Transcript United States History The Cold War Conflicts

The Early Cold War
Topic 1: The
Cold War Begins
What was the Cold War?
 The
Cold War was a state of
political and military tension
after World War II between
powers in the Western Bloc
and powers in the Eastern
Bloc from 1945-1990
 led to “hot” wars around
globe
in Korea, Vietnam
- Many of the smaller wars
were called proxy wars
because the U.S. and
U.S.S.R. never fought face to
face.
Allied War Cooperation

Many Leaders had high
hopes that after the
devastation of World War II
had ended, the new
Superpowers, US and USSR
would find ways to build a
lasting peace with friendly
relations.

There were instances of this
possibility: Dumbarton
Oaks, Yalta and Tehran,
and the Nuremberg Trials.
DUMBARTON OAKS
CONFERENCE

In 1944, delegates from 39
countries, including the
United States, Great Britain,
the Soviet Union, and
China. met to discuss the
new organization, which
was to be called the United
Nations (UN) to ensure
peace and safety in the
new world created after
World War II
Irreconcilable Differences

Despite moments of
cooperation, agreements
were tenuous because of the
differences.

Communism is at complete
odds with Capitalism,
especially in regards to the
support for revolutions.

In addition, Soviet regime
was inherently expansionist
as history has shown.
Yalta Conference

In February 1945, the
superpowers had different
interests.

As they liberated Eastern
Europe from German control,
the Russians at Yalta agreed
to free elections. Soviets
would fail to honor this
promise.

Yalta marked a turning point
in Soviet-American relations,
forcing FDR to take a closer
look at the possibility of
conflict.
The Potsdam Conference

At the conference, Truman
took a firm stand against
heavy reparations

Truman suggested the
Soviets take reparations
from their zone, while the
Allies allowed industry to
revive in the other zones.
Despite his suspicions,
Stalin had to accept the
terms.
Iron Curtain

The term “iron curtain” was
used to describe for the
next 43 years, the
Communist nations of
Eastern Europe held by the
Soviet Union in its sphere.

Presence of the Soviet
army in Eastern Europe
ensured that pro-Soviet
Communist governments
would eventually be
established.
The “Iron Curtain”
From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the
Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the
Continent. Behind that line lies the ancient
capitals of Central and Eastern Europe.
-- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946
Cold War
Check for understanding:
American Policy of Containment
Given that we have problems
with a superpower hell bent on
expansion, we can not
appease the enemy, like the
Allies did to Germany.
Solution is a long term patient
but firm policy of containing the
Russians from further expansion.
it would only be a matter of
time before their system would
fall apart, without the need for
war.
The Truman Doctrine &
Domino Theory




In 1949, Russia was threatening
Crisis in Iran, Greece and Turkey.
To deal with these threats, Truman
asked Congress for $400 million to
fight Communists in Greece and
Turkey --- the Truman Doctrine.
Its goal was to aid those who
worked to resist being controlled by
others. In the long run, it pledged
the US to fight the spread of
communism worldwide.
It signalled the end of “isolationist”
policies.
The Marshall Plan 1948

Meanwhile, postwar Western
Europe faced grave economic
problems.

$17 billion to 16 countries in
Europe (not Soviet Union)

The Marshall Plan would give
European nations aid to rebuild
economies

This action further separated
Europe into competing regions.

The region’s recovery weakened
communism and opened
markets for trade.
Cold War Check

Check for understanding:
Postwar Germany

The Potsdam Conference,
1945
 Divided
Germany into 4 zones:

West Germany – U.S., Britain, and France

East Germany- Soviets

Capitol city of Berlin divided into 4 zones
(in East Germany)
Berlin Airlift

West Berlin, was an outpost of
Western democracy deep within
the communist zone – like a
capitalist island within communist
East Germany

The Berlin Blockade was an
attempt to starve West Berlin into
submitting to the communists

Berlin Airlift: In 1948-49, the U.S.
and Europe flew food and supplies
to save West Berlin, until Soviets
reopened roads.

The Allied airlift signalled the
West’s determination to use all
resources to defend Berlin.

Eventually, Stalin lifted the
blockade
NATO vs. WARSAW PACT

Events such as Berlin
convinced many that Soviets
were bent on conquest. The
US began to support a
military alliance with Western
Europe.

North Atlantic Treaty
Organization: defense
alliance among U.S. and
Europe against the Soviet
Union.

