Questions

• What were some of the factors that led to the Cold War in the Post-World War II Era?
• What were some flashpoints and responses to them by the U.S. in the first two decades of the Cold War?
• Culturally and politically, what were some of the major characteristics of the Post-World War II Era?
• How did the Civil Rights Movement achieve major goals in restoring and expanding equality and access for many Americans?
• Why did Vietnam become such a controversial war that had a large impact both on foreign policy and domestic affairs?
• What were some of the major events and challenges of the 1970s?

 

Textbook Readings

 Read the chapter in your textbook that relates to this module. Your instructor will provide you with a specific reading schedule.  

• Boundless: PDF of readings - Cold War Links to an external site.
• Boundless: PDF of readings - Social Change Links to an external site.
• American Yawp  - Cold War Links to an external site.
• American Yawp  - Affluent Society Links to an external site.
• American Yawp  - The Sixties Links to an external site.
• American Yawp  - The Unraveling Links to an external site.

 

 

Key Terms

Use the links to look over your key terms for this module. Then review them with the activities below.

• Key Terms - Cold War Links to an external site.
• Key Terms - Social Change Links to an external site.

 

Use the digital flashcards below to practice with the vocabulary to be sure you are familiar with the information and terms.

 

 

 

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION