What changing role did America play in world affairs between 1929 and 1990?

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1 What changing role did America play in world affairs between 1929 and 1990? Past Paper Questions NEW hr SECTION A a) What does Source A show you about American troops in Vietnam in the 1960s? [2] b) Describe what happened at Pearl Harbour in [4] c) Use Sources B and C and your own knowledge to explain why relations between the d) superpowers changed in the 1980s. [6] e) Why was the Truman Doctrine of 1947 a turning point in US foreign policy? [8] SECTION B a) How did the USA s role in world affairs change between 1929 and 2000? (10) 2010 a) What was the Truman Doctrine? [2] b) Describe the USA s policy of isolationism during the 1930s. [4] c) Explain why America became involved in the Vietnam War. [6] d) Why was the Cuban Missile Crisis a turning point in Cold War relations? [8] e) How important was the U.S.A. in world affairs during the period ? [10] 2009 a) What was isolationism?(2) b) Describe the methods used by the American army fighting in Vietnam.(4) c) Explain why the Cuban Missile Crisis was important for American foreign policy. [6] d) Why was the Second World War a turning point in American foreign policy? [8] e) How far did the USA s role in foreign affairs change between 1929 and 1990?(10) 2007 a) Who were the Vietcong? (2) b) Describe Marshall Aid (4) c) Explain America s attitude to World Affairs in the 1930s (6) d) Why was the Cuban Missile Crisis a turning point in Cold War relations? (8) e) How did America develop its position in the World between 1929 and 1990? (10) 2006 a) What was SALT? (2) b) Describe America s contribution to victory in the Second World War (4) c) Explain why the USA became involved in the Korean War (6) d) Why did America follow a policy of isolationism in the 1930s? (8) e) How did America contribute to international developments between 1929 and 1990? (10) 2005 a) What was Marshall Aid? (2) b) Describe President Nixon s policy towards China. (4) c) Explain why the USA became involved in the Vietnam War. (6) d) How did the Second World War change American foreign policy between 1945 and 1960? (8) e) How did America develop its role as a world power during the period 1929 to 1990? (10) 1

2 2004 a) What was detente? (2) b) Describe what happened at Pearl Harbour in (4) c) Explain why the USA became involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis. (6) d) Why was Berlin an important city to the USA during the Cold War? (8) e) Was US influence in world affairs always one of powerful leadership during the period 1929 to 1990? (10) US Presidents Herbert C. Hoover Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson Richard M. Nixon Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan George Bush Senior Bill Clinton KEY ISSUES Why did the USA become isolationist after World War One? The majority of Americans felt that had needlessly entered a bloody European war in 1917 and wanted to stay out of conflicts in the future-casualties of 100k from The USA had enough resources to be self sufficient. Was the US really isolated in the inter war period? America s policy of isolation meant avoiding any action that may lead to war. However it did get involved in international relations if there was money to be made. The problem was that America s biggest industry was now armaments and selling weapons maybe seen as threatening action. YES 1919 Refused to ratify the treaty of Versailles or join the League of Nations 1929 Wall Street Crash the US place huge tariffs on their goods causing severe problems for other countries US call in their loans at short notice leaving Europe suffering from the Great Depression 1935 Neutrality Act President could stop US weapons being sold abroad. NO 1924 Dawes Plan Loans to Germany 1928 The Kellog-Briand Pact 60 nations sign a peace agreement 1929 The Young Plan reduces Germany s debts 1937 Despite the Cash and Carry scheme other nations could still see the sale of American weapons as an act of war Britain and France begin buying weapons under the cash and carry scheme. 2

