Chapter 28: The Onset of the Cold War AP United States History Week of April 25, 2016
The Cold War Begins The Cold War a conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union began slowly. The differences between the nations over the division of Europe, postwar economic aid and the atomic bomb were not settled through discussion and negotiation, and each attempted to extend its influence throughout the world Churchill, Truman and Stalin met at Postdam Conference in July, 1945 Compromise: each side would take reparations from its occupation zone of Germany Germany should be treated as one economic unit After conference, wartime alliance was over and differences arose Principally: who would control postwar Europe Russians wanted to impose communist governments loyal to Moscow Iron Curtain Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania By 1947, England and US were preparing for an independent West Germany Eventually Western nations saw Stalin as an aggressive dictator, like Hitler
The Cold War Begins, Part II: Economic Aid and the Atomic Dilemma The Soviet Union was badly in need of economic assistance after the destruction of the war. Moreover, the Russians were well on their way to constructing an atomic bomb Pictured: Truman, Stalin Americans used Russian plight to their advantage FDR ignored Russian loan request Congress instructed FDR not to use Lend- Lease for postwar reconstruction Truman terminated all shipments to Russia Russia instead rebuilt economy through reparations Recovered slowly, and with much bitterness to US US developed a nuclear disarmament plan Baruch Plan Russia wanted nuclear disarmament No agreement was possible
Containment New Secretary of State George C. Marshall advocated a policy of halting of Russia s expansion that, in the long run, he believed would force the Soviet Union to adopt moderate, reasonable policies and live in peace with the west Marshall s policy was containment: patient but firm, and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies Britain informed US it could no longer protect Greece, Turkey Truman Doctrine: policy of US is to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressure Effectively, declaration of Cold War American commitment to oppose communist expansion Europe was demoralized by depression and war, and discontent led to communist strength Marshall Plan offered economic aid to Europe Goal: to halt Soviet expansionism, revive working economy, free institutions Soviets pulled support Plan was immensely successful, led to industrial, self-sustaining western Europe
Containment, Part II: NATO and the Berlin Airlift New Secretary of State George C. Marshall advocated a policy of halting of Russia s expansion that, in the long run, he believed would force the Soviet Union to adopt moderate, reasonable policies and live in peace with the west Marshall s policy was containment: patient but firm, and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies Third part of plan: establishment of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Western Europe wanted assurances of American protection Provisions: US committed itself to defense of Europe Stationing of four American divisions in Europe NATO was an overreaction to the Soviet danger, and its effect was escalation of Cold War Russian response was cutting of rail and highway traffic in Berlin on June 20, 1948 US responded with Berlin Airlift, supplying citizens with food, fuel, and supplies In 1949, Soviets gave in, and first phase of Cold War was over
The Cold War Expands As both sides built their military forces, diplomatic competition expanded to Asia, and President Eisenhower tackled a new level of Cold War tension Congress passed National Security Act in 1947 Department of Defense, CIA, and National Security Council (NSC) Air Force became dominant power in atomic age United States raced to develop the more powerful hydrogen bomb NSC-68 proposed expansion of defense budget Gen. MacArthur supervised transition of Japan to constitutional democracy without communist influence China was torn between Chiang Kai-Shek and communist Mao Tse-Tung Mao eventually drove Chiang s nationalists out of Manchuria they fled to Formosa (Taiwan) Mao and Stalin signed treaty of mutual assistance US focused on Japan to compensate for loss of China
The Cold War Expands, Part II: Korean War Korea, divided at the 38th parallel, was the site of the showdown between the US and the Soviet Union Soviets occupied industrial north headed by Kim Il-Sung, while the American-sponsored Syngman Rhee ruled the in the agrarian south June 25, 1950: North Korean Army suddenly crossed 38th parallel US got a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning North Korea s act American troops entered combat in South Korea Truman s goal now became unification of Korea by force UN troops crossed 38th parallel, but China counterattacked Truman gave up attempt to unify Korea, MacArthur did not Truman recalled MacArthur; Korean War settled into a stalemate
The Cold War At Home The Cold War affected American domestic life, as it impaired Truman s ability to extend FDR s New Deal. Instead, the nation s attention was on communist penetration in the US and growing dissatisfaction of postwar economic adjustment American postwar mood was not conducive to economic reforms Prices and wages rose as government lifted wartime controls Labour unrest: strikes by coalminers and railroad workers (1946) Congress enacted Employment Act of 1946 creating Council of Economic Advisers Republicans won majorities in House and Senate for first time since 1930 Congress overrode Truman s veto and passed Taft-Hartley Act (1947) Outlawed closed shop, allowed president to delay strikes Truman ran against Thomas Dewey and Strom Thurmond (of Dixiecrat Party) in 1948 Truman won, supported by new Democratic coalition and Republican support of containment (Truman Doctrine)
