The New Deal and the Great Depression PDF

I.​ Great Depression–Introduction A.​ Causes 1.​ People stopped borrowing & buying 2.​ Retailers in debt a)​ Sold less goods b)​ Laid off workers c)​ Lowered prices...

I.​ Great Depression–Introduction A.​ Causes 1.​ People stopped borrowing & buying 2.​ Retailers in debt a)​ Sold less goods b)​ Laid off workers c)​ Lowered prices (1)​ Downward cycle II.​ Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the “First” New Deal A.​ Private firms and charities are overwhelmed, so ppl turned to the government 1.​ Which made the election 1932 the most consequential election B.​ Franklin Roosevelt (Democratic) 1.​ Drew from the tradition of progressivism to address the depression a)​ “Not as a matter of charity, but as a matter of social duty.” 2.​ Established the Temporary Emergency Relief Administration, providing food, shelter, and clothes. a)​ Provided work & relief to 10% of the NY state population 3.​ Promoted workplace safety and reduced child labor. 4.​ Proposed job programs, public work projects, higher wages, shorter hours, etc. a)​ “I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.” (1)​ Hoover warned that the program reeked of EU communism, and would destroy America’s foundation (a)​ “The total abandonment of every principle upon which this government and the American system is founded.” “the so called new deals would destroy the very foundations of the AMerican system of life.” 5.​ During the first 100 days a)​ Stabilized banks b)​ Conservation and reforestation c)​ Cash assistance to relief agencies d)​ Hydroelectric dams e)​ Help farmers f)​ Worked with businesses to combat the depression Thesis: The New Deal reshaped much of America while providing tangible projects of immense public good and employment opportunities for millions. III.​ The New Deal in the South A.​ The South suffered much more than the North 1.​ Southern industries were low-wage, low-skilled, and primarily extractive. B.​ Major New Deal programs were designed with the South in mind, However… 1.​ FDR hoped that by decreasing land devoted to cotton, deflation would stop, which made farmers clear a lot of land. a)​ However, ppl in need of help were landless farmworkers (tenants, sharecroppers) but the landowners benefitted the most. (1)​ The government relied on landowners to distribute money fairly to ppl in need, but many owners kicked landless farm workers off their land and kept the money. (a)​ They used the money to invest in mechanical farming equipment, which further suppressed landless farm workers. 2.​ Southern industries attracted Roosevelt’s attention a)​ The NRA encouraged higher wages and better working conditions, also suppresyt65sed child labor & provided federal protection for unionized workers. (1)​ The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 set a minimum wage for laborers, bringing southern wages within reach of northern wages. b)​ Roosevelt’s support for labor unions impacted southern industrialists negatively (1)​ Southern Textile Mills Incident–In 1934, when workers at textile mills striked, owners recruited thousands of strikebreakers from displaced landless farm workers, but they still cannot stop them because through the National Labor Relations Act, also known as the Wagner Act, guaranteed rights of workers to unionize and bargain. (a)​ Highlighted the struggles of labor in the South (b)​UNION TRADITION ISN'T STRONG BUT ROOSEVELT INSPIRED THEM (c)​ Attracted national attention on labor rights (d)​Glorified Roosevelt (i)​ One union leader said he was an “agent of god” c)​ Most successful New Deal program in the South–TVA–program to use hydroelectric power to remake the watershed region of the Tennessee River. (a)​ The TVA captures Roosevelt’s vision for uplifting the South and integrating the South into the national economy (2)​ Built a series of hydroelectric dams to control flooding and distribute electricity (3)​ Agents of the TVA provided education on agricultural practices and how to exploit job opportunities 3.​ “A Report on Economic Conditions in the South”, formulated by southern New Dealers, endorsed by Roosevelt, represented his ideas.  a)​ Roosevelt called the south “the Nation’s No.1 economic problem” ​ Thesis: Roosevelt sought to save the south with the new deal, spurring a nationwide recovery. IV.​ Voices of Protest A.​ Roosevelt’s New Deal laws had a clear boundary in messing with the nation’s foundational economic and social structure. 1.​ This received criticism as critics say he’s not going far enough. B.​ Huey Long, a democrat from Louisiana, was the most important voice of protest 1.​ He criticised how big of a problem power wealth inequality was during the depression, traveling the country to spread his program to people in poverty, envisioning this would lead him to presidency a)​ Assassinated 1935, but convinced Roosevelt to attack the depression and American inequality before he died. C.​ By late 1934s, complaints increased about Roosevelt lacking the willingness to regulate industry and use federal money for the public. D.