Chapter 13(A) America in the Cold War

1. Chapter 13(A) America in the Cold War

2. “Who the hell is Harry Truman?” • (You need to start reading Ferrell’s book on Truman) • Had been shaped politically by the K.C. Democratic machine • Had not gone to college • Was an artillery officer in World War I • Was a failed businessman after World War I

3. The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 • Also, known as the G.I. Bill • Provided educational benefits for Veterans • Provided housing loans for veterans • Provided treatment for veterans • & helped prevent a postwar depression

4. 1946 Congressional Elections • In 1946, both parties held Truman responsible for labor problems • Republican slogan “to err is Truman” • Republicans won majorities in both houses, 1st time since 1928 • “The New Deal is kaput” • Taft-Hartley Labor Act of 1947

5. National Security Act of 1947 Established: • Congress & Truman did agree on foreign policy • The Central Intelligence Agency • The Air Force • The National Security Council • And a permanent Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey

6. Building the United Nations • In 1945, 50 Allied nations met in San Francisco to draw the Charter for the UN • U.S. Senate ratified the UN Charter 98 to 2 • Permanent home was to be New York • The UN Security Council had 11 members with five permanent members (US, USSR, UK, France, & China)

7. The Trying of War Criminals • Of the 21 German offenders who faced an international military tribunal 3 were acquitted, 11 were sentenced to death, 3 got life, & 3 got shorter terms • Of the Japanese on trial 7 were sentenced to death, 16 got life, & 2 got shorter terms Germans on Trial in Nuremberg, Germany

8. The Cold War: Differences with the Soviets • Stalin didn’t live up to the Yalta Conf. pledges of democratic elections in Eastern Europe • Churchill tells Truman that an “iron curtain” has fallen on Eastern Europe • George Kennan, counselor at the Moscow embassy, says the U.S. should contain Soviet expansionism George F. Kennan

9. The Truman Doctrine & The Marshall Plan • Truman took Kennan’s idea to Congress and made it even bigger • B/c of the Truman Doctrine Greece & Turkey were made less vulnerable to communism • George Marshall now Sec. of State, called for massive aid to recue Europe from disaster Uncle Sam’s Money Driving Off the Reds

10. Dividing Germany & The Berlin Airlift • In 1948 the UK, US, & France united their zones to make W. Germany • This upset the USSR so they blockaded West Berlin • Truman’s response was to launch a massive airlift of supplies into West Berlin • W. Germany received full sovereignty in 1955 & joined the UN & NATO

11. Building Alliances and NATO • After WWII the American people seemed to understand that isolationism could no longer be the U.S. policy • In 1949 the U.S. signed the North Atlantic Treaty which was a formal military alliance between 12 nations and would grow • And in 1948 the U.S. became the first nation to recognize Israel

12. The 1948 Election Dewey Truman • The Republicans nominated Thomas E. Dewey—NY governor • The Democratic Party fragmented—When the Democrats nominated Truman the Southern States walked out and named Strom Thurmond as the Dixiecrat nomine and the left wing of the party nominated Henry A. Wallace as their candidate Thurmond Wallace

14. Truman’s Fair Deal • black civil rights, national health care, a higher minimum wage, federal aid to education, help to farmers & unions • The Fair Deal were thwarted by the Southern Conservative Democrats and Republicans

15. The Cold War Heats Up • The US experienced a shock in 1949 when the Communists took over China • Another shock in 1949 was that the Soviets had developed the atomic bomb • This lead Truman to order the development of the hydrogen bomb

16. War In Korea • Much like Germany Korea had been partitioned after WWII • In June of 1950 80,000 North Korean soldiers swept into the South • After losing China Truman was not going to stand by and do nothing

18. The Second Red Scare • The Hiss-Chambers Case • Congressman Nixon • Senator Joseph McCarthy • The McCarran Internal Security Act Senator Joseph McCarthy

19. Red Scare (part 2) • Even though we might think there was much over reaction in the 1950s • It is important to understand the Soviets did have spy networks here in the U.S. • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg helped the USSR develop the bomb Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

20. Time for a Change,The Election of 1952 • The Democrats had held the White House for 20 years • The appeal of Eisenhower • Truman & the 22nd Amendment • Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois Stevenson Eisenhower

22. “Dynamic Conservatism” Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway • Ike was determined to cut taxes and government spending • Ike retained most of the New Deal programs & even expanded some • Ike’s major achievements were the St. Lawrence Seaway & the Interstate Highway System The U. S. Interstate Highway System

23. Peace In Korea • Ike had run for president on the promise that he would take care of the Korea Conflict • To that end Eisenhower threatened the Communists with atomic weapons to bring about as armistice in July of 1953 • The situation went back to two Koreas

24. Concluding A Witch Hunt • The end of the war in Korea helped to end the meteoric career of Senator Joseph McCarthy • McCarthy’s power began to unravel when he made charges about Communist influence in the U.S. Army • His charges and arrogant behavior were televised

25. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles • Very religious & saw the world as an arena of good & evil • Dulles’s policy of “Brinksmanship" involved: averting war through the threat of nuclear force

26. Building More Alliances • Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) members being: Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, & the US • By 1961, the US had to defend 43 Nations

28. The Election of 1956 • As the election approached the only concern for Ike was his health • Governor Stevenson was again the Democratic nominee • Ike’s victory was an apparent voter approval of his “modern Republicanism”

29. Sputnik • October 4, 1957 the USSR launched the first man made satellite • It caused great fear in Americans • It caused a renewed interest in math and science education • It influenced the creation of NASA

30. Festering Problems Abroad • Crisis in the Middle East • Crisis in East Asia • Crisis in Berlin • The U – 2 Summit

32. Looking Back on Ike • His rep is improving over time • Ending Korea • Muzzling McCarthy • Sustaining much of the New Deal • Ike even warned about the power of the military-industrial complex • However, Ike would not speak out for Civil Rights 1961, JFK & Ike