The Cold War At Home, Part II: Loyalty Issue During the early stages of the Cold War, the nation s attention was on communist penetration in the US Revelations of communist espionage: Canadian officials uncovered Soviet spy ring in 1946 House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) held hearings Indicated communist agents were in Treasury, Agriculture departments in 1930s Truman initiated loyalty program 1949: Soviets detonated first atomic bomb Klaus Fuchs admitted to giving information Ethel and Julius Rosenberg (pictured) charged with conspiracy to transmit info to USSR and convicted of treason Electrocuted in 1953
The Cold War At Home, Part III: McCarthyism Senator Joseph McCarthy exploited the public s deepseated anxiety and fear of communism. He played up concerns of subversion from abroad, accusing members of the US government of being communist February 12 1950: McCarthy levied charge that communists were in State Department Charge was unsubstantiated, but McCarthyism had begun Never actually unearthed a single communist in government Secret of his power was fear others had of him Attacks on wealthy and famous won him a national following His solution was to defeat the enemy at home In 1954 he attacked Army officers Televised Army-McCarthy hearings led to his censure
Eisenhower and the Republicans in Power In 1952, the GOP capitalized on a growing sense of national frustration to win the presidency. World War II hero Dwight D. Eisenhower was particularly well-prepared to lead the nation during the Cold War Eisenhower was determined to bring Cold War under control At the same time, was convinced nation would go bankrupt if defense spending escalated Sec. of State John Foster Dulles announced reliance on massive retaliation, extending Truman s deterrence policy US would use (not literally ) nuclear weapons to halt Soviet expansions Indochina: US was supporting France in war against Ho Chi Minh and communist guerrillas China was supporting Vietminh, and they took over Dien Bien Phu in 1954 Eisenhower did not want to authorize air attack or get US involved in France s war US gradually took over for French in South Vietnam, supported government of Ngo Dinh Diem What could possibly happen next in Vietnam?
Eisenhower and the Republicans in Power, Part II: China and Formosa China: Mao s communist government in Peking was a challenge for Ike However, there were underlying tensions between China and the USSR Eisenhower and Dulles chose to exploit them Fall of 1954: China threatened to seize coastal islands, notably Quemoy and Matsu Dulles signed treaty with Chiang Kaishek to defend Formosa Eisenhower and Dulles hinted at use of nuclear weapons China eventually backed down Soviet Union apparently refused to come to China s aid led to China-USSR rift
Eisenhower and the Republicans in Power, Part III: Middle East Middle East: Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser seized Suez Canal in 1956 English, French citizens owned canal company, depended on oil from Persian Gulf Dulles tried to restrain England and France, but they invaded and seized canal Suez Crisis They relied on the US to prevent Soviet interference Eisenhower wanted Dulles to sponsor UN resolution calling for withdrawal Interestingly, Soviets supported it and threatened attacks on British, French cities November, 1956: England, France announced end to invasion US emerged as main western influence in Middle East Also, Middle East became new Cold War US-USSR battleground Lebanon: in 1958, outgoing president sought a second term, and Muslim groups threatened rebellion Nationalist coup overthrew pro-western government in Iraq Eisenhower used Marines to secure Beirut airport quieted Lebanon
Eisenhower and the Republicans in Power, Part IV: Covert Actions Administration also worked behind the scenes through CIA to extend American influence 1953: overthrew government in Iran and placed shah in full control American oil companies gained lucrative concessions What could possibly go wrong here? 1954: CIA overthrew leftist regime in Guatemala 1959: Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba and Eisenhower adopted hard line However, he accepted Soviet domination in eastern Europe Eisenhower sought nuclear disarmament, outlined in "atoms for peace plan to UN General Assembly Led to foundation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) New Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev dismissed Eisenhower's open skies surveillance plan Soviet launch of Sputnik in 1957 heightened fears of Russian missile development 1958: Khrushchev threatened to end American, British, French occupation rights in Berlin US got Khrushchev to extend deadline to 1960, but
Eisenhower and the Republicans in Power, Part V: The U-2 Incident US had been overlying USSR since 1956 Lockheed U-2 was a brand new, high-altitude spy plane thought to be out of range of Soviet anti-aircraft missiles May 1, 1960: Soviets shot down U-2 piloted by Francis Gary Powers Eisenhower initially denied knowledge, but then took responsibility Khrushchev refused to meet with Eisenhower Breakup of Paris summit marked end of Eisenhower s Cold War efforts Eisenhower did warn of growing military-industrial complex in his farewell address This was one of the most prophetic warnings ever given by a president In the end, Eisenhower had kept the peace in 1950s and began to relax tensions, eventually contributing to a winding down of the Cold War in the 1980s. However, he could not halt the momentum he inherited from Truman