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Chapter 12
The Cold War 1945-1960
I. Origins of the Cold War
Ø After WW II, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as rival superpowers, each strong enough to greatly influence world events.
Former Allies Clash
q Political difference =
q Economic difference =
q During WW II, Stalin was mad about the delay in opening the Western Front and the secrecy of the A-bomb; the US was mad about his alliance with Hitler.
1. The United Nations
§ April 25, 1945 50 nations met in San Francisco to establish this new peacekeeping body which was intended to promote peace
2. Truman Becomes President
§ Many Americans doubted his ability to serve as president, but what important qualities did he possess that would help him?
3. The Potsdam Conference – July 1945
§ Final wartime conference (Stalin, Atlee and Truman) in Germany
§ What did Stalin promise at this meeting?
Tension Mounts
1. Soviets Tighten Their Grip on Eastern Europe
§ Stalin installed communist governments in many Eastern European nations
§ Why were these satellite nations set up?
2. US Establishes a Policy of Containment
§ George Kennan proposed a policy of CONTAINMENT
§ Europe was now divided into two political regions and the symbol of this division was the so-called “Iron Curtain” – Who coined this phrase?
Cold War in Europe
Ø Cold War – a conflict between the US and USSR in which neither nation directly confronts the other on the battlefield (1945-1991)
1. The Truman Doctrine
q US policy (1947) aimed at stopping the spread of communism by helping nations with military and/or economic support.
q Where was it used first?
2. The Marshall Plan
q Secretary of State George Marshall proposed that the US provide aid to all European nations that needed it. Why was this necessary?
q The Marshall Plan – 16 nations received some $13 billion in aid and by 1952 Western Europe was flourishing and the Communist appeal was fading.
3. Superpowers Struggle over Germany
q At the end of WW II, Germany had been divided into zones (occupied by the US, France, England - west, USSR - east)
q 1948 US, France, England decided to unify their zones into one nation, but what was the problem with Berlin?
Berlin Blockade
§ Stalin responded in June 1948 by closing all highway and rail lines into Berlin so that he could take all of Berlin.
§ The 2.1 million residents had food for 5 weeks
Berlin Airlift
§ American and British officials flew food and supplies into West Berlin for 327 days and by May 1949, Stalin had lifted the blockade
The NATO Alliance = North Atlantic Treaty Organization (April 4, 1949)
q 10 western European democracies joined with the US and Canada and formed a defensive military alliance
ü would support each other if one was attacked
ü 1st US military alliance in peacetime
ü kept a standing military force of 500,000 troops
II. The Cold War Heats Up
China Becomes a Communist Country
Ø In China, there were (2) leaders struggling to gain control for decades:
1. Chiang Kai-shek
ü Leader of the Nationalist government and supported by the US
ü Poor leader whose government was inefficient and hopelessly corrupt
2. Mao Zedong
ü Led a Communist movement in China that was gaining the support of the peasant farmers, especially in northern China. (had support of USSR)
Ø These two actually cooperated to defeat the Japanese in WW II, but when the war was over Civil War erupted between the two groups they led.
ü What was the result in China?
American Reacts to Communist Takeover
q The American public was stunned that the world’s largest country had become a communist nation.
q What did this lead to in America?
The Korean War
Ø Japan had controlled Korea since 1910 and ruled it until 1945.
Ø Japanese troops north of 38th parallel surrendered to the USSR, and those south of the line surrendered to the US.
ü Similar to Germany, 2 nations (1 communist, 1 democratic) were formed
ü Republic of Korea (southern, democracy); People’s Republic of Korea (northern, communist)
1. North Korea Attacks South Korea
q On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces swept across the 38th parallel in a surprise attack on South Korea – conflict became known as the Korean War
q PHASE 1 of the fighting
ü North Korean troops drove deep into South Korea and captured Seoul
ü The UN Security was asked for help and voted yes
Ø Why did the USSR not VETO the military action?
Ø 16 nations sent 520,000 troops; over 90% were Americans. Who was in charge?
The United States Fights in Korea
Ø PHASE 2 of the fighting
ü The North Koreans pushed the UN and South Korean forces almost off the Korean peninsula; they held onto a small defensive position around Pusan
1. MacArthur’s Counterattack - PHASE 3 of the Fighting
ü On September 15, 1950, MacArthur launched a surprise, amphibious invasion behind enemy lines at Inchon (west coast of Korea)
ü MacArthur had trapped much of the North Korean army and began to chase the rest up through North Korea towards the Yalu River.
2. The Chinese Fight Back - PHASE 4 of the Fighting
ü The Chinese were worried that MacArthur would continue into China and they unleashed a “Red Wave” (300,000 soldiers) into North Korea.
ü What was the result of this?
3. MacArthur Recommends Attacking China
ü What was MacArthur’s recommendation to Truman?
ü By April 1951, the UN forces had retaken Seoul and had moved back to the 38th parallel.
4. MacArthur versus Truman
ü MacArthur continued to urge for a full-scale war against China and began to publicly criticize President Truman
ü What did Truman do and how did the American people react?