3 1936 Neutrality Act ban on loans to warring countries 1937 Cash and Carry Act US weapons could only be bought by belligerents if they transported them themselves FDR elected on a promise to keep our boys out of the war 1940 despite election promises FDR assisted Britain with the Destroyer Deal and Lend Lease Roosevelt claimed he wanted to make America the great arsenal of democracy 1940 conscription introduced in the US How did tensions increase between the USA and Japan between 1919 and 1941? 1919 Japan was not rewarded like the other winners of WW A Naval conference ruled that Japan could only have a navy 60% the size of the USA and Britain After the Wall Street Crash American imports into Japan fell dramatically Japan invades the Chinese province of Manchuria Japan invades the rest of China and the US send support to the Chinese and cut trade with Japan The Japanese prepare to invade French Indo-China (Vietnam) and this threatens US trade in South East Asia, especially in the neighbouring Philippines which was a protectorate of America. The US stop all oil sales with Japan (who rely on the US for 80% of their oil) and station their fleet at Pearl Harbour as a warning. Dec 1941 The Japanese attack Pearl Harbour sinking 8 battleships, destroying 188 planes and killing 2403 people. The USA declares war on Japan and Germany declares war on the USA. Why did tensions increase between the USA and Japan between 1919 and 1941? The Japanese military felt resentful that the US led allies had not given them due respect and reward at Versailles in 1919 and the Naval Conference in The economic crisis after 1929 gave the Japanese military their excuse to begin building an Empire in South East Asia and the fact that the US did nothing to oppose their invasion of China must have given them confidence. The US oil embargo in 1941 meant the Japanese would have to look for oil in Asia however the Japanese knew that they could never control the Pacific if the US had naval dominance and so they led a surprise attack at Pearl Harbour. Can the US share any blame for causing World War Two? YES Their decision not to be part of the League of Nations was devastating for future peace. Without the US there was no other country that could stand up to aggression. The demand for the repayment of US loans and the trade embargos after the Wall Street Crash meant that the people of Japan, Germany and Italy were all desperate and so supported more aggressive policies The fact that the US did not act against aggression in the 1930s only encouraged the dictators. NO The treatment of Japan after World War One was in line with its international power at the time. Just because the USA were isolationist does not excuse the actions of the dictators in the 1930s. The US were not responsible for the rest of the world. Ultimately the US were attacked. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour on 7 th December 1941 and Hitler declared war on the 11 th. The war was forced upon America. How did America contribute to victory in the Second World War? EUROPE The US fought in North Africa and Italy from 1942 and in France after the D-Day landings PACIFIC The US fought the Japanese almost single handed. The war in the pacific is arguably 3

4 in June Due to the division of German troops after 1942 (Hitler s invasion of the USSR) the US had more men and munitions and so the European campaign was a total success. harder as the US troops have to invade small islands heavily guarded by Japanese guerilla fighters. The battle for Okinawa in April 1945 cost 12,000 US lives and so the US decide to end the war with the Atomic bomb in August. Overall the US were crucial to allied success in World War Two. Their superiority in numbers and their overpowering technology were decisive both in Europe and the Pacific. The arsenal of democracy.-their economy was so large it out produced all other nations Were the USA justified in using the atomic bomb against Japan in 1945? YES It was a war Civilians had been a target throughout the war and more people had been killed due to allied bombing in Dresden. An invasion of Japan would certainly cause far more casualties on both sides especially as the Japanese army had a no surrender policy. The Nagasaki bomb was certainly justified as the Japanese refused to surrender after Hiroshima. NO An atomic bomb does not just kill immediately but also over time through excruciating radiation sickness-although the US was not aware of this at the time. The Japanese had already lost and it was just a matter of time. They did not give the Japanese enough time to surrender (3 days) before dropping the second bomb. The bombs were only used as a test and to scare the USSR Who is responsible for causing the Cold War? USA The USA had been hostile to Russia after it became communist in The ideas of communism went directly against the freedoms of capitalism and so the US tried to exclude the USSR from international relations. After WW2 Stalin was angry that the US had delayed the D-Day landings and had not told him about the Atomic bomb. The use of the bomb against Japan was seen as an aggressive threat to Russia. By 1947 the Russians were angry that the US led allies were not taking reparations from their zones of occupation in Germany and Berlin as agreed. USSR Since 1917 the communist USSR had continually argued that it was inevitable that the whole world should become communist and so tried to actively encourage other countries to turn to communism. After WW2 the US were angry that Stalin had signed the Nazi Soviet pact in 1939 and had not immediately withdrawn the Red Army from Eastern Europe after the war. By 1947 the US were threatened by the USSR s establishment of a buffer of communist states in Eastern Europe when they had agreed to allow free elections. Why did the superpowers fear each other? The USA feared that the USSR would encourage the domino effect where they would force communism to spread around the world. Western Europe was weak after the war and there was a risk that the whole of Europe would become Communist. 4