​ Roosevelt’s first new deal was reviewed by the supreme court by early 1935. On May 27, the court declared the NRA unconstitutional. In early 1936, the AA fell. V.​ The “Second” New Deal (1935-1936) A.​ Roosevelt dedicated himself to bold and aggressive approaches to tackling the depression–Second New Deal 1.​ Established Works Progress Administration WPA, a permanent version of the CWA, that would employ millions of Americans on public work. a)​ Employ “the maximum number of persons in the shortest time possible” b)​ Employees made enormous contributions to numerous kinds of jobs but contributed most to construction, paving half a million miles of roads and building thousands of buildings and bridges. c)​ Came closer than any New Deal program to completing the federal job guarantee Roosevelt promised in 1932 B.​ Roosevelt hoped to reconstitute some protections given to workers in the now declared as unconstitutional NRA. 1.​ Roosevelt passed the National Labor Relations Act NLRA (Wagner act) a)​ Offered federal legal protection for labor unions (1)​ A revolutionary change as… (a)​ Northern workers demanded for workers’ rights b)​ Fair Labor Standards Act–Three years later, congress passed minimum wage 2.​ Roosevelt also wanted to restore the federal income tax system a)​ He helped with rent for struggling ppl 3.​ The signature piece of the Second new deal was the Social Security Act a)​ Provided for old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, and economic aid. b)​ The important thing is that he made payroll taxes contribute directly to the social security system.  (1)​ Lets people earn their benefits, giving them a sense of “I deserve this”. (2)​ Also decreasing their dependency on the government. It is also a sustainable fund. c)​ The climax of a long progressive push for government-sponsored social welfare, a response to Roosevelt’s opponents and the money-hungry poor people. (1)​ Also a symbol that the government would now take their part in the economic well-being of American citizens d)​ However, the Social security act excluded large groups of the population as it excluded domestic workers and farm workers, which disproportionately affected African Americans. (1)​ He tells the public that Social Security will be improved cuz it's not complete yet. VI.​ Equal Rights and the New Deal A.​ Black Americans suffered especially in the south 1.​ The “Scottsboro Boys” case was a national symbol of continuous racial prejudice a)​ Nine boys were accused of assaulting white women, despite clear evidence, one of them was charged with death. b)​ The International Labor Defense ILD, a communist-oriented organization, was the only organization that came to help, which reversed the results. B.​ Roosevelt did little to specifically address difficulties Black ppl faced, because doing so would openly provoke southern Democrats and put his New Deal at risk. 1.​ He rejected proposals such as abolishing poll tax and declaring lynching a crime, he also refused to specifically target Black ppl in need of his relief and reform packages as he told NAACP “I just can’t take that risk.” VII.​ The End of the New Deal (1937-1939) A.​ Roosevelt takes advantage of his popularity and the improving economic climate to press for more and heavier changes. 1.​ However, conservative barriers limited his power, such as the supreme court that continued to gut many of his programs. B.​ Roosevelt argued that every member that was over 70 in the supreme court should be replaced by someone younger. 1.​ His opponents took advantage of this and pictured this to the public as the “court packing scheme”, as they said it was clearly designed to allow Roosevelt to appoint pro New Deal people into the court a)​ Didn’t pass but Roosevelt was still able to appoint pro new dealers into the court after court ppl died or retired C.​ Roosevelt made a heavy economic misstep 1.​ Roosevelt cut government spending on public programs and initiatives aimed to stimulate the economy.  a)​ The goal was to reduce budget deficit because Roosevelt believed that the economy was recovering (1)​ AKA, countercyclical spending, which means spending more money during a recession but spending less money during expansion (a)​ This caused “The Roosevelt Recession of 1937” 2.​ This ultimately resulted in other politicians getting more power D.​ The war in Europe in 1939 grabbed all the attention, including Roosevelt’s, which ultimately led to the New Deal fading. VIII.​ WW2–The Wartime Economy A.​ WW2 reawakened Ameircans’ economic might, pulling America out of the great depression. The New Deal had helped America pass the worst of the depression, but what really helped was when the government intervened to wage worldwide war. 1.​ Civilian consumerism was replaced by military production and urban cities became more overcrowded. 2.​ National bond drives were a huge success as Roosevelt urged citizens to buy war bonds to prevent inflation. 3.