1 2 3 4 Cold War America 1945-1960 Truman & The Cold War 1945-1953 Cold War 1945-1991 A period of time in which the U.S. & USSR experienced high tension and bitter rivalry Roots of the Cold War Philosophical differences: -USSR- communist, totalitarian dictatorship -U.S.- capitalism, republic Early during WW II Stalin urged FDR & Churchill to open second front in France U.S. & G.B. denied request leaving Stalin to fend for himself U.S. secretly developed A-Bomb, Soviet spies steal plans to develop their own (arms race) Yalta- Stalin desired a buffer zone or sphere of influence in E. Europe -FDR & Churchill agree with proviso that free & unfettered election take place as soon as possible 5 6 7 8 9 Roots of the Cold War After Yalta Soviets make no indication of holding elections Stalin establishes puppet regimes in E. European countries. -the unwillingness to hold free elections was the main cause of Cold War Tough Methods Truman s Response to Stalin s Regimes Potsdam- Truman decides to take tough stance against Stalin fearing appeasement Truman was unable to intimidate Stalin and convince him to uphold free elections Stalin grew suspicious of the West Baruch Plan U.S. attempt to head off impending arms race Bernard Baruch proposed the U.N. be placed in control of nuclear weapons production & inspection Soviets rejected proposal Development of arms race Soviet Expansion Stalin created a line of soviet friendly nations for security U.S. & G.B. upset that E. Europe had fallen under communist control & worried soviets wouldn t stop with E. Europe Truman urged a policy of strength.. iron fist Churchill delivered Iron Curtain speech reflecting his view that Communism created a 1
sharp divide in Europe Stalin responded by stating the West was now the enemy of Soviets 10 11 12 13 14 Containment Policy George Kennan Policy adopted by the U.S. in response to Soviet expansion U.S. should resist Soviet attempts to expand its power and influence wherever those attempts occurred Truman Doctrine U.S. response to two Soviet threats: 1. Soviet led communist uprising in Greece 2. Soviet demand for Dardanelles/Turkey Called for economic & military assistance in order to prevent communism in Greece & Turkey Marshall Plan Post war suffering in Europe led to growth of Communist party in W. Europe. George Marshall U.S. economic aid to help European nations revive their economies & strengthen Democratic governments $13 billion in aid Plan was successful W. Europe grew & Communist threat ended in region 15 16 17 18 Divided Germany 1949 Berlin Blockade Soviets disliked western government in soviet occupation zone (W. Berlin) Soviets blockaded the city of W. Berlin cutting them off from vital supplies to win control of city Berlin Airlift British & U.S. airplanes airlifted the food and supplies May 1949 Soviets lifted blockade Berlin became a symbol of resistance to communism 19 20 21 22 2
23 24 25 26 NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization An alliance of W. European nations & U.S. to provide for the common defense An armed attack against any nation was considered an attack against all members Council for Mutual Economic Assistance Warsaw Pact Soviets counter NATO by forming a military alliance for the defense of communist states in Eastern Europe 27 28 29 30 31 32 End of our umbrella September 1949 Soviets detonate Atomic bomb prompting U.S. to reassess foreign policy National Security Act of 1947 Provided for Department of Defense to coordinate operations of branches of military Created National Security Council to make foreign policy during the Cold War Created Central Intelligence Agency employing spies to gather information on foreign governments NSC-68 report recommending the development of a hydrogen bomb, increasing conventional forces, establish a strong system of alliances, & increase taxes to pay for all of the above -led to the arms race Containment in Asia Japan U.S. control after WW II Douglas MacArthur responsible for reconstruction MacArthur helped develop a Japanese Const. similar to the U.S. (democracy) Limited military capability relying on U.S. for military protection Chinese Civil War Comm.- Mao Zedong Nationalists- Chiang Kai Shek Truman Administration supported nationalists with economic aid Mao wins Nationalists exiled to Taiwan China Lobby - Congressional faction who was pro nationalist -blamed U.S. for Nationalist loss -pushed for recognizing Taiwan over Red China 3
-blocked China from U.N. for 20 years 33 Korean War 34 35 36 37 38 South Korea Conservative Nationalist Syngman Rhee Beginning of Korean War June 25, 1950 N. Korea invaded S. Korea Truman seeks immediate police action from U.N. Security Council U.N. votes to sends peacekeeping force to Korea U.N. Peacekeeping Force 14 non-communist countries in Korea U.S. majority of peacekeeping force MacArthur placed in command of U.N. forces in N. Korea 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 Korean War Stalemate Stalemate develops in Korean War around 38 th Parallel U.S. public support begins to fall off as they don t want to become tied to Asia for a long time Truman would begin to work toward a negotiated peace Truman vs. MacArthur MacArthur called for an expansion of the war -bombing & invasion of China (nukes) Truman angry that MacArthur spoke to public & appeared to be questioning U.S. foreign policy MacArthur relieved of command Armistice 4
