Ch 12 The Cold War

1. Ch 12 The Cold War

2. Differences between US & RUS • The only connection that the US and RUS had was its fight against Hitler in WWII • US was a capitalist democracy – believed in free elections, freedom of religion, private property and individual differences • RUS was a dictatorship with communist backing, no choice in elections, no private property, no freedom of religion or speech – opposition meant prison or death

3. Eastern Europe… • Stalin wanted GER weak and divided - wanted E.Europe under the control of RUS • US & BR wanted a stronger united GER and independent nations in E. Europe • At Yalta Stalin agreed to divide GER temporarily into zones and “broadly representative” gov’ts and free elections in E. Europe • Regardless E.Europe remained under Soviet control - Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, & Bulgaria and E. GER became satellite states controlled by RUS

4. Potsdam Conference… • Truman, Stalin and Clement Atlee – new Prime Minister of BR met at Potsdam, GER • It was hoped that Stalin would commit to the promises he made at Yalta • However, Stalin refused to commit to free election in E. Europe • Truman left Potsdam believing that Stalin was planning “world conquest” – creating the start of the Cold War – 46 year struggle

6. Cold v. Hot • What is the difference between a cold war and a hot war? • Examples? • Key players?

7. Iron Curtain… • Churchill also believed that Stalin wanted world domination • March 5, 1946 – Fulton College, MO – Churchill gave the Iron Curtain speech • Referring to a map of Europe – he said that “an iron curtain had descended across the continent” • RUS was setting up police states, with communist gov’ts, & crushing individual freedoms • It was feared that RUS was spreading communism to W. Europe and E. Asia

10. Harry S. Truman… • Truman was the only President in the 20th century to not have a college degree • Too poor – he worked the family farm, served in WWI and began his political career • He believed in honesty, integrity and hard work…”The buck stops here” was his motto • Truman had to deal with RUS-made crisis situations in Greece and Turkey • US was the only country with the resources to help in both Greece and Turkey

12. Truman Doctrine… • March 12, 1947 – Truman addressed Congress – telling them of the plight of the people in Greece and Turkey • Requesting money from Congress “to support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures” – Congress gave $400 million in aid • This policy became known as the Truman Doctrine

13. Containment… • George F. Kennan - “X” - wrote an that article proposed a US policy of RUS “containment” – to keep communism contained within its existing borders • Keenan said that while Stalin wanted to expand communism – he would not do so if it endangered RUS itself – RUS would not risk a war the US – a war that might destroy RUS power – just to spread communism • Keenan warned that this would not be a quick fix – that containment would take a full US commitment of economic, political and military power

14. Marshall Plan… • W. Europe suffered severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies after WWII • Sec. of State George Marshall created a plan for European recovery – without economic health “there can be no political stability and no assured peace” • 1948-1952 - $13 billion in grants and loans to the nations of W. Europe – food to reduce famine, fuel to heat houses and run factories, $ to jump start economic growth – also benefitted US economy • Aid was also offered to E. European nations but Stalin refused to let them accept it

16. Germany’s Zones… • The zones controlled by US, BR, FR were combined to form W. GER • City of Berlin – while divided – was located deep in RUS controlled E. GER – the zones of Berlin held by BR, US, and FR were called W. Berlin

17. Berlin Airlift… • The prosperity and freedom of W. Berlin stood in stark contrast to the bleakness of E. Berlin – Stalin was annoyed • He ordered the lockdown of W. Berlin – closed roadways, railroads, waterways – without supplies W. Berlin would quickly fall to communist RUS • However Stalin was not able to blockade the skies…

19. For a year US and BR airlifted supplies to W. Berlin – supplies like food, fuel, medical supplies, clothes, toys – everything that was needed was flown in and dropped (C-54 “Candy” Bomber) • Rain nor snow stopped the flights • The Berlin Airlift proved RUS and the rest of the world that the US would go to extremes to protect non-communist parts of Europe and contain communism • Stalin was forced to admit that the blockade had failed – it was a major success for the US policy of containment

21. NATO… • North Atlantic Treaty Organization formed in 1949 – 12 W. European and N. American nations agreed to act together in defense of W. Europe • Member nations agreed that an “armed attack against one would be considered an attack against all” • Collective Security = mutual military assistance

22. Warsaw Pact… • In response to W. GER joining NATO… • RUS and its satellite states formed a rival alliance called the Warsaw Pact • All Communist states except Yugoslavia were members • Like NATO – all members pledged their mutual defense of each other – they also agreed not to interfere in each others internal affairs, with RU still being in control over its Warsaw Pact allies

24. Sec. 2 Korean War • Before JAP had invaded CH in 1937 – Nationalist leader Jiang Jieshi had been fighting a civil war against Communist leader Mao Zedong – joined forces temporarily to fight off JAP – civil war resumed after the war ended • RUS supported Mao – while the US sent billions to support Jiang • US was afraid that the fall of Jiang would mean a communist empire that spread across Europe and Asia

25. Unfortunately Jiang and his officers were not up to the task – Aid($) was not given to the people and famine caused many Chinese to support Mao when he promised food to feed starving families • The war turned in Mao’s favor – Jiang asked the US for military intervention – US would not send troops to support the corrupt Jiang – Jiang fled China and took over the island of Taiwan – Mao took control and renamed it the People’s Republic of China • ¼ of the worlds landmass – 1/3 population now controlled by the Communists

26. Fighting in Korea… • Korea had been divided by the US and RUS after WWII into 2 independent countries at the 38th parallel • N. Korea was supported by the RUS and had a communist gov’t and Soviet supported military • S. Korea which was noncommunist was supported on a much smaller scale by the US