5 The USA also feared the spread of communism in Asia. The loss of China and other communist revolts in Korea and French Indo China (later Vietnam) meant that America was at risk of becoming isolated without allies and their capitalist principles would be under serious threat. This is why they followed the policy of containment The USSR knew how much the USA hated communism and so expected an inevitable Western invasion. This is why they argued that they needed to establish a buffer zone of communist allies in Eastern Europe to protect the USSR s borders. After 1949 both superpowers had nuclear weapons and so there was the constant fear of MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) Events of the Cold War Feb 1945 At the Yalta conference Stalin has the upper hand with the military dominance of the Red army. He gains large reparations and a large part of Poland. In return he guarantees free elections and the allies hope this will stop the spread of communism in Eastern Europe. Germany is also divided up between the Grand Alliance. April 1945 Anti-Communist Truman takes over as President July 1945 Atlee takes over as Prime Minister July 1945 At the Potsdam conference the final division of Germany and its allies was decided. Truman was far more aggressive (than Roosevelt at Yalta) due to his attitude and the US development of the Atomic bomb. He refused the USSR influence over German industry and Japanese occupation. August 1945 Atomic bomb dropped on Japan All Eastern European countries elect communist government loyal to Moscow except Czechoslovakia 1946-Churchill describes Europe as two blocs separated by an iron curtain 1947 Announcement of the Truman Doctrine where Truman pledges to protect any country threatened with an aggressive takeover (an attempt to contain the domino effect.) The Marshall Plan is also announced offering aid to war torn countries in return for loyalty to capitalism. The Truman Doctrine was a policy set forth by U.S. President Harry S Truman on March 12, 1947 stating that the U.S. would support Greece and Turkey with economic and military aid to prevent their falling into the Soviet sphere. The policy won the support of Republicans who controlled Congress and involved sending $400 million in American money, but no military forces, to the region. The effect was to end the Communist threat, and in 1952 both countries joined NATO, a military alliance that guaranteed their protection The Berlin Blockade and airlift. By June 1948 the Western Zones of Germany had made a remarkable recovery due to allied investment and a new currency (the US needed Western Germany to be a buffer against the spread of Communism). Stalin was furious that the allies were not treating Germany as a defeated nation and resented that fact that capitalists had control over part of Berlin which was well inside the Soviet Zone. On 24 th June 1948 Soviet troops cut off all land routes to Berlin from the West in an attempt to force the allies out of the capital. From June 1948 to May 1949 the US paid for 27,000 flights carrying 2 million tonnes of supplies for the West Berliners until Stalin had to admit defeat and reopen the land routes. August 1949 USSR tests its first atomic bomb August 1949 The division of Germany is made permanent by the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany(West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic(East Germany). September 1949 The US and 11 other Western powers sign the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) which commits each member to the defense of the others. May Warsaw pact between soviet bloc powers allied to help each other in the event of an attack May 1960-The U2 incident. An American U2 spy plane was shot down over Soviet soil. The Americans denied it but then the Soviets produced evidence and asked for an apology. President Eisenhower refused The Berlin wall is built to stop the escape of thousands of East Germans to the more prosperous West Berlin every year 1963 Kennedy visits Berlin- he did not try to destroy the wall but vowed to support West Berlin and keep it safe from the threat of a USSR invasion. Ich bin ein Berliner speech. The US claimed the Soviets had to imprison their people. 5