​ Unemployment was nothing like the great depression a)​ African Americans migrated to the industrial north for jobs b)​ American women filled vacant job positions c)​ The Bracero program drafted Mexicans to work for American producers (1)​ The Braceros suffered harsh labor conditions and exploitative actions by their employers. (2)​ However, this program granted Braceros abundant work and good pay, also further implanting a Mexican presence in the southern US. IX.​ Women and WW2 A.​ Roosevelt considered the role of women in the war effort critical for America’s victory. WW2 allowed women to fill vacant positions that men left behind. 1.​ Rosie the Riveter was an iconic illustration promoting female factory labor during the war. 2.​ Millions of women also volunteered in the American Red Cross, a large charity organization. a)​ The women had the abundant opportunities to organize social events, ship medical supplies overseas, and prepare care packages for the soldiers. 3.​ Over 350,000 women also joined the military. The Nurse Corps Reserves alone recruited 105,000 nurses from the American Red Cross. B.​ Jim Crow segregation remained a problem for black women in the WW2 military and factories as they were sent to menial jobs to separate them from whites. C.​ After WW2, women lost their jobs due to men returning. 1.​ Former military women faced obstacles in getting veteran’s benefits.  2.​ America was hardly ready to meet women’s postwar needs X.​ Race and WW2 A.​ African Americans 1.​ Philip Randolph threatened to march on Washington as people refused to hire black workers and armed forces remained segregated. a)​ Executive Order 8802 was published, banning racial and religious discrimination in employment. (1)​ Establishing the FEPC to monitor hiring practices (2)​ While the FEPC had limited influence, it showed that the government had the power to stand against discrimination 2.​ African Americans served great purposes in WW2, earning hundreds of merits and medals. 3.​ In 1948, full integration of the military was finally achieved. 4.​ Many Black ppl saw WW2 as an opportunity to improve the country. a)​ The double V campaign was launched in newspapers, urging Black ppl to claim victory in both fascism abroad and racial inequality at home; to achieve “real democracy”. b)​ Membership in the NAACP multiplied by ten B.​ Jews 1.​ Over 11M civilians, including 6M Jews, were murdered by Holocaust. a)​ American initially expressed little concern for them and turned away countless Jewish refugees (1)​ The almost a thousand refugees on the German ship St Louis could not find a country that would take them. (a)​ When they were forced to return to the EU, hundreds of St. Louis’ passengers would die in the holocaust 2.​ Anti-Semitism was still present in the US a)​ The Wagner-Rogers Bill, an act to allow 20,000 Jewish children into the US was endorsed by first lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1)​ The bill was ultimately opposed by ⅔ of the American public and defeated C.​ Japanese Americans 1.​ Due to anti-Japanese sentiment, over 110,000 Japanese Americans and WW2 Japanese American veterans were detained in detention camps. They lost their homes and jobs. a)​ American policies disproportionately targeted Japanese Americans b)​ This relocation program was criticized as a result of race prejudice, war hysteria, and failure of political leadership. XI.​ Toward a Postwar World A.​ America looked to create a postwar world that guarantees global peace and domestic success.  1.​ Roosevelt believed that postwar security could be maintained by an internal agreement between the four policemen–US, Britain, USSR, and China, instead of the League of Nations. 2.​ American attitudes changed profoundly. a)​ Before 1937, only a third of Americans supported membership in the league of nations. By 1945, 81% of Americans favored the idea. 3.​ The UN charter was formed as a combination of Roosevelt’s policemen idea and a global organization of equal representation. B.​ America had to gradually ease veterans back into the civilian economy to prevent another depression 1.​ The G.I. offered inducements to slow veterans’ influx and enabled postsecondary education. 2.​ Black Americans and females, however, struggled to benefit from the G.I. bill XII.​ Cold War–Political, Economic, and Military Dimensions A.​ The policemen had internal tensions 1.​ The Soviets rejected all of the Bretton Woods system acts B.​ The Soviet-American relationship dissolves into hostility at the end of war 1.​ George Kennan warned that Americans should regard the SU as a rival since Stalin had no faith in peaceful coexistence between socialism and capitalism. 2.​ Truman Doctrine 1947 (1)​ Truman gave Greece and Turkey $400M because they were under terrorism led by Communists. (a)​ This became a cornerstone of American policies designed to stop Soviet expansion C.​ Because of harsh living conditions and unemployment, Communist propaganda was very appealing in Europe’s impoverished masses. 1.