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Ch 37: The Cold War Begins

Ch 37: The Cold War Begins. Postwar America. Taft-Hartley Act: reduced power of unions GI Bill-- education, home and business loans for returning vets 1950-1970: prolonged economic boom Population shifts (millions move to Sunbelt). “white flight” to suburbs

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Ch 37: The Cold War Begins

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  1. Ch 37: The Cold War Begins

  2. Postwar America • Taft-Hartley Act: reduced power of unions • GI Bill-- education, home and business loans for returning vets • 1950-1970: prolonged economic boom • Population shifts (millions move to Sunbelt)

  3. “white flight” to suburbs • “baby boom”-- huge increase in birthrate 1946-1964 • Added more than 50 million babies by end of 1950s

  4. Truman as President • Very little political experience • “Average man”—didn’t have a college education • At first seemed unable to fill FDR’s shoes, but grew into his role

  5. Wartime Tensions between US and USSR • Evident during Yalta conference • plans to defeat Germany, and divide • Stalin promised free elections in Poland and other Eastern European countries • Stalin promised to enter war against Japan

  6. The InevitableCold War Long standing mutual suspicions Communism and capitalism were historically hostile philosophies DIFFERENT VISIONS OF POSTWAR WORLD!! Soviets wanted to expand to create “buffer zone” US wanted to CONTAIN Communism, spread democracy

  7. Shaping the Postwar World • 1944 Bretton Woods Meeting: Allies established International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank • IMF: Encourages trade by regulating currency rates • World Bank: Promotes economic development in underveloped areas • Creation of United Nations • Created before end of war • Countries in Security Council (US, Britain, USSR, France, China) had veto powers • US plays big role • Failed chance to outlaw atomic weapons

  8. How to Deal With Germany? • Punishing the Nazis: Nuremberg Trials • 22 Nazis tried, 12 put to death, 7 sentenced to life in jail • Conflict over what to do with Germany: • Soviets and some in US wanted to punish Germany, force it to pay reparations • Most in US wanted Germany to be strong to avoid another war and spread of Communism.

  9. The Berlin Blockade • Germany and Berlin divided by Allies and Soviet Union • Soviets afraid Americans were trying to unite their parts to create a capitalist West Germany. • Stalin responds to plan for new currency with blockade of West Berlin in 1948. • Cut off all inhabitants from West Berlin of fuel, power and food.

  10. US Response: Berlin Airlift • US airlifted supplies into Berlin • Attempt to aid Germans and avoid all-out war with Soviets • After a year, Stalin ended blockade

  11. Containment and The Truman Doctrine • George Kennan, US diplomat, proposed US policy of CONTAINMENT • Primary goal is to keep communism within its present territory, and not allow it to spread anywhere else • Truman Doctrine (1947)—key example • $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey to fight against communism • US believes it is its responsibility to combat communism all over the world.

  12. The Marshall Plan • US wanted to strengthen Western Europe to make sure countries wouldn’t fall to Communism • 1947: Plan called for billions in aid to Europe • Economic alliances increased division between two.

  13. Truman Recognizes Israel • Israel created in 1948 as refuge for Jews after Holocaust • Arab world resented Israel, and the US needed Arabs for oil • Truman risked all of this by officially recognizing Israel • Wanted to pre-empt Soviet influence in Jewish state, and get support of Jewish voters

  14. America Begins to Rearm • 1947: National Security Act • Dept. of Defense • National Security Council (NSC) • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) • U.S. And 11 other nations form defensive alliance in 1949 • Other countries joined later

  15. Reconstruction and Revolution in Asia • General Douglas MacArthur led successful rebuilding in Japan • Chinese Communists under Mao Zedong run Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek out of China to Formosa • Arms race • Sept. 1949: Soviets explode an a-bomb • 1952: U.S. Tests H-bomb • Soviets reciprocate in 1953

  16. The Red Scare (part 2) • HUAC-- House committee for investigating government communists • Alger Hiss case • McCarthyism • Rosenberg trial

  17. Democratic Divisions in 1948 • 1948 Election • Republicans: Thomas E. Dewey • Democrats split three ways • Truman • Dixiecrats: Thurmond • Progressives: Wallace • “Fair Deal” • Raised min. wage • Public housing • Extended Social Security

  18. Korean War (1950-1953) • 38th parallel-- boundary between (Soviet- backed) North and (American-backed) South Korea • June 1950-- North Korea invades South Korea • The UN backs South Korea • China joined on the side of North Korea • Stalemate • Gen. MacArthur fired for dissing Truman publicly

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