6 Why did the end of World War Two mark a turning point in US foreign policy? In peacetime America had been isolationist however after WW2 the US became far more actively involved in international relations. The Truman doctrine made a commitment to any nation who was threatened by internal or external forces. This was the complete opposite to isolationism as it committed the US to potentially any conflict. In the end the US got involved in wars in Korea and Vietnam with the cost of many American lives. The Berlin airlift showed that the US was willing to spend endless amounts to protect fellow capitalist countries and the forming of NATO in 1949 was historic as it was the first time the US had joined a peacetime military alliance. The Korean War Causes After WW2 the USSR established a communist government in North Korea and the USA a democratic government in the South. In June 1950 a Soviet and Chinese backed North Korean army invaded the south so to follow through with the Truman doctrine and stop the domino effect the US sent troops to help the South. Events US and UN troops were initially very successful and pushed the North Vietnamese back towards the Chinese border. The war threatened to escalate when communist China sent 1,000,000 troops to help the North Vietnamese after the US had failed to stay away from the Chinese border. General MacArthur suggested an atomic or land attack on China, however President Truman disagreed. Fighting continued until 1953 when a new border (very near to the old border on the 38 th parallel) was agreed after a stalemate. Consequences for the US Success The US had defended the Truman doctrine and had sent a message to the communist superpowers (USSR and China) that communism could not spread without opposition. The US also had the backing of many UN members. Failure 40,000 US soldiers had died and many Americans felt it had been a pointless war as it did not directly concern US defense and Korea remained divided. Relations between China and the US remained poor until the 1970s. Why was Berlin an important city to the USA during the Cold War? Berlin became the symbol of the Cold War as it was jointly controlled by the US and the USSR. After WW2 the USSR forced communism upon most of Eastern Europe and the US were determined to stop it spreading to West Germany and West Berlin (the domino effect). In 1948 Stalin blockaded all land routes into West Berlin to try to force the West out of the city. The US spent billions flying in supplies to the West Berliners until Stalin gave in. The Berlin blockade was an important victory for the US against the spread of communism. Throughout the Cold War the city continued to be important. The US invested in West Berlin and strengthened its economy so the public would resist communism. It became the symbol of the benefits of capitalism and throughout the 1950s thousands of refugees fled into West Berlin from the East. The city also allowed the US to station troops inside the communist zone. Eventually, in 1961, the Soviets built a wall around Berlin to stop refugees escaping and the US used propaganda to argue that the Soviets had to imprison their people. 6

7 The Cuban Missile Crisis October 1962 For 13 days in October 1962 the world was on the brink of nuclear war. Cuba had allowed the USSR to place nuclear missiles on the island 90 miles from the US coast. When looking at the build up the key question is who caused the crisis? USA In 1960 the US refused to give a loan to Cuba and broke off diplomacy. This forced Castro to look to the USSR for trade. In 1961 the US backed 1500 Cuban exiles to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. They vastly underestimated Castro s popularity and the invasion was a disaster. The US were embarrassed and Castro nationalized all US run industry, sought defense from the USSR and made Cuba communist. The US had nuclear missiles in Turkey on Russia s borders USSR/CUBA When Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba in 1959 he implemented economic reforms which seriously threatened US owned business in Cuba. After admitting defeat over West Berlin and building the wall Khrushchev was looking for a way to put pressure on the US. Ultimately the crisis was caused because the Soviets placed nuclear missiles on Cuba. Khrushchev knew major US cities would be under threat and the secrecy of the operation meant the US would react with alarm. Why was blockading Cuba the only option open to Kennedy after the discovery of the missile site? After the discovery of the missiles Kennedy was in a difficult position. If he did nothing or appealed to the UN then it would be seen as a sign of weakness and the USSR could veto any UN decision. If he attacked either Cuba or the USSR it would be seen as an act of war. In the end he decided to block the entrance to Cuba US battleships. This was very clever as it was