​ General Marshall gave an address at Harvard in 1947 saying that the US should assist in returning normal economic health to the world because there would be no stability without it. a)​ Marshall said this was not directed towards any country but Stalin saw this as an insult towards EU communism (1)​ He saw it as a “Trojan Horse” to lure Germany & other countries into the capitalist web D.​ The Marshall Plan 1948-1952 1.​ Designed to rebuild Western EU, open markets, and win EU support for capitalism and democracy. a)​ Pumped 13 billion dollars into Western EU b)​ Helped reconstruction while loosening trade barriers E.​ The Molotov Plan 1947 1.​ Soviets’ counterplan to the Marshall plan, a pledge of aid to Eastern EU  a)​ Poland was rewarded a 5 year $450M trade agreement from Russia for boycotting the Marshall Plan. b)​ Stalin was jealous of Eastern EU when Czechoslovakia got $200M in American assistancek (1)​ Stalin called Czech foreign minister Masayk to Moscow (a)​ Masyak said that he “went to Moscow as the foreign minister of an independent sovereign state” but “returned as a lackey of the Soviet Government.” (2)​ Stalin exercised tighter control over Soviet satellite countries in central and Eastern EU F.​ Berlin was divided into communist and capitalist zones. 1.​ The Soviets cut off access to West Berlin for eleven months, officially breaking Germany in half. a)​ Western Germany was named Federal Republic of Germany and Easter Germany was named German Democratic Republic (1)​ Berlin wall G.​ America launched NATO so Soviets launched Warsaw Pact H.​ Lippmann 1947 1.​ The USSR can only be stopped if it was confronted by American power, but Georg Kennan’s plan was incomplete since we don’t have sufficient military and economic power to apply counter force over the world. a)​ Lippmann favored a more conserved approach that focused on stopping communism in the heart of the EU. b)​ He believed that if USSR was strained in EU, it would be left to collapse under its one imperfection I.​ CCP 1949 1.​ Communism won over Nationalists and CCP took over China. 2.​ At this time, the Soviets just successfully got atomic bombs. a)​ This caused a panic among America, shifting American focus onto Asia instead of EU b)​ Increased military spending J.​ NSC-68 said that the USSR had big weapons and wanted to solidify absolute power. America was the principal enemy so we need to build up strength so we can defend. K.​ The Korean war started with communists in the North and anti communists in the South 1.​ In 1950 Stalin and Kim Il Sung took Seoul by surprise 2.​ McArthur swept North Korea by force a)​ Truman didn’t let McArthur keep going, McArthur called Truman stupid, McArthur got fired L.​ The Vietnam War 1945 1.​ Vietnam was colonized by France during WW2  a)​ When Vietnam requested independence, France reasserted authority in Indochina (1)​ The US sacrificed Vietnamese self determination for France’s colonial imperatives (a)​ So Vietnam leader turned to USSR (i)​ Vietnam was split in two with the north belonging to communist America in the south. (a)​ Communists reunified the country later. XIII.​ The Arms Buildup, the Space Race, and Technological Advancement A.​ America bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which changed the nature of warfare. 1.​ Soviet spy Klaus Fuchs stole nuclear secrets from Manhattan project, a)​ Propelled a nuclear arms race between the US and USSR. B.​ The US and USSR kept racing to develop more and more advanced deadly weapons 1.​ Eisenhower said the US would respond to threats with nuclear weapons. a)​ Two scorpions in a bottle, capable of killing each other by rising their own lives 2.​ Proked American anxiety a)​ Antinuclear protests in US and abroad 3.​ Atoms for peace speech 1953 a)​ US would share the knowledge for making atomic bomb 4.​ Germany fell in WW2, and both US & USSR wanted the Nazi’s V-2 superweapon a)​ Both used it to develop rockets & satellites b)​ Racing for space domination c)​ America lost the Space Race as Yuri Gagarin got into space C.​ Cold War still captured anxieties 1.​ Bert the turtle duck and cover XIV.​ The Cold War Red Scare, McCarthyism, and Liberal Anti-Communism A.​ McCarthy speech 1950 1.​ “I have here in my hand a list of 205 names” of communists that are working for the government and influencing US policy a)​ The list was fake but it still won him fame and fueled the red scare b)​ A symptom of massive anticommunist hysteria that engulfed America. B.​ Truman loyalty order 1947 (when he stepped down) 1.​ Established loyalty reviews for federal employees 2.​ Around 200 ppl were fired, but over 2000 ppl quit  3.​ Passed 1950 McCarran Act a)​ Limited all communist organizations C.​ Fear over Communist spies 1.​ The Rosenbergs were arrested for accusations of passing nuclear secrets. Executed on 1953 2.​ Alger Hiss, a prominent official in the US State department was accused of espionage by Richard Nixon. a)​ He was convicted of perjury (1)​ Fueled anticommunist frenzy 3.​ Offered McCarthy the evidence they needed to allege a vast Soviet conspiracy and justify the smearing of democratic liberals. D.​ McCarthy’s sensational charges had growing controversy 1.