28. North Invades South… • US troops left Korea after WWII at the same time that Mao won in China • June 25, 1950 - NK forces attacked across the 38th parallel – armed with RUS weapons and tanks • Days later NK troops pushed to Seoul and had SK troops in retreat

29. US Forces Defend SK… • Truman remembered the failure of appeasement in WWII and announced US aid to SK • UN Security Council agreed and urged its members to support SK – RUS was absent for the vote • Truman did not ask Congress for approval but sent troops from JAP to support the UN resolution – these troops were not trained nor equipped for what they would encounter in Korea • Soon they joined their SK/UN allies in retreat to the peninsular city of Pusan – soon other countries sent aid and they were able to make a stand in Pusan

30. Gen. Douglas MacArthur… • Sept. 1950 – UN forces were ready to counterattack – MacArthur had a bold plan • Suspected that the rapid advance of the NK had left them short on supplies • Planned a surprise attack on port city of Inchon – Sept. 15, 1950 – Marine attack caused Communist forces to retreat north • By Oct, 1950 – NK forces had been driven north of the 38th parallel

32. What to do next? • With NK troops behind the 38th parallel – what should happen next? • Should the UN forces end the war since NK and SK were back to their original lines • Should they invade NK to punish the communists • CH leaders had warned not to get close to their borders… • MacArthur pushed for a NK invasion…UN resolution wanting an unified, independent and democratic Korea

33. China Forces a Stalemate… • MacArthur pushed over the 38th and had the NK troops backed up to the Yalu River on the CH border • 300,000 CH troops attacked – pushing the UN forces back to below the 38th • Truman did not want a totally committed war with massive troop involvement and possible use of another A-Bomb • MacArthur wanted a Total Victory and did not trust Truman and his idea of a limited war

34. MacArthur was unable to sway Truman and wrote a letter to Congress attacking the President and his policies • Letter became public knowledge and Truman fired MacArthur for insubordination • Americans were outraged and MacArthur returned home a hero

38. Political Issue… • By Spring 1951 -The Korean War came to a stalemate with small bloody skirmishes near the 38th • The stalemate became an issue in the election of 1952 • R – Dwight D Eisenhower said if elected he would end the war • Truman decided not to run again – D – Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois was chosen • Eisenhower won – 442-89 – went to Korea to study the situation

40. Breaking the Stalemate… • When peace talks broke down – “Ike” wanted strong action to break the stalemate • Eisenhower hinted at the use of nuclear weapons – that and the death of Stalin (assassination?) – convinced communists to settle the conflict • July 27, 1953 – cease fire was signed in Kaesong – still in effect today

41. Lessons of the War… • No victory in the Korean War • NK remained a communist country allied to CH and RUS • SK remained noncommunist allied with the US and other democratic countries • The two Koreas remain divided at the 38th

42. Important Lessons learned… • Truman had committed US troops w/o Congressional approval – set precedence • Korean War lead to increased defense spending • SEATO – Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was another defensive alliance aimed at preventing the spread of communism – Pakistan, Thailand, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, FR, BR, and US

43. Sec. 3 Cold War Expands • Sept. 2, 1949 – American B-29 aircraft flying over Alaska detected unusual atmospheric radiation – after analysis by US scientists – it was discovered that the RUS had set off an atomic bomb • Usually a shift in the balance of power happens over decades – but it had shifted in a day

44. Changes in Power… • Shortly after the RUS A-bomb detonation was discovered – the Communists had taken over China • Within a month – the US realized that the world was a much more dangerous and threatening place

45. Nuclear Arsenals Expand… • Truman ordered the Atomic Energy Commission to make a hydrogen bomb • It was believed that the H-bomb would be 100 times more powerful than the A-bomb • Oppenheimer and Einstein were opposed to the H-bomb – believing that it would cause a nuclear arms race • Others believed that RUS would continue to arm itself no matter what the US did • 1952 – US tested its first H-bomb and in 1953 the RUS tested their first H-bomb

46. Nuclear Testing… • Tests went back and forth – all above ground testing that spewed radiation into the atmosphere • Most US tests were performed in the deserts of the American west – causing health problems for all who lived down wind of the testing sites • US & RUS continued testing and stockpiling nuclear weapons – armed planes, warships and missiles with nuclear weapons – it was hoped that this mutually assured destruction would keep the other country from attacking

47. President Eisenhower… • After leading invasions in IT, North Africa, and Normandy – Ike had the ability to speak with both the military and politicians • Believed in the containment of communism like Truman – with the help of his Sec. of State John Foster Dulles • However Ike and Dulles had different ideas on how to deal with the conflict…Ike believed that Truman’s approach had caused the US’s endless conflicts with RUS

48. Massive Retaliation… • Ike opposed spending $ on troops, ships and tanks…He stockpiled nuclear weapons and the means to carry them...if there was a WWIII – it would be nuclear • Some felt that a lack of spending on conventional warfare would weaken the US’s defense – others felt that the nuclear build up would force a third world war • Dulles announced the policy of massive retaliation in 1954 – any communist threat would be met with crushing retaliation possibly even nuclear weapons use

49. Brinkmanship… • Ike and Dulles believed that only by going to the brink of war could the US protect its allies, discourage communist aggression, and prevent war • This became known as brinkmanship

50. Stalin’s Death… • Josef Stalin died March 5, 1953 • Nikita Khrushchev emerged the leader of communist RUS – although he was not a fan of the US – he was not as cruel or as suspicious as Stalin • Ike met with Khrushchev in Geneva in July 1955 – nothing major came out of the meeting but it was a step towards a more peaceful co-existence of the two superpowers