not direct action and the Soviet ships carrying the weapons now had to make the decision. If they turned around and went home then the blockade was a success and if they attacked then the Soviets would look like the aggressors. In the end the Soviet ships retreated but there was still the problem of the missiles already on Cuba. How can the resolution of the crisis be seen as a success? USA USSR/CUBA THE WORLD The US celebrate the fact that they have forced Khrushchev to remove the missiles from Cuba. They also benefit from the fact that China sees the USSR actions as weak. The communists celebrate that Kennedy has agreed to remove the blockade, never invade Cuba and (secretly) remove US missiles from Turkey The world had avoided nuclear war and a hotline is set up to aid communication between the superpowers. In 1963 nuclear weapon testing was made illegal. In the end both sides made concessions but used propaganda to make their public believe that it had been a victory. Both sides also realized the dangers of modern warfare and began talks of reducing their nuclear arsenals. The Vietnam War The outbreak of war In 1954 Vietnam was spilt in a similar way to Korea with Ho Chi Minh s communism in the North and Ngo Dinh Diem s democracy (although it was more of a dictatorship) in the South. Almost immediately Ho Chi Minh began a military campaign (backed by Soviet and Chinese supplies) to unite Vietnam under communism. To defend the Truman Doctrine the US began sending weapons and military advisers to the South. By 1963 the Vietcong (communist guerilla fighters in the South officially called the National Liberation Front [NLF]) were gaining increasing support in South Vietnam and in 7

8 1964 a clash of ships in the Gulf of Tonkin gave the US the excuse required to send in troops. In 1965 Johnson sent in 180,000 troops and by ,000 US troops were fighting in Vietnam. Why did the US get involved? To defend the Truman doctrine and the freedom of the South Vietnamese. As a statement against the USSR and China and to stop the domino effect Increasing North Vietnamese hostility to US presence in the country made the US military feel they needed to teach the Vietcong a lesson. What tactics were used by both sides? VIETCONG The Vietcong knew they were outmatched and so used clever guerilla tactics. They used jungle cover, tunnels and civilian villages to hide and ambush the Americans. They were resilient and willing to suffer huge casualties The secret Ho Chi Minh trail was used to allow troops and supplies to infiltrate deep into South Vietnam. USSR and China supplied the Vietcong. The Vietcong also used outright attack 1969 the Tet (Buddhist holiday) offensive attacked Southern cities and US bases. USA The US were far more high-tech. They used B52 bombers, helicopters and rocket launchers. Agent Orange defoliated the jungle (and caused deformities in new born babies) and Napalm burnt the skin on impact. As the war progressed, US troops became increasingly frustrated that they could not find or identify their enemy. The Vietcong recruited anyone including old women and so US soldiers never felt safe. They therefore took to terrorizing or killing civilians to try to flush out the Vietcong. This brought hugely bad publicity for the US around the world. Why has the Vietnam War been described as unwinnable? US soldiers did not know their enemy and technology became redundant in dense jungle guerilla warfare. The US did not have the support of the South Vietnamese army (ARVN) or people due to US terror and the poor leadership of the South Vietnamese government. The Vietcong were supported by many due to fear or propaganda or at worst they saw Ho Chi Minh as the lesser of two evils. Therefore US soldiers got little support to find or fight the Vietcong (unlike Korea). Tet offensive was an eventual victories for the US but they were psychological victories for the Vietcong. The US had lost many men and the Vietcong had proven that they could infiltrate deep into South Vietnam. The US army lost morale. As the war went on opposition increased back in the US. It was the first televised war and millions saw the horrors committed against and by their own men, The My Lai coverage provoked extremely strong outrage in the US. The war had also put a hold on the Civil Rights movement and reformists were outraged that millions was being spent on a pointless war which could be spent at home. Due to the Civil rights movement many Americans had become rebellious and men began refusing to sign up. President Johnson was seen as a villain with slogans like Hey, Hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today? The impact of public protest on the outcome of the war is clear in the fact that in 1969 Johnson did not seek re-election and Nixon was elected on the promise that he would end the conflict. The End of the War Vietnamisation. Nixon s solution to end the war was to train and strengthen the South Vietnamese army so it could defend the country itself. In 1973 Ho Chi Minh agreed to respect the independence of the South and all US troops left. However in 1974 the Vietcong attacked again. The US sent supplies but in 1976 Vietnam was united as a communist country. 8