​ Truman arranged a congressional investigation to discredit McCarthy. a)​ 1950 issued a final report saying McCarthy for perpetrating a fraud and a hoax(恶作剧) on the american public (1)​ Ppl saw McCarthy’s crusade as nothing less than a political witch hunt (2)​ McCarthyism was characterized as a handful of men disguised as hunters of subversion, cynically subverting justice in order to help their own political fortunes. E.​ The CPUSA was formed in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution 1.​ The CPUSA tried to influence and gain support among American populations a)​ They're strong opponents of Jim Crow and developed a presence in both the NAACP and ACLU. (1)​ However, communism never attracted many Americans. (2)​ Ppl felt betrayed when new broke of hitler and stanlin’s 1939 non aggression pact. F.​ Lacking the grounds to abolish the CPUSA, HUAC was reorganized after the war and given the task of investigating communism. 1.​ Taft-Hartley Act 1947 a)​ Gave union officials the initiative to purge communists from the labor movement. (1)​ ADA combined social and economic reforms with staunch anti communist, working to help Truman. G.​ FBI took an active role in domestic battle against communism 1.​ Helped incite panic by assisting the creasing of propagandistic films, an example being The Red Menace (1949) a)​ These alarmist depictions of espionage and treason heightened fear in the 1950s. 2.​ FIlm mogul Walt Disney testified to aid investigators’ attempts to expose communist influence in the entertainment industry. a)​ A group of writers, directors, and producers who refused to answer questions were held in contempt of Congress.  (1)​ This Hollywood Ten created the precedent for a blacklist in which hundreds of film artists were barred from industry work for the next decade. 3.​ HUAC repeatedly visited Hollywood, interrogating celebrities beginning with the same “Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?” a)​ Many ppl cooperated and named ppl they knew that were ever associated with communist related groups or organizations. (1)​ 1956 Paul Robeson chided his HUAC inquisitors, claiming that they had put him on trial not for his politics but because he spent his life fighting for the rights of his people. (a)​ “You are the un-Americans” he told them “and you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.” H.​ This second red scare, combined with nuclear powers and global totalitarianism, fueled an intolerant and skeptical political environment. 1.​ What Schlesinger called an “age of anxiety.” I.​ Anticommunist ideology valorized patriotism, religious conviction, and faith in capitalism. Anyone who opposed these values were bullied. 1.​ If communism was a plague spreading across the EU and Asia, Anticommunist hyperbole was a virus that infected every town throughout the US. a)​ 1953 the play The Crucible compared the red scare to the Salem Witch Trials (1)​ Anyone who isn’t conservative was vulnerable to being accused of communism. This turns political disputes into debates on morales, where one side is completely good and the other side is purely evil. (2)​ Society became filled with suspicion and conspiracy, and the government became a harsh enforcer of “righteousness.” J.​ American society urged unity against communism, Defiant behavior became dangerous. 1.​ Middle class women that worked in WW2 was told to return to housekeeping 2.​ Likewise, Black soldiers were told to return home and submit to the American racial order. K.​ Religions played a big role 1.​ American religion focused on the idea that communism, which rejected god, completely opposed the patriotic American values. a)​ Baptist minister Billy Graham stated that communism aimed to “destroy the American home and cause moral deterioration,” leaving the country exposed to communist infiltration  2.​ Americans during the early Cold War years attended church, professing a belief in a supreme being while emphasizing the importance of religion in their lives at higher rates in any time in American history. a)​ Americans and American politicians differentiated themselves from godless communists through public displays of religiosity. (1)​ The Pledge of Allegiance was altered to include the words one nation, under God in 1954. (2)​ In God we trust was adopted as the official national motto in 1956. 3.​ Americans began to believe just believing in some god is better than atheism a)​ Anti Catholic and Semitic protests faded and leaders spoke of a common Judeo-Christian heritage b)​ 1952 Dwight Eisenhower said “Our government makes no sense unless it is founded in a deeply felt religious faith, and I don’t care what it is.” 4.​ In the 1952 campaign Eisenhower stated that U.S. foreign policies were “a war of light against darkness, freedom against slavery, Godliness against atheism.” L.​ McCarthy went more and more wild with his anti communist spirit, becoming the leader of the SPSI, publicly berating officers suspected of promoting leftists, even accusing General George Marshall of diminishing the US in world affairs 1.