Warsaw Pact: Defense
alliance among Soviet Union
and its satellite governments
in Eastern Europe.
North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (1949)
 United States
 Luxemburg
 Belgium
 Netherlands
 Britain
 Norway
 Canada
 Portugal
 Denmark
 1952: Greece &
Turkey
 France
 Iceland
 Italy
 1955: West Germany
 1983: Spain
Warsaw Pact (1955)
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U. S. S. R.
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East Germany
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Albania
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Hungary
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Bulgaria
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Poland
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Czechoslovakia
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Rumania
Cold War
Check for understanding:
Explain the Truman Doctrine and how it related to the
formation of NATO and the Berlin Airlift.
Topic 2: Korea
Growing Interest in China
People’s Republic of China:
• In the 1940’s, China was embroiled in a civil war.
Nationalists
Led by Chiang Kai-shek
Communists
Led by Mao Zedong
• The U.S. gave the Chiang Kai-shek millions of dollars, but
the communists won the war.
China
became a
communist
country,
and Chiang
Kai-shek
and his
forces fled
to Taiwan.
•The US
feared a
Chinese
Russian
Alliance
Kim Il-Sung
At the end of World War
II, The Allies divided
Korea at the 38th parallel
of latitude. A Communist
Korean government was
organized in the north,
while an Americanbacked government
controlled the south. .
Korean War
[1950-1953]
Syngman Rhee
The Korean War Begins!

In 1950, Communist North
Korea invaded South Korea.

Truman saw this as a test of
containment and called naval
and air power to action.

Aided by the UN the US went
to war, for fear that countries
like dominoes would fall over
to Communism.
The Course of
the War

US and South Korean troops
were driven back into a small
Southern pocket, Pusan

In September 1950, MacArthur
ordered an invasion behind
enemy lines at Inchon

Truman then gave the order to
pursue the North Koreans
beyond the 38th parallel.

War expands when China
enters to protect North Korea.
MacArthur
at Inch'on
landing
• U.S. General Douglas MacArthur led the U.N. force,
approximately 80% of which were U.S. soldiers.
Ending the War:
• U.N. troops regained South Korea by March of 1951.
• Gen. MacArthur wanted to attack China with support of
Chinese nationalists.
• President Truman disagreed with MacArthur about attacking
China.
•Truman fired MacArthur for defying him by publicly
taunting and threatening the Chinese.
The Shifting Map of Korea
[1950-1953]
Korean War, 1950-53

After being pushed South, American led UN
forces recovered. By mid-1951, UN forces
had pushed the enemy back across the
38th parallel.

Panmunjom, is where the 1953
Korean Armistice Agreement that
paused the Korean War was signed
Treaty signed in 1953, keeping
dividing line at 38th parallel (still
today).
The new President Eisenhower used
the threat of Nuclear war --Brinkmanship to force Chinese and
Koreans to the peace table.


:
“I LIKE IKE”

Ike (1952-1960) wins office and
promises to combat Communism
worldwide.

Eisenhower Doctrine: U.S. foreignpolicy promising military or
economic aid to any Middle
Eastern country needing help in
resisting communist aggression.

Brinkmanship: is the practice of
trying to achieve an
advantageous outcome by
pushing dangerous events to the
brink of active conflict.

Covert Action (CIA)
The Arms Race:
A “Missile Gap?”
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The Soviet Union
exploded its first
A-bomb in 1949.
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Now there were
two nuclear
superpowers!
Nuclear Arms Race
Hydrogen bomb
invented – both U.S. and
Soviets had them
 1,000 times more
powerful than atomic
bomb—vaporized an
island.
 Dangers of fallout and
radiation
 Many built
bomb shelters!!

Space Gap
 Began
when Soviets beat the
U.S. into space



Soviet satellite Sputnik launched
in 1957
Explorer I, the first U.S. satellite,
soon followed in 1958.
The space gap underscored in
an absurd and almost comical
fashion the intense rivalry
between both powers
Check for Understanding
Ike’s Warning

In Ike farewell speech in January
1961, Ike warned Americans to be
on guard against the influence of the
new military-industrial complex
which was growing in importance
and had the power to undermine our
democracy.
Topic 3:
Domestic Issues
During the Cold
War
The Origins of The Red
Scare

Intense fear of Communists
taking over U.S.
 Fears of Soviet aggression
 China became a
Communist country in
1949.
 Soviets developed an
atomic bomb in 1949.
 A Soviet spy who
defected warn the US of
a spy network
Loyalty Review Board

In 1947, Truman established a
loyalty review program to
screen all federal workers and
designed to root out communist
influence in the U.S.

A person might become a
suspect for reading certain
books, belonging to various
groups, traveling overseas, or
seeing certain foreign films.