9 What were the consequences of the war? POSITIVE US realized they were not unbeatable and so looked for more détente and negotiation with communism. To end the war the US made a deal with China and the USSR and this led to better relations. Nixon visited both countries in 1972 and began talks on Arms limitations NEGATIVE 58,000 US soldiers dead (estimated 700,000 with mental illness) and $120 billion dollars wasted. 2 million Vietnamese killed, 7 million tons of bombs dropped (3 times WW2), whole rice economy destroyed and next generation suffer mutations and often die young due to Agent Orange. Détente (relaxation) To reduce the risk of nuclear war (MAD). To relieve economic problems. The arms/space race cost both sides billions. The US had a huge Vietnam bill the economy was in recession after the Arab-Israeli war (1973) had affected oil prices. The USSR needed trade with the West. A number of European leaders supported détente. Romanian leader Ceausescu had started trading with the West and West German Chancellor Brandt was pioneering his Ostpolitik (creating better relations with East Germany). The USSR was losing support from its communist allies due to brutal repression in Eastern Europe (Czechoslovakia 1968) and so feared isolation. Vietnam had seriously dented US military confidence and there was now two communist powers (USSR and China) with vast armies. President Nixon and his close adviser Henry Kissinger aimed to use diplomacy to limit the arms race and discourage Soviet and Chinese expansionism in the third world. Nixon hoped to create an alliance with China to weaken communism and make the soviets feel isolated Events of the Détente 1971 US agrees that China should join the UN and the US table tennis team tours Peking (ping-pong diplomacy) Nixon makes his journey for peace visit to China Nixon visits the USSR (first President since Roosevelt in 1944). Strategic Arms Limitation Talks had been happening since 1969 and in Moscow SALT 1 is signed where both superpowers agree to limit their intercontinental (ICBM) and anti-ballistic (ABM) missiles The Soviets agree to recognise West Germany as a country and allow East Berliners to visit relatives in the West Berlin Agreement. The USA and USSR agree to accept the division of Berlin and Germany and not to invade. This ended years of tension over Germany and Berlin countries sign the Helsinki accords. The US recognizes communism in Eastern Europe and all members agree to respect the basic human rights of speech, religion and movement Soviet and American astronauts meet up in space. Failures of Détente in the

10 1979 In the late 1970s communism seemed to be on the march in Africa as communist regimes were established in Mozambique and Angola Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan to help a puppet regime fight off Muslim rebels and consequently SALT II talks broke down President Carter is worried that the USSR might threaten US oil interests in the Middle East and so withdraws the US team from the Moscow Olympics Anti-communist Reagan a Cold Warrior, becomes President and soon announces the development of the neutron bomb which can kill many people without damaging property US begin their Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or Star Wars, a giant shield in space which would shoot down enemy missiles. The US hoped to cripple the USSR by forcing them to maintain the expensive arms race. Meanwhile Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) continued but nothing was achieved (the treaty was eventually signed in 1991) Reagan ordered the invasion of Granada to topple the Cuba-friendly communist government USSR boycotted Los Angeles Olympics Cruise missile placed in many countries including Britain 1986 Iran-contra scandal. America s support of anti-communist forces in Nicaragua was funded by illegal sales of arms to Iran. This became public. Détente and the end of the Cold War Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union. He calls for a reduction in hostilities. He introduced a policy of Perestroika which restructured the Soviet economy and required severe cuts in arms spending. President Reagan and his ally PM Margaret Thatcher were both worried that the USSR would try to strike first as the new Star Wars initiative would eventually make Soviet missiles redundant Gorbachev and Reagan sign the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) to destroy all medium and short range weapons