​ Ppl hated him and critics denounced his fearmongering. a)​ Critics say McCarthy exploited fear b)​ Army head counsel Joseph Welch “Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You’ve done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir?” c)​ In 1957, McCarthy, humiliated by the public, died of alcoholism. M.​ The climax of the second red scare was over in the late 1950s 1.​ But McCarthy’s tactics of getting rid of ppl by smearing them with communism remained a)​ Congressman Richard Nixon and actor Ronald Reagan were prime examples of how McCarthyism was exploited for fame and status. 2.​ The weight of anticommunism was used as part of an assault against the New Deal. People like that who fought against communism found themselves smeared by the red scare. a)​ Social movements for justice from civil rights to feminism were all suppressed under anticommunist hysteria. XV.​ Decolonization and the Global Reach of the ‘American Century’ A.​ The vision of America was the principal guarantor of freedom of the seas and the dynamic leader of world trade. 1.​ Liberals and historians proclaimed that the US has been handed the world destiny as they emerged from the war as the world’s leading military and economic force.  2.​ They thought that the US was destined to fight with the USSR for influence in the postwar world where a power vacuum had been created by the demise of imperialism. 3.​ Interventions in Korea and Vietnam were seen as appropriate responses to the ascent of communism in China. a)​ Soviet power in Asia needed to be halted or Chinese influence would ripple across the continent. b)​ This Domino Theory became a standard basis for justifying US interventions abroad (1)​ Cuba was seen as a communist beachhead that imperiled Latin America (a)​ Cuban leader turned to communism (2)​ American interventions targeted countries that weren’t officially communist (a)​ Many international interventions were driven by factors shaped but transcended anticommunism B.​ Before, the US would dismantle its military after every major conflict but the cold war facilitated a permanent defense establishment. Different regions housed various sectors of the permanent war economy. 1.​ Critics said that this would give power elites the potential to start a war for the sake of profit. 2.​ In the 1961 farewell address Eisenhower warned Americans of the military industrial complex–the close relationship between military power and weapon industries. a)​ He feared that this would gain too much influence on all the aspects of the nation, threatening freedom and democracy. b)​ The US is now more intimately involved in world affairs than ever before C.​ Independence movements and ideological conflicts erupted in the postwar world. Since so many countries gained independence from EU, the US had to play a complicated and often contradictory role in this process of decolonization 1.​ Post 1945 US military expansion was huge and critics feared that this was a dangerous new trend. a)​ But American leaders still eagerly set a permanent military juggernaut so they can create viable international institutions D.​ However, there was a conflict in America’s foreign policy 1.​ America’s global interests were conflicted with their support against decolonization, creating a global dilemma a)​ Roosevelt points out this contradiction himself in 1941, as America fights against oppression while still allowing colonial powers like Britain and France to keep dominating & exploiting their people.  b)​ America still had control over areas like Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam, also contradicting their support for decolonization to an extent E.​ The Soviet Union was attempting to sway the world, supporting anti-American sentiment. 1.​ America thrusted their power into beating the spread of communism. Foreign policies strictly opposed independence movements related to communism. 2.​ Led to several proxy wars between the US and USSR F.​ America felt that successful decolonization could demonstrate the superiority of democracy and capitalism. 1.​ So, America’s big goal was to develop an informal system of world power based on consent rather than threat 2.​ However, EU powers still defended colonization and American officials feared that anticolonial resistance would push nationalists into communism with revolution. a)​ Responding to this, American foreign policies constructed alliances with colonial powers, pushing away nationalist leaders in Asia and Africa G.​ America needed to sway decolonizing nations towards the US. 1.​ The Smith-Mundt Act 1948 a)​ Published to promote a better understanding of the US in other countries b)​ Established cultural exchanges with countries to showcase American values through entertainment and art c)​ The soviets did the same, which was more successful than the American campaign 2.​ America was perceived as lagging behind the USSR in the war for hearts.\ H.​ Prominent Black radicals also joined the anti-colonialism movements, connecting the Cold War and Black freedom struggles.