Ch 36 The Cold War and Post-War Society, 1945-1952
President Harry S. Truman 1945-1953 Democrat
Presidential Rankings: C-Span Survey, 2009 1. Abraham Lincoln 15. Bill Clinton 29. Zachary Taylor 2. Franklin Roosevelt 16. William McKinley 30. Benjamin Harrison 3. George Washington 17. John Adams 31. Martin Van Buren 4. Theodore Roosevelt 18. George H.W. Bush 32. Chester Arthur 5. Harry Truman 19. John Quincy Adams 33. Rutherford Hayes 6. John Kennedy 20. James Madison 34. Herbert Hoover 7. Thomas Jefferson 21. Grover Cleveland 35. John Tyler 8. Dwight Eisenhower 22. Gerald Ford 36. George W. Bush 9. Woodrow Wilson 23. Ulysses Grant 37. Millard Fillmore 10. Ronald Reagan 11. Lyndon Johnson 12. James Polk 13. Andrew Jackson 14. James Monroe 24. William Taft 25. Jimmy Carter 26. Calvin Coolidge 27. Richard Nixon 28. James Garfield 38. Warren Harding 39. William Harrison 40. Franklin Pierce 41. Andrew Johnson 42. James Buchanan
Harry Truman - Characteristics Accidental President, the Average man s average man 1 st President in many years w/o college ed. Farmer, artillery officer in France in WWI Judge, then Senator in Missouri Had humility, gained confidence, cocky Gave jobs to Missouri Gang loyal to them Had moxie (guts) If you can t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
Yalta Conference (Feb 1945) 4 zones in Germany Free elections in E. Europe Create UN
Yalta Conference (Feb 1945) US needs SU to enter war against Japan to lighten American losses Stalin has advantage Will enter 3 mo. after collapse of Germany SU gets SE Asian islands, joint control over RR s in Manchuria and seaports US sold out Chiang Kai-shek? Decreased Chinese morale = overthrow of Chiang by communists Conference was about sketching general intentions and testing reactions
US and SU Conflicting ideologies capitalism v. communism US view of SU SU took over E. Europe for their empire not just a sphere of influence SU wants to export communism to the world Grand Alliance of US, GB, SU was a necessity in war now suspicion and rivalry US wants an open world decolonized, demilitarized
SU view of US US and SU Just a sphere of influence in E. Europe buffer zone Needs E. Europe to rebuild SU economy US didn t recognize communist govt for 16yrs Delayed 2 nd front SU paid price Froze out of atomic project US terminated Lend-Lease in 1945, refused a $6 bil loan (gave $3.5 bil to GB) US wants to export democracy
Cold War political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare 45 years Overshadowed the entire world Molded societies, economies, individuals
Iron Curtain Winston Churchill stated that an iron curtain had descended upon Europe West: democracy East: communism
From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and in some cases increasing measure of control from Moscow.
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
Winston Churchill referred to this division as an Iron Curtain. U.S.S.R An Iron Curtain descends over Eastern Europe The post-war borders of the U.S.S.R have no natural barrier against Germany and the Western Democracies, countries Stalin saw as the enemies of Communism. At the war s end the Red Army occupied half of Germany and all the countries along the U.S.S.R s western border. In violation of the Yalta agreement, Stalin refused to allow free elections and instead installed pro-soviet Communist governments in these border countries.
Shaping the Postwar World Bretton Woods Conference, NH (1944) International Monetary Fund (IMF): Encourage world trade by regulating currency exchange rates World bank: promote economic growth in war-torn and underdeveloped areas US took lead, supplied funding SU refused to participate Different role for US than after WWI
United Nations April 25, 1945 Created before WWII over to capitalize on cooperation Reps from 50 countries Big Five on Security Council US, GB, USSR, France, China Approved by US Senate quickly (89 to 2) had safeguards for US sovereignty and freedom of action Home NYC Initial successes: peace in Iran & Kashmir, created Israel, guided colonies to independence, UNECSCO, FAO, WHO UN agency proposed w/authority over atomic energy, weapons, research Bernard Baruch Soviet delegate outlaw nukes! All afraid that not everyone would do this = no-go!
