Transcript US History - Cloudfront.net

U.S. History
Friday February 13, 2009
Mr. Weber
Activator
 Your homework was to read “The Cool War” and come
up with a focus question for today’s discussion.
 Look back over the reading and your notes and read
over your focus question to refresh for the discussion.
 Rewrite some thoughts out clearly so you won’t be
stumbling for words.
 1. What do you think conformity means?
 2. What does conformity mean?
Agenda
 Activator, agenda, and objective (10 minutes)
 Nonconformity in the U.S. Notes (15 minutes)
 Socratic Seminar Discussion (30 minutes)
 Exit ticket and homework (5 minutes)
Objective
 You will all…

Examine the origins of the Cold War, focusing on the
consequences at home including: McCarthyism, domestic
communism, and blacklisting.
 Discuss nonconformity and how it relates to the climate
of suspicion and fear which characterized the cold war.
WWII: A People’s War?
 1. What role did Howard Zinn play in the war effort in 1940 and in 1943?
 2. What made Zinn angry about the Queen Mary ship?
 3. In whose interests does Zinn claim the war was really fought? What evidence and
supporting examples does he provide?
 4. Why does Zinn suggest WWII may have been launched on the “quicksand of public
deception?”
 5. How were blood banks started
 6. What was the consequence of executive order 9066
 7. What natural resource does Zinn claim the U.S. laid hold of in making its empire during
WWII
 8. Who benefitted most from military contracts
 9. How did Zinn feel about his role in the bombings
 10. Why did Truman drop the atomic bomb?
Nonconformity in the U.S.
 Climate of fear and suspicion:
 Youth culture: Zoot suit riots, Jitterbug riots, art,
music, jazz.
 Race: Latinos and African Americans
 Censorship: government ban on something (R&B
records)
 Radicals: paranoia about domestic communism
Is Dissent Patriotic?
 Dissent: disagreeing or opposing with an
ideas, philosophy, or government policy.
 Examples:
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Jehovah’s Whiteness
Zoot Suit Riots
Jitterbug Riot (Cool War)
Socialist union leaders
Domestic communists
Cold War Paranoia at Home
 Cold War created paranoia about domestic communism
and potential Soviet spies.
 Led to blacklisting of suspected radicals, including:
 People in government.
 Teachers and professors.
 People in newspapers, media, and Hollywood.
Propaganda
Nonconformity in the U.S.
 Paranoia about domestic communism:
 McCarthyism (1940s and 1950s)
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Led by Senator Joseph McCarthy.
Fear of communist influence and Soviet spies.
Thousands of citizens lost their jobs, careers, or were imprisoned.
Many law suits later overturned as unconstitutional.
House Committee on “Un-American Activities” (HUAC)
Loyalty tests / oaths.
 Blacklisting.
 “The Hollywood Ten”
 Alger Hiss
 High ranking state department official.
 Accused of spying and perjury and imprisoned in 1950.
 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act.
 J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI.
Socratic Seminar
 Focus Quote:
 “Nonconformity of thought was considered an act of
anti-government activity and was persecuted.”
 Focus Questions:
 “How did the Jitterbug Riot and other aspects of youth
culture represent nonconformity?”
 “Who has the power to define what conformity and
nonconformity looks like?”
Exit Ticket / Homework
 Read “Origins of the Cold War” from the perspective of
Great Britain. Be prepared for a reading test.
 Next week we will be debating the origins of the Cold War.
 Do some independent reading and research into why tensions
between the U.S. and the USSR escalated after WWII.
 Write down one theory you think most plausible and bring it
to class Tuesday.
Origins of Cold War according to
Great Britain
 1. What happened at Potsdam in 1945?
 2. Why is Greece important?
 3. What did the Truman Doctrine announce?
 4. What happened in Berlin?
 5. What war did Britain fight with the U.S. between
1950-1953?