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Creating World Peace & Prosperity. US was largest supplier of funds for both, so US had greatest control over policy. After WW2 –world powers addressed global economy & peace-keeping: International Monetary Fund & World Bank were created
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Creating World Peace & Prosperity US was largest supplier of funds for both, so US had greatest control over policy • After WW2 –world powers addressed global economy & peace-keeping: • International Monetary Fund & World Bank were created • United Nations replaced League of Nations in 1945 US hoped to continue trade dominance in Western Euro, Asia, & Latin Am
Each of the 5 Executive Council nations has absolute veto power US, USSR, UK, France, & China permanent members of Security Council An army! All member nations represented in the General Assembly
The Beginning of the Cold War • Cold War – era of distrust, threat of nuclear war, & ideological expansion between US & USSR: • US-Soviet tensions heightened at Yalta & Potsdam WW2 conferences Stalin agreed to allow self-determination in Eastern Europe…but never did
The Cold War Begins “I can work with Stalin…he is honest—but smart as [heck].” • July 1945: Truman met Stalin at Potsdam to discuss post-war Europe & ending the war with Japan Truman was a “Wilsonianidealist” & hoped for intlcooperation Stalin had ruled Russia for 2 decades, was a cautious realist, & believed the USSR needed to protect itself
Cold War Divisions UK, France, US & USSR didn’t agree on German war reparations, Germany divided into occupied zones at Potsdam Yalta: Stalin agreed to self-determination in E Euro Potsdam: Stalin extended control over E Euro to create buffer b/w USSR & future enemies Potsdam was conclusion of WW2’s US-Soviet alliance Potsdam presented a major Cold War theme: Because they could not agree on how do govern Europe, Truman & Stalin divided it
Withholding Economic Aid • USSR was badly damaged & needed help rebuilding • FDR/Truman declined loans & ended Lend-Lease aid • Stalin took factories in E Euro & Manchuria • USSR slowly recovered but hostility & antagonism deepened
The Iron Curtain Capitalism & Democracy Communism & Totalitarianism 1940s: US began to view Stalin as a new Hitler—dangerous threat & aggressive dictator desiring world domination
Containment • HST’s Sec of State George Marshall began policy of Containment in 1947 • Strong resistance to USSR would stop expansion & spread of communism • US initiated containment in 3 phases: Truman Plan, Marshall Plan, NATO “long-term, patient but firm, and vigilant containment of Russian expansionist policies…will not lead to any immediate victory but will eventually force the USSR to live in peace with the West”
The Truman Doctrine • Soviet pressure on Greece & Turkey led to fears of communism on 3 continents • Truman Doctrine: US offered assistance to any nation threatened by Communism Commitment to stopping spread of communism was viewed by USSR as informal declaration of a cold war
The Marshall Plan • Euro had trouble recovering post WW2 – led to fears of communist coups • Marshall Plan offered aid to help in recovery • Industry revived / W Euro became bonanza for US trade • “Communist threat” ended
Marshall Plan to Aid Europe 1948-1952 Stalin refused to accept Marshall Plan aid in USSR or any Soviet satellite / responded with Molotov Plan in E Euro
NATO • 1949: Fears of Soviet aggression led to North Atlantic Treaty Organization • Collective security for W Euro, US, Canada, Greece, & Turkey • Cold War was: • Ideological (Truman Doctrine) • Economic (Marshall Plan) • Military (NATO) Major departure from traditional USpolicy of isolationism
USSR responded in 1955 with formation of Warsaw Pact NATO initiated as result of 1948 Soviet coup in Czechoslovakia
The Berlin Blockade • 1948: USSR cut off traffic to Berlin in E Germany • Truman: • Allowed food/fuel/supplies to be airlifted into W Berlin • Moved several bombers to England • Standoff lasted 2 wks until Stalin lifted the blockade
The Military Dimension Air Force was preferred military agency of Cold War b/c of ability to deliver nuclear bombs & deter enemy attacks • 1947: 3 new agencies created so US could identify & respond to security threats • Dept of Defense (now w/Air Force) • Central Intelligence Agency • National Security Council
The Nuclear Arms Race Soviet testing of atomic bomb motivated US to regain advantage 1952: US tested 1st hydrogen bomb (1000x more powerful than a-bomb) 1949 - US monopoly on nuclear weapon technology ended – USSR successfully tested their own atomic bomb The Soviets responded with their own h-bomb in 1953
The Cold War in Asia US refused to recognize Communist China Continued diplomatic relations with Nationalists in Taiwan • By 1952, Asia also divided: • After WW2, US helped build alliance & democracy in Japan • 1949: Truman “lost” China • Mao Zedong defeated Chiang Kai-shek & Kuomintang • 1950: China signed mutual assistance treaty with USSR
Based upon this chart, why were Mao & the Communists so popular among the Chinese people? Industrial workers Chinese Communist propaganda What message does this poster project? Farmers Loyal communists Notice the sun Women Notice the Chinese people Chinese Communist propaganda Who might this poster appeal to?
