| |
| 1948–49 |
| |
| Berlin airlift (See July 24). The Soviet Union imposed a land and sea blockade on the city of Berlin. For 321 days American planes flew food and supplies into the city. Joseph Stalin lifted the blockade on May 12, 1949. | 1 |
| |
| 1949 |
| |
| Growing fear of communism. The spread of communism in Eastern Europe and the Far East created a growing fear among many Americans of a possible Communist danger at home. The trial and conviction for espionage of Judith Coplon, employee of the Justice Department; the revelations made in connection with the trial of Alger Hiss, formerly of the State Department; and the trial of the leaders of the American Communist Party were only the more prominent among a large number of investigations and restrictive measures conducted by federal, state, and local authorities to uncover or prevent Communist infiltration, espionage, and sabotage. The best-known proponent of the Red scare tactics, Republican senator Joseph R. McCarthy, held hearings to investigate Communist infiltration in the government and numerous industries. Though McCarthy's charges were often false, he became one of the most feared politicians of the 1950s. | 2 |
| |
| Jan.–Oct |
| |
| In one of its longest peacetime sessions, Congress, largely because of the opposition of the southern Democrats, failed to give support to the major points of Pres. Truman's “Fair Deal” program—the repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act and the enactment of federal civil rights legislation. In the field of foreign affairs, on the other hand, Congress on the whole shared the administration's international orientation. | 3 |
| |
| Jan. 7 |
| |
| Secretary of State Marshall resigned for reasons of health and was succeeded by Dean Acheson. | 4 |
| |
| Jan. 20 |
| |
| HARRY S. TRUMAN was inaugurated for his second term. In his inaugural address, he presented a four-point plan for American foreign policy, point four of which called for “a bold new program” of assistance to economically underdeveloped areas. | 5 |
| |
| April 4 |
| |
| THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY (See April 4) was ratified by the Senate on July 21 and signed by the president on July 25. | 6 |
| |
| Aug. 10 |
| |
| Pres. Truman signed a bill establishing the Department of Defense, including broader and more well-defined powers for the secretary of defense. | 7 |
| |
| Oct. 6 |
| |
| Pres. Truman signed the Mutual Defense Assistance Act, appropriating more than 1 billion dollars for military aid primarily to members of the Atlantic pact. | 8 |
| |
| Oct. 14 |
| |
| The leaders of the American Communist Party were convicted of conspiracy to advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. government and sentenced to fines and imprisonment. | 9 |
| |
| |