United Nations Structure
The German Question Nuremberg Trials 22 Nazi leaders tried for war crimes 12 executed, 7 long jail terms, 3 suicide What to do with Germany was unclear Some wanted to dismantle factories, no industrialization SU wants reparations to rebuild their country US says Germany needs to recover so Europe can recover SU resisted
Top Nazi Defendants on the dock at the Nuremberg Trials
Partition of Germany 4 zones: France, GB, US, USSR 3 promoted reunification, USSR said no = W. Germany and E. Germany (1949) W. Germany became independent, E. Germany became a satellite state bound to SU Berlin deep within Soviet zone also 4 zones
British Zone Soviet Zone French Zone U.S. Zone Post-World War II Allied Occupation of Germany
Berlin Airlift 1948 Soviets choked off all access to Berlin took it hostage World War III? US flew in 1000s of tons of supplies to Berlin for 11 months Blockade lifted in May 1949
Post-War Germany
West Berliners watch a C-54 land at Berlin Tempelhof Airport, 1948
Berlin Airlift
Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-49)
Crises in Iran, Turkey and Greece (1945-6) SU invaded Iran for oil, refused to remove troops US protested, Stalin backed down Greece and Turkey threatened by communism GB can t bear financial and military load of defending them Kennan s Containment Policy (US diplomat to Moscow) Russia is expansionary, must contain them! Contain communism Truman said to get tough with Russia US Cold War policy July 1947, article in Foreign Affairs journal, under author X Was originally a Long Telegram sent back to State Department, then published in Foreign Affairs
Truman Doctrine, 1947 Asked Congress for $400 mil to help Greece and Turkey Must help free people resisting outside pressures Polarized world into pro-soviet and pro- American camps Exaggerated Soviet threat global holy war vs. godless communism Backed by theologians children of light v. children of dark
Marshall Plan (1947) Sec of State George Marshall Joint plan for economic recovery $12.5 bil over 4 years in 16 countries Spurred by Soviet-backed communist coup in Czechoslovakia France, Italy, Germany threatened by communist parties within (stemmed from hunger/chaos) Offered to SU if they made political reforms and accepted outside reforms refused Formed COMECON Soviet Union Marshall Plan Plan was successful Europe prospered
U.S. Congress agreed after the Soviet-backed coup d etat in Czechoslovakia in early 1948
COMECON Soviet response to Marshall plan Council for Mutual Economic Assistance Est d 1949 January 1949: Bulgaria Czechoslovakia Hungary Poland Romania Soviet Union February 1949: Albania - (1950: East Germany 1962: Mongolia 1972: Cuba 1978: Vietnam
"It's the same thing without mechanical problems" Herblock January 26, 1949, Washington Post
Recognition of Israel Saudi Arabia will lay siege to it until it dies of famine Objections of Arab countries, US State and Defense Depts, European allies Truman recognized Israel May 14, 1948 Holocaust memory, Jewish voters, pre-empt Soviet influence
U.S. Rearmament National Security Act (1947) Dept of Defense created (in Pentagon, has Secretary) Joint Chiefs of Staff Secretaries of Navy, Army, Air Force National Security Council (NSC) to advise President on security matters CIA created coordinate government s foreign factgathering Voice of America external radio broadcasts of US government Selective Service System draft of young men 19-25 Affected education, marriage, career plans Atomic Energy Commission continue research on atomic energy and technology
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 1949 US enters a defensive alliance with W. Europe Strengthen containment, reintegrate Germany, reassure US will not be isolated An attack on one is an attack on all respond with armed force Created in response to Berlin crisis Established unity/security against the Soviet threat Warsaw Pact Communist alliance
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949) United States Luxemburg Belgium Netherlands Britain Norway Canada Portugal Denmark France Iceland Italy 1952: Greece & Turkey 1955: West Germany 1983: Spain
Warsaw Pact (1955) U. S. S. R. Albania Bulgaria Czechoslovakia East Germany Hungary Poland Rumania
Organization of American States (OAS) -- Created in 1948 to prevent communist expansion into Latin America
Soviets explode A-bomb in September 1949 Joe-1 -no more one-sided threats 1949 for U.S. containment was a very bad year!