Thousands lost their jobs despite
questionable evidence.
HUAC
In 1947 FBI director Hoover went before
the House Un-American Activities
Committee (HUAC), formed to
investigate subversive activities. He
urged to Congress expose even
communist sympathizers and
wiretapped homes.
One of HUAC’s hearings focused on
exposing communist in Hollywood., with
the aide of actor Ronald Reagan, future
president.
Another future president Nixon took the
lead in HUAC investigating and
exposing a spy named Alger Hiss
Targets of HUAC
 Alger
Hiss author of
the Pumpkin papers

Rosenbergs convicted
of selling atomic secrets
to Soviet Union.
Executed 1953.
McCarthyism




In 1950, Senator McCarthy of
Wisconsin claimed that he had
“lists” of communists in the State
Department government, falsely
accused hundreds.
In 1953 McCarthy became
chairman of the Senate
subcommittee on investigations,
where officials testified about
alleged Communist influences.
When hearings were televised and
targeted the Army, people saw
that McCarthy was wrongly
accusing many people.
He lost support and was Censured
(punished) by Senate.
REMARKABLE
ECONOMIC
RECOVERY

Experts who predicted a postwar depression were
proved wrong as they failed to consider the $135
billion in savings Americans had accumulated from
defense work, service pay, and investments in war
bonds
Other Factors accounting for
Post war recovery included

Demand for American
products abroad was high.
Very few countries were
capable of producing after
the wars end.

Government policies
contributed to expanding
opportunities.

Americans were ready to
buy consumer goods
Truman’s G.I. BILL of Rights

G.I. Bill (of Rights), also called
Servicemen’s Readjustment Act,
U.S. legislation passed in 1944 that
provided benefits to World War II
veterans.

Through the Veterans
Administration (VA), the bill
provided grants for school and
college tuition, low-interest
mortgage and small-business
loans, job training, hiring
privileges, and unemployment
payments.
Eisenhower Policy: INTERSTATE
HIGHWAY ACT 1956

In 1956 Ike
authorized
a
nationwide
highway
network –
41,000 miles
of road
linking
America
THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM

“Automania” spurred
the construction of
roads linking major
cities while connecting
schools, shopping
centers and
workplaces to
residential suburbs
IMPACT OF THE HIGHWAY
The Interstate
Highway system
resulted in:
Trucking is the #1 means of
moving cargo in the United
States today

More trucking

Less railroad

More suburbs,
further away
Check for Understanding
POSTWAR AMERICA




After WWII, returning vets
faced a severe housing
shortage
In response to the crisis,
developers used
assembly-line methods to
mass-produce houses
Developer William Levitt
(Levittown) bragged that
his company could build a
home in 16 minutes for
$7,000
Suburbs were born
With the help of the GI Bill,
many veterans moved into
suburbs
THE BABY BOOM



During the late 1940s and
through the early 1960s the
birthrate in the U.S. soared
At its height in 1957, a baby
was born in America every 7
seconds (over 4.3 million
babies in ’57 alone)
Baby boomers represent the
largest generation in the
nation’s history
How did the birthrate rise and fall during
the baby boom years in the US?
1940
2,559,000 births per year
1946
3,311,000 births per year
1955
4,097,000 births per year
1957
4,300,000 births per year
1964
4,027,000 births per year
1974
3,160,000 births per year
Check for Understanding
WHY SO MANY BABIES?
Why did the baby boom
occur when it did?

Husbands returning from
war

Decreasing marriage age

Desirability of large
families

Confidence in economy

Advances in medicine
IMPACT OF BABY BOOM

As a result of the baby
boom 10 million
students entered
elementary schools in
the 1950s

California built a new
school every 7 days in
the late ’50s
Toy sales reached an
all-time high in 1958
when $1.25 billion in
toys were sold

LEISURE IN THE 1950s

Americans
experienced shorter
work weeks and
more vacation time
than ever before

Leisure time activities
became a multibillion dollar industry

Labor-saving
devices added more
spare time
Labor-saving
devices
provided
more leisure
time for
Americans
THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THE
FIFTIES
After WWII ended,
Americans turned their
attention to their families
and jobs
 New businesses and
technology created
opportunities for many
 By the end of the 1950s,
Americans were
enjoying the highest
standard of living in the
world

Ozzie and Harriet reflected
the perfect American family
THE SUBURBAN LIFESTYLE
The American Dream complete with
a white picket fence

Most Americans worked in
cities, but fewer and fewer
of them lived there

New highways and the
affordability of cars and
gasoline made
commuting possible

Of the 13 million homes
built in the 1950s, 85%
were built in suburbs

For many, the suburbs
were the American Dream
WOMEN’S ROLES IN THE
1950S

During the 1950s,
the role of
homemaker and
mother was
glorified in
popular
magazines,
movies and
television
WOMEN AT WORK

Those women who
did work were finding
job opportunities
limited to fields such
as nursing, teaching
and office support

Women earned far
less than man for
comparable jobs