Chinese Civil War VS. Nationalist Leader Chiang Kai-shek (Kuomintang) Communist Leader Mao Zedong
The Military Dimension NSC-68 was military, economic, political & psychological examination of USSR & China to develop appropriate US responses to threats • 1950: NSC created new defense plan NSC-68: • Communism “fanatical” “permanent” threat to US & the world • Don’t just contain communism – also liberate communist countries • Expand US military, stockpile nukes, & use covert operations NSC-68 responded to Soviet development of atomic bomb & “loss” of China to communism This policy paper became “blueprint” for Cold War / shaped US actions for next 20 years 3 mos later, assessment appeared correct: N Korea attacked SKorea; US military buildup began
The Korean War • Showdown b/w US & USSR in Asia came in Korea: • PostWW2: Korea divided at 38°N • NK attacked across border in 1950 • UN condemned NK & sent troops • 90% were from US • Gen Douglas MacArthur Stalin & Mao approved of attack, but Stalin warned: “If you should get kicked in the teeth, I shall not lift a finger. You have to ask Mao for help.”
Truman unable to end Korean War United Nations Counter-Attack September-October 1950 North Korean Invasion June-September 1950 Chinese Advance October-January 1951 Eisenhower made Korean War a campaign issue in 1952
The Korean War • MacArthur wanted to unify Korea • Also wanted to invade China • Truman feared WW3, ordered him to stop • MacArthur went to gov officials, media & public to get support • Truman fired him for insubordination
Korean War • Stalemate • Armistice signed 1953 • Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) established • War never officially ended – soldiers still there
Armistice January 1951-July 1953
The Cold War at Home • GOP Congress replaced Wagner Act with Taft-Hartley Act: • Forced union members to swear anti-communist oath • Outlawed most closed shops • Truman’s domestic policy not as successful as his foreign policy • Prices too high & supply too low on new consumer goods • Unions struck – demanded share of wartime profits • 1946 mid-terms: GOP took HR & S “Had enough?” “To err is Truman”
The Cold War at Home He attacked the “do-nothing” Republicans • 1948: reelection seemed remote • HST faced strong opposition from: • Repub Thomas Dewey • Progressive Henry Wallace • “Dixiecrat” Strom Thurmond • “FDR coalition” of farmers, labor, urban, black voters held strong He reminded voters that the Democrats ended the Depression The Republicans couldn’t attack Truman’s Cold War successes
Truman and the Fair Deal • HST Fair Deal tried to extend New Deal: • min wage & Soc Sec benefits • Nationalheathinsurance • Fair Employment Practices Comm: • End discrimination against blacks • GOP & southern Dems blocked all Fair Deal legislation
The Loyalty Issue • Fear of radicals is recurrent theme in US history • 1940s & 50s: fears of Commies grew • : • Fall of China to communism • Successful testing of atomic bomb by USSR • Discovery of American spies • Fear of an unseen conspiracy Federalists in 1790s used Alien & Sedition Acts Know-Nothings attacked foreigners in 1850s Red Scare after WW1 aimed at radicals & foreigners
The Loyalty Issue Alger Hiss in State Dept was accused of being a USSR spy (the “pumpkin papers”) • Fear of Commies abroad led to 2nd Red Scare in US: • Fears of Soviet espionage led to House Un-American Activities Committee to rid gov’t of spies • Loyalty Review Board fired gov’t workers for “reasonable doubt” • Justice Dept jailed 11 members of the Communist Party for plotting a socialist revolution Manhattan Project employee Klaus Fuchs admitted to providing nuclear plans to the USSR Ethel & Julius Rosenberg executed for leaking atomic secrets to the USSR despite lack of hard evidence
McCarthyism in Action Used barrage of treasonable actions against accused that overwhelmed defendant’s ability to respond • 1950: Joseph McCarthy (R-WI) accused 205 State Dept workers of being Communists • Began 4½ yr attack on “Communists” • McCarthyism popular because it played into fears held by many in US Never found any actual Communists in gov& never had more than 50% approval rating among voters Attacked US gov agencies (especially State Dept)of harboring spies
Conclusions • Cold War dominated US thoughts throughout the 1940s & early 50s: • Defense spending dramatically • Nuclear arms race made people anxious about the future • WithEisenhower’selectionin1952 American anxieties subsided as the Cold War became more covert