The Close of World War II

2. The Close of World War II • As World War II approached the end, the US, British, and Soviets could not resolve the issue of freedom for Europeans. • As a result, the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences tried to solve some of the postwar issues.

3. Yalta Conference • FDR, Stalin, Churchill • Poland • FDR and Churchill: Free elections • Stalin: Matter of “life and death” for friendly gov’t • Agree to let Soviets set up gov’t • Liberated Europe • Right all of people to decide the form of gov’t • Democratic elections with no Nazism or Fascism

4. Yalta Conference (continued) • Germany • Divided into four zones (US, Britain, France, USSR) • Berlin split into four zones even though it is in USSR zone

5. The Cold War Begins • Soviets in Poland: no free elections and only 3 non-Communist Poles in 18-member Polish gov’t • Germany • Soviets want Germany to pay heavy reparations; also want them weak and countries in between communist and under control • US have reparations of goods and keep it based off what Germany can afford to pay

6. Potsdam Conference • US-Soviet standoff over Germany • Truman: Economy key; no heavy reparations • Stalin: Heavy reparations • Ultimately, Stalin accepts the terms • Other issues • Soviets refused to back down on Communist governments in Eastern Europe (satellite nations) • Iron Curtain: Communist nations of Eastern Europe

7. Long Telegram • George Kennan’s Long Telegram explained his view of the Soviets • Insecurity, fear of West, no permanent deals due to struggle with capitalism, continuing to acquire land • Use long-term containment policies • Keep communism within its present territory • Keep them from expanding power, the system would fail completely

8. Iran: Kennan’s ideas proved right • Soviets refuse to remove troops from Northern Iran, push for oil and Communist government • US tells Soviets to withdraw forces, sends USS Missouri into Mediterranean Sea • Soviets withdraw

9. Truman Doctrine • Stop Communist advances around the world • Used in many places, including Turkey and Greece

10. Europe’s Economic Woes

11. Marshall Plan • Sec. of State George Marshall proposed the European Recovery Program, which gives aid to Europe to rebuild economies • Western European countries accepted plan and economies recovered • Ultimately, this weakened the appeal for communism

12. Berlin Airlift • Dispute of Germany continues, so US, France, and Britain merge into one (West Germany) • Soviets realize they will never get the reparations they want, so they cut all traffic to West Berlin off • Goal: Make US reconsider decision • US Response: Truman sends supplies to Berlin until Stalin lifts blockade

13. Review from Friday • What did it feel like to be pointed out as a “red” in society? • How can a simple label change the path of your life in society? “Is This Tomorrow” was a comic book that talked about the dangers of a communist takeover.

14. The Red Scare McCarthyism

15. Red Scare • Rumors of Communists in the US and Communists in government lead to fears that Communism is trying to take over the world • Igor Gouzenko Story • Ottawa’s Soviet Embassy • Documents showing effort to get into US/Canada governments • Reason: A-bomb info

16. What it all meant • Did spies infiltrate America’s government? • Fear of Communist subversion began • Subversion: effort to weaken a society secretly and overthrow its government

17. A quick poll • Raise your hand if you’ve read any book by George Orwell, such as Animal Farm or 1984 • Raise your hand if you have ever traveled to Europe • Raise your hand if you have ever seen either the movie Apocalypse Now or A Clockwork Orange

18. The Loyalty Review Program • Screened all federal employees • Result: Public believed this confirmed that Communism had gotten inside the US Gov’t • Who got screened? • More than 6 million workers • Suspects picked by reading books, belonging to a group, traveling overseas, seeing particular movies • 2,000 workers quit, 212 fired

19. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) • J. Edgar Hoover wanted this committee expanded to stop Communist growth in US • Expose both Communists and symphathizers • Film Industry • Worried that it will manipulate people • Reagan testified and said there were Communists in Hollywood • “Blacklisting”: Refusal to hire anyone who was a Communist, believed to be one, or refused to cooperate with HUAC

21. Red Channels • 151 actors, directors, broadcasters, and screenwriters listed in this book • Leonard Bernstein • Orson Welles • Ultimately, they found it near impossible to find work

22. Review • What was the Loyalty Review Program? HUAC? Red Channels? • What were some of the things the government looked into as they search for Communists?

23. The Hiss Saga • Whittaker Chambers: Editor of TIME, Former Communist Party Member • HUAC Testimony: Government has Communists in it, including Alger Hiss • Alger Hiss, who was active in Roosevelt and Truman administrations denied accusations and sued Chambers • Ultimately, the “pumpkin papers” led to Hiss being charged with perjury

24. Red Scare Continues to Grow • The Soviets created their own version of the atomic bomb, which caused more concern and fear among U.S. citizens. • HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? • WAS IT A SPY? • The case of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg • Accused of selling secrets to the Soviets on how to make an atomic bomb • Convicted and executed for their acts

25. Other Results of the Scare • Univ. of California: Loyalty oaths of all faculty members • Taft-Hartley Act: Union leaders must take oaths they were not communists • US prepares for nuclear war • Fallout Shelters • “Duck and Cover”

26. Joseph McCarthy • 1950, after the Hiss conviction, McCarthy makes a speech saying that he has a list of 205 State Department members who were Communists • Never released his list • Continued to make charges • Helped him gain attention • “The Party of Betrayal” • Booklet accusing Democratic Party members of being corrupt and protecting Communists

27. McCarran Act • Internal Security Act fought Communism • Required all Communist Party and Communist organizations to register with US attorney general. • Required the groups to publish records • Denied Communists passports to travel abroad • Arrested and detained Communists and sympathizers in national emergency • Vetoed by Truman, overridden by Congress

28. McCarthyism • McCarthy becomes chairman of Senate subcommittee on investigations • Forces testimony about alleged Communist ties • Essentially a witch hunt • McCarthyism: tactic of damaging reputations with vague and unfounded charges • Press followed him and wrote about his actions • McCarthy would badger witnesses • Few challenge him (Why do you think this is?)

29. McCarthy’s Downfall • McCarthy decided to focus on military • Army-McCarthy hearings • Challenged military officers • Lost public support • McCarthy challenged lawyer for Army who had a young member that used to be in a Communist organization • Welch challenged him and asked “have you left no sense of decency?”

30. The End of McCarthy • Censured by Senate in 1954 • Formal disapproval of actions • One of biggest punishments that can be given to a member of Senate • Lost all influence in Senate and public • Died in 1957

31. RECAP Loyalty Review Program HUAC McCarthyism

32. Cold War Continues… • Truman opts to not run for reelection • Eisenhower v. Stevenson • Eisenhower, a war hero, wins easily • Cuts defense budget, makes military smaller • Why? More money to make nukes (increased from 1,000 in 1953 to 18,000 in 1961) • Massive Retaliation • Threaten to use nuclear weapons to prevent war from happening

33. Sided Discussion In your notes, make a “T Chart” outlining the pros and cons of the idea massive retaliation

34. Brinkmanship • Willingness to go to brink of war to force other side to back down • What many critics called Eisenhower’s “massive retaliation” plans

35. Korean War Ends • Eisenhower goes to Korea, threatens to continue war “under circumstances of our own choosing” • Threat of nuclear war? • Worked…negotiators created “Demilitarized Zone” or DMZ separating North and South