The Cold War

1. The Cold War Or a “Cold Peace” Chapter 25 with Chapter 28 Section 1

2. Winston Churchill • “Iron Curtain” Speech • Fulton, Missouri – March 5, 1946 • At Westminster College • “From Stettin (Poland) in the Baltic to Trieste (Italy) in the Adriatic, an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent.”

3. Soviet Block nations • 1st they annexed Estonia, Latvia, & Lithuania • Established Polish gov’t loyal to Stalin • By end of 1948, firmly lined up the Soviet “satellite” nations • Satellites – officially independent countries, but controlled by a foreign power. • Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, East Germany • Yugoslavia – under Marshall Tito – stayed independent – still a communist gov’t though

4. George F. Kennan • State Department official • “The Long Telegram”, February 1946, from Moscow • Said Soviets were paranoid & expansionists • Were combining imperialism & Marxism • Threat to US and the West • Later article in “Foreign Affairs” – July 1946 • Included draft of his Containment policy *** • Contain communism where it already exists • By force if necessary

5. Truman Doctrine, 1947 • In response to threats in Eastern Europe • Greece – Tito backed communists attempted to take over gov’t • Turkey – tried to resist Soviet demands for naval base in Turkey • Truman’s speech to Congress requesting aid for each country now called this ($400 million) • Promise that the US would defend free peoples from subversion or outside pressures • Especially communism, but still used today

6. The Marshall Plan • Sec of State George Marshall’s plan to help Europe receive massive economic aid • Reasons: economies were in ruins, poverty, hunger, cities in ruins • Aim was to contain communism – avoid the appeal • Boost the US economy – we needed trade • Offer extended to Soviets & Eastern Europe too • They said no • In 3 yrs, $12 billion went to 16 countries

7. Berlin Blockade & Airlift • East Berlin  West Berlin • June 1948, Stalin cut off all highways, rivers, & RRs into & out of West Berlin • Tried to force the west to give up that part of the city • West Berlin depended on trade for food & fuel • US, Fr, Br airlifted supplies to West Berlin daily until May 1949 • Soviets never shot at any of the planes • Finally re-opened the routes

8. Creation of New Organizations • NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization • Included US, Canada & democratic Europe in 1949 • 1952, Turkey & Greece joined • 1955 West Germany joined which led to… • Warsaw Pact – created in 1955 • Soviets & the satellites • Counter “threat” from NATO • Officially dissolved in July 1991

9. The Chinese Revolution • Nationalist gov’t of Chiang Kai-shek (US support) • Became corrupt & ignored advice to make reforms • Vs. Communists of Mao Zedong • 20 year fight • In Fall of 1949, Mao forced Chiang to flee to Formosa (Taiwan) • “Loss of China” reinforced public’s beliefs that communists meant to conquer the world • Then news hit: Soviets had the Bomb – Sept ’49

10. Fears at Home • Similar to the Red Scare of 1919-1920 • Loyalty Review Board – federal employees fired for “subversive” activities (at any time) • Truman yrs: 1,200 fired & 5,000 forced to resign • House Un-American Activities Committee –HUAC – mostly from 1947-1954 • Started investigating Hollywood • Blacklists created – studios refused to hire • “Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?”

11. Trials • HUAC investigated Alger Hiss (State Dept) • Whittaker Chambers, former Communist, informant • Claimed Hiss gave him info to pass to Soviets • Hiss tried for perjury, not spying - statute of limitations - Found guilty • CA Rep led investigation – Richard Nixon • Klaus Fuchs, scientist confessed to helping Soviets get plans for nuclear bomb • Ethel & Julius Rosenberg – found guilty of delivering the plans & executed!

12. Joseph McCarthy, Senator – Wisc. • During re-election campaign started making speeches about the gov’t filled with communists • Senate sub committee investigated & dismissed • “a hoax…an effort to inflame…a wave of hysteria” • Rep backed his investigations & hearings • Public liked his simplistic way of explaining foreign policy failures (like China) – but never evidence • Went on for 4 yrs – referred to as McCarthyism • Stopped when he attacked the Army & held hearings live on TV

13. The Korean War • Post WWII – Korea divided at 38th parallel • Soviets support North, US in the South • 1949, Soviets & US pulled out • North Korea under Kim Il-Sung – Communist • South Korea under Syngman Rhee – dictator • Both wanted to reunify Korea by force • June 25, 1950 – North Korea invaded South K.

14. Truman’s response • June 27th – sent air strikes against North K. • Sent supplies to South K. • Went to the UN Security Council for help • UN authorized military help for South K. • Soviets boycotted meeting over China so no veto • “police action” started Jun 30th under General MacArthur

15. Actions of the Korean War • Initially almost lost whole peninsula • w/ lots of help from Br, Fr, & Canada – MacArthur attacked North K. from the rear • 16 countries helped in war (90% of forces were US) • Sandwiched North Koreans in South K • MacArthur invaded North K. to border with China • China said stop or else, MacArthur didn’t believe them • China entered war on North K’s side • Truman refused to let MacArthur directly attack China

