Dawn of a New Era: The Post-World War II Period

Text Version

Slide 1: Dawn of a New Era: The Post -World War II Period
Image: Close up of American flag waving in the breeze

Slide 2: The end of World War II in 1945 ushered in a period of change for the United States and the world. It was a time of optimism and uncertainty about the future.
Image: Surrounded by onlookers, MacArthur, seated, signs a treaty.

Slide 3: Americans celebrated the end of the war and the return home of their soldiers.
Image: Sailors, soldiers and civilians dance in a conga line in front of a large crowd with the White House in the background.

Slide 4: The United States emerged from the war as a major world power.
Image: General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General George C. Marshall, in the back of a jeep, wave to supporters at Washington, D.C. airport.

Slide 5: The use of two atomic bombs against Japan in World War II launched the atomic age. The United States temporarily had a military advantage unlike any other nation. A new arms race had begun.
Image: Black and white image of mushroom cloud, view from the airplane

Slide 6: The wartime alliance with the Soviet Union dissolved when the common goal of defeating the Axis powers no longer held the two nations together.
Image: From left to right: Josef Stalin, Harry S. Truman and Winston Churchill

Slide 7: The U.S. reinforced the economies and governments of western Europe under the Marshall Plan. In eastern Europe, the Soviet Union installed pro-Soviet, communist governments. Both the United States and the Soviet Union tried to limit—or contain—the influence of the other.
Image: Two Russian tanks with red stars in snowy weather

Slide 8: The decades-long struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union is known as the Cold War. The Western fears of Soviet power intensified when the Soviet Union tested its first atomic weapon in 1949. In addition, the success of the Chinese communists in mainland China convinced many Americans that the spread of communism was a growing threat.
Image: Soviet Union flag, red with gold star and hammer and sickle, next to the U.S. flag

Slide 9: Fear of communism spilled over to the home front. With the threat of a global nuclear war now a reality, the U.S. government and businesses urged Americans to root out communist sympathizers. Senator JosephMcCarthy of Wisconsin emerged as one of the most zealous leaders of this cause.
Image: Print ad features pensive man with text: Sure, I want to fight communism- but how? With “Truth Dollars” —that’s how! Your “Truth Dollars” fight Communism in it’s own back yard—behind the Iron Curtain. Give “Truth Dollars” and get in the fight!

Slide 10: This is a production of Maryland Public Television/Thinkport
in collaboration with
the Maryland State Department of Education.
Image: Thinkport and MSDE logos