THE COLD WAR

1. THE COLD WAR 1947-1991

2. Post World War II World • Fall of the Iron Curtain – refers to an imaginary barrier that sprung up across Europe dividing Communist Europe from Democratic Europe • Communism spreads to all nations liberated by Soviet Union • Democracy spreads to all nations liberated by Britain and U.S. • Why does this happen? • During World War II there was a growing distrust between Soviet Union and the rest of the Allies • Dropping of Atomic Bomb in Japan causes fear in Soviet Union that Allies will attack them next. • Soviet Union wants a barrier placed between it and Great Britain and U.S. • How does America deal with this? • Policy of Truman was one of containment – not allow Soviets to expand power and influence further than where it is now – created by George F. Kennan • Truman Doctrine (1947) – nation should provide aid to those fighting against Communism or the being forced to fall in line with an outside force

3. European Crisis – Post War • Agreement to end World War II: • The area controlled by Germany would be divided into sectors and each the Allies would be responsible for overseeing its reconstruction and security – Berlin was also divided in the same way • Russia in charge of the east of Europe – installs Communist regimes • United States in charge of the west of Europe – promotes Democracy • Truman wants aid given to rebuild the nations of Europe • Marshall Plan – this was designed to send aid to nations of Europe • Greece and Turkey issue started this – was a means to limit Communism • Russia refuses aid – Eastern Europe slow to rebuild • Western Europe is rebuilt quickly

4. Berlin Crisis • Berlin was entirely in the Eastern/Russian controlled part of Europe. • Russia was aware of American policy that they were trying to contain Communism – they were not happy at being told to stop expansion • Wondered why America and Britain (imperialist nations) could tell them not to spread • American aid project with Turkey and Greece angered Russia • Revenge – Russia cuts off all traffic in and out of Berlin even to American controlled areas of Berlin (June 1948) • American Answer – Berlin Airlifts • Goods were flown into and dropped off in Berlin • These were made in private planes • Russia lifts blockade of Berlin (May 12, 1949) – could not stop supplies • Final Result – because of the fear of Russian invasion – nations of Western Europe form NATO • NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization – joint defense treaty between free nations of Europe, Canada, and United States if there was a Russian attack

5. Cold War Fear in America • Cold War – this is a period of high tensions and rivalry between major nations and ideologies, but the major nations never actively fight each other directly. • Fear of Communism in America – Why? • Russia builds and explodes their first atomic bomb – 1949 • China becomes a Communist nation – 1949 – now two of the largest nations in the world are Communist turning most of Asia Communist • Spy Cases – primarily the case of U.S. government official Alger Hiss, the case of Klaus Fuchs, and the case of the Rosenbergs • Hiss accused of trying to plant Communist supporters in government • Klaus Fuchs was a scientist working on the Manhattan Project who gave secrets to building the atomic bomb to Russia • Ethel and Julius Rosenberg – considered leaders of a Russian spy ring working in America and they were convicted of spying and executed in 1953

6. America Responds To Communists • Answer in America – there was a Second Red Scare • House Un-American Activities Committee – focus shifts to searching out Communist activites • Hollywood Ten – writers and directors who were thought to be radical were called before Congress to answer questions but refused – held in contempt and put in jail for a year • Smith Act – created in 1940 this law made it a crime to call for overthrow of U.S. government • Began to focus on Communists as possible revolutionaries – many arrested by this • McCarran Act- passed by Congress in 1950 this required Communist groups to register with the government and be subject to investigation • Act vetoed by Truman – said Communists would make fun of us destroying Bill of Rights • McCarthyism – act of spreading fear and making claims that someone was Communist – became much like the old witch hunts in colonial days • Started by Joseph McCarthy – senator who wanted to fight the Communist problem • Hunt went to all levels of society – primarily leadership positions • Finally he was kicked out of the Senate and this fear went away

7. Korean War – The Forgotten War • First major armed conflict between Communism and Democracy • Fought on Korean Peninsula in Eastern Asia • Korean peninsula was divided in half after World War II at a place called the 38th Parallel (both sides wanted united Korea) • North of the line = Communist – led by Kim Il Sung • South of the line = Democratic – led by Syngman Rhee • Communist forces from the North, supported by China and Russia, invaded the Southern part of Korea on June 25, 1950 • U.S. Involvement – Truman felt U.S. had to get involved because it would send message U.S. was weak if they did not • Behind the banner of the United Nations (established after World War II) a force was sent in to push the North back across the 38th Parallel • Force landed in Inchon – led by Douglas MacArthur

8. Korean War • Key Events of War: • MacArthur pushes North Koreans back across Parallel, but he wanted to take the North as well – fear was Chinese forces invading Korea • November 1950 – Chinese forces invade North Korea to repel American invasion of the North • Causes American troops to fall all the way back to the South – longest fall back in American military history • MacArthur calls for expansion of war with China and for the use of Nuclear Weapons • Truman did not want another large war – especially one now right after World War II • MacArthur fired – Truman had to prove he was in charge and not MacArthur • Many Americans were not happy with this decision – he was a war hero • War became a stalemate as both sides dug into the mountains – no one could get an advantage

9. Peace to End Korean Conflict • 1953 – Eisenhower took over the Presidency – vowed to get U.S. out of Korea • Settlement – War ended in an armistice – no treaty, only a cease fire • Agreed to on July 27, 1953 • North Korea loses a small amount of territory – Korea still divided like it was in 1950 • Loss of life in the War – nearly 5.5 million people died (soldiers and civilians) • Set up a Demilitarized Zone on the 38th Parallel – both sides guard the area on their side, but no troops allowed in this area

10. Arms Race • Eisenhower foreign policy changed the game of the Cold War – he wanted to push Communism back • This idea was put forward by his Secretary of State John Foster Dulles • Dulles Plan to Fight Communism • Based on idea of brinksmanship – diplomatic art of going to the brink of war without actually getting into a war • Called for a massive build-up of America’s Nuclear Weapons Program – more bombs • Massive Retaliation implemented – pledge that the United States would use overwhelming force against Soviet Union (including Nuclear Weapons) if conflict was serious • Called for use of the CIA (formed in 1947) to spy on foreign governments and to help overthrow Communist threats in other nations’ governments • Leads to rise of Warsaw Pact – Soviet Union and her allies agree to defend each other from American attack or NATO aggression – helped them solidify control over Eastern Europe

11. Cold War Hot Spots • Vietnam – Communist rebels won victory against French as they tried to get their freedom • Vietnam divided into a North and South (like Korea) • North ruled by Communists – Ho Chi Minh was leader • South ruled by Democracy – Ngo Dinh Diem was leader placed there by America and her allies (he was cruel to his people) • Middle East – heightened tensions because of Jewish/Arab issues