Crystallizing The Cold War

1. Crystallizing The Cold War Iran –US supported government against Soviet aided rebellion From 1945-47 Communist governments installed throughout Eastern Europe Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech 1947—Containment Doctrine—George Kennan This was the U.S. policy to prevent the spread of communism

2. Cold War Europe

3. Truman Doctrine • Truman formally embraces containment in 1947. • Crisis in Greece and Turkey. Huge effect if it falls to communism. • Truman goes before a joint session of Congress and announces the Truman Doctrine. • US policy to support free people trying to resist outside forces • Called the beginning of the Cold War • Asks for $400 Mill. in aid to Greece. • Containment/Truman doctrine drive foreign policy for the next 40 years. • Problem with doctrine as basis for foreign policy

4. Marshall Plan • US fears spread of communism in Western Europe. • US responds with the Marshall Plan • US would provide substantial financial assistance. • Europeans enthusiastically agree. • Eastern Europe is offered aid, too, but Soviets force them to reject. • Ends up being 35.3 Billion over 11 years. • Huge success as it helps rebuild Western European countries

5. Recognition of Israel • Truman goes against advice of State Department and recognizes the state of Israel in 1948. • Arabs were adamantly against it and threatened to push Jews into the sea. • Arabs were important to US strategic interests because of Oil and as bulwark against Soviets. • Truman recognized Israel because: • Lots of Jewish voters in the US • Sympathy for plight of Jews during the holocaust. • Recognition of Israel vastly complicated US foreign policy.

6. America Begins To Rearm • Cold War leads America to arm itself in an unprecedented fashion for peace time. • US Defense establishment overhauled • National Security Act (1947) • Pentagon • Sec. of Defense has cabinet status. • Joint Chiefs of Staff • National Security Act established the National Security Council and CIA. • 1948 Draft is reestablished. First peace-time draft.

7. NATO • Soviet threat drives Western European countries together. • North Atlantic Treaty Organization 1948. Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and US. • West Germany and others join later. • End to Isolation • Obligates each country to defend others • Epochal unification of Europe,.

8. Reconstructing Japan • Why is reconstructing Japan easier? • Japanese cooperate with US reconstruction to an astonishing degree. • MacArthur. • War crimes trials as in Japan. • Defense of Japan will be handled by US. • Economic consequence?

9. China Goes Red • China was a mess. Weak and divided • Nationalist led by Chang Ki Cheke (Jiang Jieshi). • Communists are led by Mao Tse-tung. • Chang is corrupt and repressive and ultimately Mao and communists take control. • Nationalists flee to Formosa (Taiwan). • US recognition of “China”.

10. “Who Lost China?” • The “loss” of China was a huge blow to American Psyche. • “Who lost China?” • Many Republicans blame Truman. • Allege that the State Department is riddled with secret Communists. • Fuels the growing Red Scare. • America now sees two largest countries aligned against the US. • Myth of Communist unity.

11. Bigger Bombs • Feb. 1949 Soviets explode an Atomic bomb three years sooner than predicted. • Americans shocked; monopoly gone • America had counted on the bomb to keep Soviets in check for a few more years. • Truman orders the development of the H-bomb. Beginning of the arms race. • H-Bomb is exploded in 1952. • Soviets explode their own H-bomb in 1953.

12. Ferreting Out Alleged Communists Red Scare hit US. Whiff of truth gives validity to paranoia. Many believed there were home-grown Soviet spies in the US government 1947 Truman launched loyalty program. 3000 federal employees dismissed based on suspicion of disloyalty or communist sympathies. “communist sympathizer”

13. Communist Witch Hunts • 1948 House Un-American Activities Committee formed to investigate “subversion.” • Richard M. Nixon goes after Alger Hiss. • 1950 Joe McCarthy chairs committee and bursts on the national scene. • McCarren Internal Security Bill. • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg • Witch-hunts are occurring in universities and in Hollywood. • Black Lists

14. Truman Limps into 1948 • Truman popularity low. Reasons • Economic readjustment after war • Twangy and blunt • Democrats in control for 16 years • Republicans get majority in Congress in 1946 • Most assume he can’t win. • Democrats nominate him after Ike refuses to be drafted. • Nomination splits the party • Why are southern Democrats so opposed to him.

15. Democratic Divisions • Strom Thurmond. Dixiecrats • Former Vice President Henry Wallace runs as a liberal/progressive. • Republicans nominate Thomas Dewey, Gov. on New York • Assumed Truman will lose. • Dewey runs “safe” campaign.

16. Give ‘em Hell Harry • Truman’s whistle-stop tour throughout the country. • Rails against the “do-nothing Congress”. • Truman’s program/platform. • Crowds get more and more enthusiastic. • Dewey still thinks he is winning. Polling is still not very good.

17. Dewey Wins! (or not) • Truman wins handily and stuns about everyone. • Democrats win House; keep it for the next 44 years. • Truman makes the Fair Deal the corner-stone of his second term. • This was Truman's economic plan • Congress guts most of it.

18. The Korean Volcano Erupts • History of Korea after WWII • Acheson sends mixed messages • June 25, 1950, North Korean army rolls over the S. Korean army. Are pushed back to a narrow area around Pusan. • Truman sees this as Soviet aggression; Commits US troops to a UN force to support S. Korea. • Does this without consulting Congress or a declaration of war. • American forces are vast majority of UN forces and MacArthur is appointed U.N. Commander.

19. NSC-68 Korean crisis provides excuse for massive increase in military spending. This proposal had been set out in National Security Council 68 (NSC-68). NSC-68 was a major turning point in the Cold War Committed America to massive military spending.

20. See-Saw in Korea • Inchon Landing • Nervous Chinese • MacArthur over-confident • Chinese pour in • MacArthur defies Truman; MacArthur fired • Nasty stalemate; support for war erodes.