Hydrogen Bomb Truman orders development of H-bomb 1000x more powerful Oppenheimer and Einstein lead fight against it 1952 US has H-bomb; 1953 Soviets have H-bomb Arms race to build most destructive weapons
Tick-tock, tick-tock Herb Block's "Mr. Atom" personification of "the bomb" reminded readers of the threat of nuclear annihilation. The great powers failed to reach agreement on the control of atomic energy. Tick-tock, tick-tock, January 11, 1949, Washington Post
The First Hydrogen Bomb Being Tested at Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific,1952
Reconstruction and Revolution in Asia
Democratization of Japan War crimes trials 18 prison terms, 7 hanged Good behavior and adoption of democracy = speedy removal of US 1946 MacArthur dictated constitution no militarism, women s equality, democratic govt Paved way for economic recovery Japan becomes powerhouse within a few decades
Fall of China Bitter civil war b/w Nationalists and Communists Nationalists: Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi), US support, ineptitude and corruption no confidence Communists: Mao Zedong 1949 Chiang Kai-Shek fled to island of Formosa (Taiwan) China became communist in 1949 ( Red China): People s Republic of China 2 mo. later Mao travels to Moscow Sino- Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance
Civil War in China Chiang Kai-Shek Mao Zedong
Fall of China Major defeat in battle to contain communism ¼ world population (500 mil) swept into communist camp US debate Republicans blamed Truman and Sec of State Dean Acheson withheld aid so it would fall (Dems full of communists!) Democrats couldn t save it, Chinese against Chiang Kai-shek s regime
Korean War The Forgotten War
The Key Players Truman Syngman Rhee SK UN MacArthur Kim Il Sung - NK Mao Zedong - China Stalin - SU
Korean War [1950-1953] Japanese Troops in the south surrendered to the Americans Kim Il-Sung Japanese Troops in the north surrendered to the Soviets Communist government created there Democratic Republic created there Syngman Rhee
Hot phase of Cold War Background SU had N. Korea, US had S. Korea split at 38 th parallel Both said they wanted reunification and independence for Korea Ended up with rival regimes 1949 Soviets and Americans left
June 25, North Korean invasion backed by Soviets
June 25, 1950 (spark) N. Korea with Soviet tanks flew across 38 th parallel S. Korea pushed back to Pusan NSC-68 recommendation that US should quadruple defense spending 3.5 mil men under arms, $50 bil a year on defense Showed militarization of American Cold War policy Reflected limitless possibility of post-war society
UN Security Council (with USSR absent) voted for military aid to S. Korea N. Korea condemned as aggressor Called on UN members to assist Without Congressional consultation, Truman ordered American air and naval units to support S. Korea Gen. MacArthur s Japan-based troops ordered to S. Korea MacArthur appointed UN commander of entire operation
President Harry Truman meets with General Douglas MacArthur
US Involvement U.S. turned the tide at Inchon (Sept 1950) 2 weeks N. Korea pushed back behind 38 th, kept going into N. Korea UN and Truman okay with this unless Chinese and Soviets get involved China warns US about getting closer
Chinese involvement Nov 1950 300,000 Chinese volunteers cross Yalu River (N. border) and hurled UN forces back down peninsula Stalemate near 38 th parallel MacArthur wants retaliation blockade of China, atomic bomb! SU is real enemy Truman doesn t want to enlarge conflict with the wrong enemy MacArthur is MAD! refused to fight a limited war, no substitute for victory
The Shifting Map of Korea [1950-1953]
MacArthur v. Truman MacArthur publicly attacks Truman and his policies Truman fires MacArthur April 11, 1951 MacArthur welcomed back in US Truman condemned as a pig, imbecile, a Judas, communist appeaser
Cease-fire July 1951 peace talks but snagged on issue of prisoner exchange War dragged on for 2 years while men died Eisenhower visited Korea in 1952 hinted use of nukes Cease-fire signed on July 27, 1953 38 th parallel is boundary DMZ along border
THE COST IN HUMAN LIFE Casualties in the Korean War 4,500 30,000 70,000 NK & Chinese soldiers and civilians SK civilians 500,000 780,000 SK soldiers USA soldiers Other UN soldiers
Non-Treaty Results of Korean War 30-40,000 U.S. dead; 3,000 UN dead; 2 million civilians dead (mostly in S. Korea); 1.5 million N. Korean and Chinese soldiers dead UN successfully repelled N. Korea s attack on S. Korea Truman successfully enforced containment Still tension between N. and S. Korea