5. Settling for Stalemate
ü The Soviet Union suggested a cease-fire in the summer of 1951 and peace talks began that resulted in two points:
1.
2.
ü Results of conflict = Korea was a stalemate, the US did repel the North Koreans and contain communism, but Korea was still divided
III. The Cold War at Home
Fear of Communist Influence
Ø Was there good reason to be concerned about USS? Yes; domination of Eastern Europe, Communist China, 80,000 Americans claimed membership in communist party during WW II.
1. Loyalty Review Board – March 1947
ü Set up by Truman to investigate government employees and to dismiss those who were found to be disloyal to the US government
ü 212 were dismissed for security reasons, many others quit – WHY?
2. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
ü Began to investigate Communist influence in the movie industry (1947)
ü Who were the “Hollywood Ten”?
ü Hollywood executives instituted a blacklist – a list of people whom they condemned for having a Communist background; their careers were ruined.
3. The McCarran Act
ü This act made it unlawful to plan any action that might lead to the establishment of a totalitarian dictatorship in the US
ü Truman vetoed the bill, but Congress overrode his veto.
Spy Cases Stun the Nation
1) Alger Hiss
ü In 1948, a former Communist spy named Whittaker Chambers accused Hiss of spying for the USSR. What was his proof?
ü What role did Richard Nixon play in this case?
2) The Rosenbergs
ü The USSR exploded an atomic bomb much sooner than American scientists predicted; Americans wondered if spies were responsible for leaking secrets.
ü Ethel + Julius Rosenberg were implicated in the case and sentenced to death
Ø 1st US civilians executed for espionage
McCarthy Launches his “Witch Hunt”
Ø the most famous anti-Communist activist was Senator Joseph McCarthy, a Republican from Wisconsin –
ü Why did he charge Communists were taking over the government?
1. McCarthy’s Tactics
ü He made one unsupported accusation after another; this became known as McCarthyism (DEFINE)
ü He accused members of the State Department and even the Democratic Party for allowing the Communist infiltration – Why did he do this in the Senate?
2. McCarthy’s Downfall
ü In 1954 McCarthy made accusations against the US Army which resulted in a nationally televised Senate investigation.
ü What was the result of these hearings?
3. Other Anti-Communist Measures
ü By 1953, 39 states had passed laws making it illegal to advocate the violent overthrow of the government – what right did these laws violate?
IV. Two Nations Live on the Edge
Brinkmanship Rules US Policy
1. Race for the H-Bomb
ü The scientists who developed the atomic bomb believed a thermonuclear weapon or hydrogen bomb (67x powerful than A-bomb) could be built.
ü US exploded the 1st H-bomb on November 1, 1952 in South Pacific; Russians in August of 1953
2. The Policy of Brinkmanship
ü John Foster Dulles – Secretary of State under Eisenhower proposed the policy of brinkmanship (DEFINE)
ü What were the effects of this policy?
The Cold War Spreads Around the World
Ø Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
ü Used spies to gather information abroad
ü Began to carry out covert operations to weaken or overthrow governments unfriendly to the United States.
1. Covert Actions in the Middle East and Latin America
ü One of the CIAs first covert actions tool place in Iran when Iran’s Prime minister Mohammed Mossadegh nationalized Iran’s oil fields.
ü What did the CIA do here?
§ In 1954, the CIA took covert action in Guatemala out of fear of Communist influence in this Central American country.
2. The Warsaw Pact
ü West Germany was allowed to rearm in 1955 and join NATO
ü How did the USSR respond to this action?
3. A Summit in Geneva
ü In July 1955, Eisenhower traveled to Switzerland to meet with Soviet leaders.
ü Although, nothing concrete came out of this, it was a step towards peace.
4. The Suez War
ü Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal and would not allow ships headed for Israel to pass through – all nations were supposed to have access
ü What happened next?
5. The Eisenhower Doctrine
ü January 1957, Eisenhower warned that the US would defend the Middle East against an attack by any Communist country.
6. The Hungarian Uprising
ü The Hungarian people, tired of Soviet domination in their country, rose in revolt and called for a democratic government.
ü The Soviet response was swift and brutal
Ø Soviet tanks rolled into Hungary and killed 30,000 Hungarians and executed the resistance leader – Imre Nagy.
Ø What did the US and the UN do?
The Cold War Takes to the Skies
Ø After Stalin’s death in 1953, Nikita Khrushchev took control of the USSR and pushed for peace between the two superpowers.
1. The Space Race
ü Competition for national prestige; the Soviets had the early lead.
ü IDENTIFY Sputnik
2. A U-2 is Shot Down
ü The CIA began making secret high-altitude flights over Soviet territory; the planes were U-2 spy planes that took detailed photos of troops and missiles.
ü Many American officials wanted to stop these flights, but one more flight was authorized. WHAT HAPPENDED?
3. Renewed Confrontation
ü Eisenhower at first denied the U-2 had been spying, but eventually agreed to stop the flights.
ü What was a significant result of the U-2 incident?