Armistice signed in July 1953 Korea was divided near the original border at 38 th parallel 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 Consequences of Korean War Truman s commitment of troops to Korea without Congressional approval set precedent for future undeclared wars America s involvement in Asia expanded Containment into a global policy U.S. Foreign policy had become more global, militarized, & expensive Truman Politics Harry S. Truman 33 rd President 1945-1953 Employment Act of 1946 Truman hoped to continue New Deal tradition of FDR Purpose: -provide health care -increase min. wage -commit U.S. to maintain employment Most of ideas rejected by conservative Congress & Cold War interruptions Reconversion of Economy War to Peace After WW II Govt. spending declined while consumer spending increased (unemployment remained low) Consumer demand was high after WW II and businesses were eager to take their money OPA disbanded by Truman who faced increasing pressure from businesses & consumers Inflation grew on avg. 18.2% per year Postwar Strikes Post WW II inflation prompted workers to demand higher wages Workers across nation would mount crippling strikes in 1946 Strikes by R.R. & miners threatened national security Truman would end R.R. & miner strikes Fellow Dems. Outraged and alienated labor from Truman Opening of 80 th Congress 5
59 60 61 62 63 64 65 Taft-Hartley Act (1947) Vetoed by Truman but Congress overrode veto -kept labor close to Truman & Dems. Outlawed closed shops Outlawed secondary boycotts-when unions support other striking unions by joining a boycott of a company s products Permitted Right to work - outlaw unions requiring workers to join union after being hired Election of 1948 Harry S. Truman Democratic Candidate Henry Wallace Progressive Party Candidate J. Strom Thurmond & Dixiecrats States Rights Party or Dixiecrats Southern democrats who split from Democratic party & Truman Angry about civil rights platform being pushed for Dems. (Desegregation of military etc.) Thomas Dewey Republican Candidate Truman Whistle Stop 66 67 68 1948 Election Results 69 70 The Fair Deal Truman s plan to extend the New Deal Truman s plan included: 1. national health insurance 2. expand Social security to include more workers 3. construction of low income housing 4. federal aid to education 5. civil rights for A.A. Fair Deal rejected for the most part due to cold war developments & costs, congressional resistance, fear of future depression, & communist infiltration in the nation Some Fair Deal success in minimum wage, social security, & public housing 6
71 72 73 The Second Red Scare Smith Act (1940) Made it illegal to advocate the overthrow of the govt. by force Or belong to an organization advocating such a position Truman & The Red Scare Loyalty Review Board- investigated the backgrounds of federal employees Thousands would either resign or lose their jobs Members of the American Communist Party were jailed in violation of Smith Act Dennis et al. v. United States- upheld constitutionality of Smith Act 74 75 McCarran Internal Security Act (1950) Unlawful to support a totalitarian regime Communist organizations had to register with govt. Members of communist front groups could not travel abroad or take defense jobs Prevented radicals & communists from entering U.S. HUAC House Un-American Activities Committee Focused on investigating communists within the U.S. Explored the American film industry for communist influence Hollywood Ten - 10 writers & directors who were called before Congress on suspicion of communist ideals 76 77 78 79 80 Espionage Cases The Hiss Case Alger Hiss member of state dept. -denied any involvement in leaking secret documents Found guilty of perjury Klaus Fuchs Found guilty of stealing a bomb plans and giving them to Soviets Rosenberg Case Ethel & Julius Rosenberg Guilty of treason against the U.S. in connection with leaking A bomb plans 81 Joseph McCarthy Claimed to have knowledge of communist working in state department No evidence was ever found no particular names released McCarthy played upon American fear to gain power 7
People were afraid of the damage that could be done if accused by McCarthy 82 83 McCarthyism McCarthy s tactic of spreading fear and making unfounded accusations The hunt for communists quickly spread beyond Congress to other local institutions 84 McCarthy s Downfall McCarthy would attack U.S. Army suggesting they were protecting commies Hearings were aired on television Public interest began to feel his methods were unfair and a bully The witch hunt for commies had now played itself out 85 86 87 8