Civics + Reading
After World War 2, the United States government was worried about the Soviet Union and Communism. This time is called “The Cold War.”
Communism means that the government owns almost everything. People cannot own property.
Communism is a different form of government than the US. The US has democracy and a market economy.
During the Cold War, the communist countries and capitalist countries fought to control the world.
The United States and Soviet Union did not fight directly, so we call it a “cold” war. The Soviet Union broke up in 1991.
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States? –> Communism
During the Cold War, what was one main concern of the United States? –> Communism
Who was the United States’ main rival during the Cold War? –> The Soviet Union / Russia / USSR
The United States fought many wars to stop communism. United States leaders thought that communism would spread from one country to another country. The United States entered the Korean War from 1950 to 1954 to stop the spread of communism.
Leomonaci98 – Own work, Map of Korean war from May 1950 to July 1951, showing: Chinese and communist forces (Soviet Union) (light red) North Korean forces (red) South Korean, US and United Nations forces (green).
Why did the United States enter the Korean War? –> to stop the spread of communism
The United States entered the Vietnam war in the 1960s to stop the spread of communism. The United States exited the war in 1973, and left South Vietnam completely in 1975.
Why did the United States enter the Vietnam War? –> to stop the spread of communism
From The Civil War to the 1950s, most black people in America did not have equal rights.
White people used the law, education, and fear against black people and other racial groups. This was a terrible time of racial discrimination.
The Civil Rights Movement was a large group of protestors who tried to end racial discrimination. They protested, spoke, and got arrested.
What movement tried to end racial discrimination? –> The Civil Rights Movement
What did the civil rights movement do? –> Fought to end racial discrimination
One of the Civil Rights Movement leaders was Martin Luther King Jr. He fought for civil rights.
He fought for civil rights by speaking. He fought for civil rights by writing. He fought for civil rights by protesting. He fought for civil rights by using civil disobedience. He was arrested almost 30 times.
Because of his work, congress and the president passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to protect the civil rights of black people and people of all races.
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?* –> Fought for civil rights
Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for many things. Name one. * –> Fought for civil rights
On April 4, 1968, King was killed by a white man. King was only 39 years old, but Americans will always remember him as a hero. We remember Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in January.
The first national celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day was in 1986. You can see the love and spirit of Dr. King in this celebration from that year.
By Unknown author – http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/image.php?id=957, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=485045
In 1990, the country of Iraq attacked and invaded the country of Kuwait. In 1991, the United States entered the Persian Gulf War to remove the Iraqi military from Kuwait.
Why did the United States enter the Persian Gulf War? –> To force the Iraqi military from Kuwait
Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? That morning, terrorists attacked the United States.
They flew planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York. They flew a plane into the Pentagon, the main building for the military.
They tried to fly one more plane into the White House, but the people on the plane stopped the terrorists.
What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States? –> Terrorists attacked the United States
Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks. –> War in Afghanistan / War on Terror / Iraq War
Review
- Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
- Who was President during World War I?
- Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
- Who did the United States fight in World War II?
- Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
- During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
- What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
- What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
- What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?