in Europe within three years Soviet troops leave Afghanistan and Gorbachev tells Eastern Europe that Soviet troops would no longer be able to defend them. Over the next 12 months communism is overthrown in Eastern Europe, the Berlin Wall is pulled down and the Cold War is over Union of Soviet Socialist Republic no longer existed. Many territories declared themselves independent and the Communist Party lost control of the remainder the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) was founded by Russia, Ukraine and Belarus as a successor to the Soviet Union Foreign Policy of Bush and Clinton- peace keeping and influence. Aug Gulf War -defeat of Saddam Hussein after his invasion of Kuwait made Bush very popular, but he has since been criticized for not deposing Saddam Washington- Middle East leaders agreed to grant Palestinians limited self-government in Gaza Strip and Jericho. A success for Clinton s diplomacy 1995 Drayton Accords- again Clinton scored diplomatic success working with Yeltsin of Russia in an attempt to bring the war in Bosnia to an end. Key Questions (Final 10 mark question) 1. How did USA contribute to international developments between 1929 and 2000? 2. How did USA develop its role as a world power during the period 1929 to 2000? 3. Was US influence in world affairs always one of powerful leadership during the period 1929 to 2000? (10) Leading role in International relations 10

11 In any question on the importance/extent of America s role in International relations from 1929 to 2000 you should always conclude that it was very important. If the question asks for a judgement like question 3 above then try to give a balanced view but always give more weight to the importance of the USA. 1920s US investment helped Europe recover (Dawes, Young) and US diplomacy encouraged peace (Kellog- Briand) but Isolationist policy. 1930s US isolationism after the Wall Street Crash left western allies defenseless and encouraged aggressive policies in Germany, Italy and Japan. WW2 US technology and superiority in numbers played a decisive role on the Western Front and in the pacific. The use of the atom bomb has been seen as highly controversial and began a new age of warfare. America s economy was the arsenal of democracy 1940s Marshall aid helped Western Europe recover however it was also seen as a threat and a betrayal (West Germany) by the USSR and so a cause of the Cold War. The Truman doctrine saw a complete reversal in US policy away from isolationism and towards containment. The US pledged to defend any nation under threat. The US was clearly going to play a central role in world affairs from now on The US played a central role in the early events of the Cold War. The Berlin blockade 1948, Korean War 1950, Berlin Wall 1961, Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 and Vietnam War are all examples of how the US increased and decreased international tension Nixon visits China and the USSR to start a period of Détente. The aim is to reduce the risk of nuclear war and the US play a central role in SALT 1 in 1972 and the Helsinki accords in s US caused increasing tension in 1983 with its Star Wars program, The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Iran-contra scandal all served to stop the process of détente However Reagan was also central to the re-commencement of détente with Gorbachev and the signing of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) in saw the collapse of the USSR and the end of the Cold War 1990s America s role as peacemaker becomes prominent. America s power and influence are used to intervene as peace maker-bush in the Iraq War, Clinton in Palestine and Bosnia. Overview America s role in world affairs from was of great significance because of its great wealth, military might, trading links and political will. It varied from isolationism (1920s/30s) to aggressive interventionism and defense (1950s/60s) to diplomatic peacemaker (1970s/80s). However throughout, the USA played a central role. Alternative arguments After the Wall Street Crash in 1929 the US withdrew from international relations. Although the consequences of this are very important you could also say that the US did not play an active role in world affairs during this period. USSR The USSR was just as important in world affairs from 1929 to Before WW2 the fear of communism created a reluctance to stand up to Hitler which had serious consequences. After the war the Soviets gained as much of a central role as the US. They imposed communism over Eastern Europe and South East Asia, they were just a central to the major events of the 1950s and 1960s, e.g it was Soviet supplies that made the North Koreans and Vietnamese effective fighting forces. The USSR was also important during periods of détente. Gorbachev directed better relations in the 1980s. 11