America 250 · 1945–1960
Cold War & Postwar America
The fifteen years America was richer, freer, and more anxious than anyone could remember.
From Truman through Eisenhower — the Marshall Plan, NATO, the Korean War, the Red Scare, the suburban boom, the early civil rights cases. The era that built the modern American middle class and the institutions that ran the free world.
Presidents who served
Histories
The Cold War: A New History
John Lewis Gaddis · 2005
The leading Cold War historian's short version — readable, opinionated, the consensus single-volume.
The Fifties
David Halberstam · 1993
Halberstam on the decade as a single texture — TV, civil rights, Korea, the suburbs, Elvis.
Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA
Tim Weiner · 2007
National Book Award winner. The CIA from the OSS through the present, mostly on declassified documents.
Lives
Eisenhower in War and Peace
Jean Edward Smith · 2012
The best modern one-volume Eisenhower — the 'underrated president' case, now mainstream.
Fiction
Revolutionary Road
Richard Yates · 1961
Yates's first novel — a suburban Connecticut couple in 1955, slowly suffocating. The era's most ruthless self-portrait.
Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison · 1952
NBA winner. Ellison's only novel — Black life in postwar America. The era-defining literary work.
Common questions
What is the best book to start learning about the Cold War & Postwar America era?
To understand the Cold War & Postwar America era, start with 'The Cold War: A New History' by John Lewis Gaddis for a broad perspective, or 'The Fifties' by David Halberstam for a detailed look at the social and cultural shifts that defined the period.
Why does the Cold War & Postwar America era matter to modern history?
The Cold War & Postwar America era is significant because it established the modern American middle class and created the international institutions that ran the free world. It was a time of rapid suburban growth, early civil rights developments, and the formation of key alliances like NATO.
Which U.S. presidents served during the Cold War & Postwar America era?
The two U.S. presidents who served during the Cold War & Postwar America era were Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Their administrations oversaw major events including the Marshall Plan, the Korean War, and the development of the Red Scare.
What defines the Cold War & Postwar America era?
The Cold War & Postwar America era, spanning from 1945 to 1960, is defined by a unique combination of extreme national wealth, increased freedom, and deep anxiety. This period was marked by the suburban boom, the Korean War, and the rise of the institutions that shaped the global order.
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