Eisenhower (1953-1961)
Policies, Civil Rights, and Enlarging
the Cold War
Eisenhower Presidency
• Defeated Adlai Stevenson twice in Presidential
elections
• Continued New Deal type programs under label of
Dynamic Conservatism
• Although he ended the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation and wanted to sell the TVA, he
increased the benefits and classes of people
covered under Social Security, continued the Rural
Electrification initiative, and supported the
Interstate Highway Act of 1956.
Concluding the Red Scare
• Refused to get in gutter w/ Joe McCarthy
• Supported Loyalty Programs, strengthening
Smith Act and McCarren Internal Security
Act
• Ike’s Presidency was dominated by Cold
War abroad and impacted by Civil Rights
Movement at home
Joe McCarthy (1908-1957)
“At long last, sir, have you
no sense of decency?” -Joseph Welch.
Cold War Foreign Policy
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Korean War truce reestablished 38th parallel.
John Foster Dulles and Brinksmanship
Covert Operations in Iran and Guatemala
No Nukes to save Dienbienphu, but U. S. tied to
Diem regime in South Vietnam by 1954
U. S. supported Taiwan and threatened China over
shelling of Quemoy and Matsu
Suez Crisis
Hungarian Crisis
Sputnik
Sputnik—1957—Cold War enters space
Cold War Foreign Policy II
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Berlin Crisis
“Peaceful Coexistence”
U-2 summit
Fidel Castro and Cuban Revolution
Civil Rights Movement
• Brown v. Board of Education (May 17,
1954)
• Massive Resistance by Bubbas
• Little Rock Crisis (1957)
• Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56)
• SCLC formed in 1957
• 1957 and 1960 Civil Rights Acts
JIM CROW
Challenging Jim
Crow in schools
Bigots
bash
Alex
Wilson at
Central
High
School in
Little
Rock
Martin Luther King, Jr., (19291968)