16. End of Korean War • Truman fired MacArthur after public criticism of the president & disobeying orders • MacArthur was popular with the American public • Others strongly believed Pres as commander in chief • Armistice signed July 27, 1953 to end the stalemate at Panmunjom w/ Eisenhower’s help • 38th parallel cease fire line • POWs could accept or refuse repatriation • 44,000 US died/MIA, million Koreans & Chinese

17. Election of 1952 • R- Dwight D. Eisenhower w/ Nixon as VP • D – Adlai Stevenson • Eisenhower won easily – war hero • “I like Ike”, promised to go to Korea • He did after the election • Many wanted a change from 20 years of Democrats

18. Cold War programs at home • Development of the Hydrogen bomb • Einstein even warned against the H-bomb • Nov 1, 1952 tested it on small island – destroyed it • (Soviets got the H-bomb the next year) • Federal Aid – Highway Act, 1956 • $$$ for interstate highways • Need to move missiles & people • Federal Civil Defense Adm – prepared the public for nuclear threat – “Bert the Turtle”

19. John Foster Dulles • Eisenhower’s Sec of State – very popular • Attacking communism a moral crusade • Pushed for a “rollback” of communism • Created SEATO & CENTO treaties • organizations for SE Asia and the Mid- East • Changed US policy that US response to Soviet aggression to “massive retaliation” • No longer costly wars, but all-out nuclear attack • Referred to as “brinksmanship” – to the brink of war

20. Rise of Third World Nationalism • Third World – old definition of developing nations, had usually been colonies • Post WWII – Parent countries couldn’t afford colonies anymore so they became free • Struggle to form gov’ts • Competition between the “west” & the Soviets • “battleground of Cold War” • New countries had to deal with typical problems – poverty, social inequalities, domination by foreign investors, and usually warfare

21. Middle East problems • Creation of Israel in 1948 from former British controlled Palestine • Arab nations invaded, no peace until 1950 • US UN diplomat negotiated peace – Ralph Bunche • Essentially the problems there continue to today • Iran’s Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh nationalized oil fields owned by British company • Operation Ajax – CIA operation to overthrow him in 1953 – complex operation that worked • Returned the Shah to power until overthrown in 1979

22. Suez War • 1956 Eisenhower supported Egypt’s demand that Br troops w/draw from Suez Canal zone • To push Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser to west’s side • Nasser also dealing with Soviets – played both sides • Nasser nationalized the canal • Israel invaded Egypt on Oct to start war • Had Br & Fr help to take canal • US backed UN resolution condemning action • So reluctant ceasefire

23. More news • Hungarian people revolted against Soviet control • Soviets swiftly crushed rebellion • Eisenhower thought about helping – too remote • Guatemalan leader Jacobo Arbenz seized lands of United Fruit company – offered little $$ • United Fruit asked US for help claiming communism • CIA operation overthrew Arbenz • Added to anti-American feelings in Latin America • Soviet’s launched Sputnik in 1957 – 1st satellite

24. Summit Meetings • Nikita Khrushchev new Soviet premier • Stalin died in 1953 • 1959 – VP Nixon went to Moscow for visit • Nothing really decided • Khrushchev visited the US to see Eisenhower • Made plans for Summit to settle differences • U-2 Incident cancelled Summit • US spy plane shot down by Soviets – Francis Gary Powers – pilot • Eisenhower denied it then admitted it – no apology

25. Actions under John F. Kennedy • Policy – “Flexible response” – range of options to deal w/ Internat’l crises • Increased US stockpile of weapons, expanded forces, enhanced the Special Forces (Green Berets) • Established the Peace Corps – F.Sargent Shriver • Sent young people to 3rd World countries • Good-will missions – still exists today • Alliance for Progress to fight poverty in Latin Am. • To curb communism, mostly a failed program

26. Cuba’s Revolution – rise of Castro • 1959 dictator Batista overthrown by Castro • Castro imprisoned & killed opponents • Seized US owned properties • Established trade treaty with Soviets • Communist gov’t 90 miles off our shores! • April 17, 1961 – Bay of Pigs invasion • CIA trained force of Cuban exiles • Total disaster – in 2 days all 1,400 captured or killed • CIA continued to plot against Castro

27. Crisis in Berlin • June 1961 JFK met with Khrushchev in Vienna • Soviets wanted all of Berlin – Kennedy said no • JFK warned US people crisis over Berlin could lead to war & encouraged preparations • More $$ for defense, fall-out shelters built • Berlin Wall – started being built in Aug 1961 • Became very scary symbol of division • Did not come down until late 1989

28. Cuban Missile Crisis • October 1962, Spy satellite pictures showed Soviet missile sites being built in Cuba • Oct 22nd JFK went on TV and told US public • Plan to blockade Cuba & either turn back or search ships for weapons entering Cuba • Six days while nation held its breath • Soviet Ships stopped & some turned back • In secret communications, deal was made • Soviets stay out of Cuba, US removed missiles from Turkey & promised to not invade Cuba • Neither side ever acknowledged the deal publicly

29. Nuclear Test Ban Treaty • 1963 – US, Br, Soviets agreed to stop testing nuclear weapons in the air & under the water • Allowed underground testing • Not seen as environmentally dangerous • June 1963 – JFK at American University speech • Called for better relations between the superpowers • Often considered one of his most eloquent on foreign peace