The Onset of the Cold War

1. 28 The Onset of the Cold War

2. The Cold War Begins:Issues Dividing U.S., U.S.S.R. • Potsdam Conference – note of uncertainty • Fundamental disagreement over control of postwar Europe • Other issues not resolved • War reparations • Economic aid • Nuclear disarmament • Russia first learned of atomic bomb through espionage

3. The Division of Europe • Key issue of cold war – who would control Europe • 1945: Russians occupied eastern Europe, American troops occupied western Europe • Soviet Union sought eastern European buffer • U.S. demanded national self-determination through free elections throughout Europe • Stalin separated eastern Europe from western Europe into a system of satellite nations – called “iron curtain”

4. Europe After World War II

5. Withholding Economic Aid • Withholding Economic aid – another issue • Russia devastated by World War II • Some Americans sought to influence Russia with Lend-Lease economic aid • 1945: United States halted Lend-Lease without Russian settlement • Russia bitter because U.S. didn’t provide economic help after WW II

6. The Atomic Dilemma • 1943: Nuclear race between U.S. and U.S.S.R. • 1946: Baruch Plan – disarmament plan • Rapid reduction of U.S. military force • Gradual reduction of weapons to preserve U.S. atomic monopoly • Soviet Union • Larger conventional army than U.S. • Immediate destruction of atomic weapons

7. Containment • 1947: George C. Marshall appointed Secretary of State • Called for “containment of Russia’s expansive tendencies” – Contain Communism • Truman Doctrine • Marshall Plan • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

8. The Truman Doctrine • 1947: Truman sought funds to keep Greece in Western sphere of influence • Truman Doctrine: “Support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressure” • Doctrine an informal declaration of cold war against the Soviet Union

9. The Marshall Plan • 1947: George Marshall proposed aid for rebuilding Western European industries – gave massive amounts • Russia refused aid • 1948: Marshall Plan fostered western European prosperity – lesson from past • Plan successful

10. Marshall Plan to Aid Europe, 1948–1952

11. The Western Military Alliance • Fear of Russia’s military aggression • 1949: North Atlantic Treaty Organization • Military alliance included U.S., Canada, most of western Europe • U.S. troops stationed in Europe • Agree to defend western Europe • NATO intensified Russia’s fear of the West

12. The Berlin Blockade • Soviet’s response to containment – Berlin Blockade • June, 1948: Russian blockade of Berlin • Truman ordered massive airlift to supply the city • 1949: Russians end blockade • U.S. political victory dramatized division

13. The Cold War Expands • 1947: U.S.–Russian arms race accelerated • New economic document – NSC-68 based on premise that soviets want to impose world authority • NSC – 68 advocated massive military spending and expansion

14. The Military Dimension • 1947: National Security Act • Department of Defense unified armed forces • Central Intelligence Agency coordinated intelligence-gathering • National Security Council advised president • 1949: First Russian atomic bomb exploded, U.S. began hydrogen bomb development

15. The Cold War in Asia • 1945: U.S. consolidates hold on Japan – forms constitutional democracy • Civil war in China – U.S. supports Chiang Kai-Shek – nationalist and friend to U.S. • 1949: Victory of Mao Tse-tung brings China into Soviet orbit • Republicans blame lose of China on Democrats • Truman refused recognition of Communist China, began building up Japan

16. The Korean War • Show down between U.S. and Soviets in Korea • After WW II, Korea divided and Soviets dominate North Korea and U.S. influence South Korea • Communist North Korean forces invade South Korea • Truman makes South Korea’s defense a U.N. effort, sends in U.S. troops • U.S. routes Korean forces in South • China threatens war if U.S. invades North Korea • U.S. invades North Korea and China enters war – MacArthur overconfident and gave Truman bad advice • U.S. pushed back to South, war a stalemate • Result: Massive American rearmament

17. The Korean War, 1950–1953

18. The Cold War at Home • Truman perpetuate New Deal begun under FDR • Fears of Communist subversion • Republicans used anticommunism to revive their party

19. Truman Vindicated • 1948 election: Truman thought unelectable • Democratic party is split • Republican Thomas Dewey overconfident and ran bland campaign • Truman won – people are happy about the way he handled Berlin Crisis • Agreed with his overseas policies

20. The Loyalty Issue • Fear of Communism in this Country • House Un-American Activities Committee investigated Communist subversion in government • Truman responded with loyalty program • Alger Hiss spy case 1940s • Democrats blamed for: • “Losing” China to Communism • Russia’s development of a hydrogen bomb • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed for passing American atomic secrets to the Soviet Union

21. McCarthyism in Action • 1950: Senator Joseph McCarthy launched anticommunist campaign to hunt out communists in U.S. • McCarthy's methods criticized • Attacks on bureaucrats and Hollywood • Defeat the enemy at home • Attack on Army discredited McCarthy

22. The Republicans in Power • 1952: Eisenhower captures White House for Republican Party – says he will end Korean War • 1953: stalemate accepted in Korea • Republicans used fear of Communism to win election

23. Eisenhower Wages the Cold War • Eisenhower prefers to work behind the scenes • Eisenhower wanted to relax tensions with Soviets • Debt imposed by defense spending • Possibility of atomic warfare • Eisenhower’s “new look” policy relied on massive retaliation to deter Soviet attacks

24. Entanglement in Indochina • After WWII, French held Vietnam • 1954, Ho Chi Minh lead Communist guerrillas (Vietminh) to kick French out • International conference divides Vietnam • Ho Chi Minh gains North Vietnam • French get south Vietnam with U.S. economic support – eventually French leave and U.S. takes over

25. Containing China • U.S. takes a tough line against China • Policy was to drive a wedge between China and Russia • U.S. backs Chiang Kai-shek on Formosa (Taiwan) • Refuses to recognize mainland China

26. Turmoil in the Middle East • Suez Canal built by England and French • 1956: Egyptian leader Nasser nationalized Suez Canal • France, England invaded Egypt • Eisenhower won Middle East trust by pressuring English, French withdrawal • 1958: Lebanon invited U.S. troops to maintain order

27. Covert Actions • Iran: CIA put the Shah in power – led to later problems • Guatemala: CIA ousted leftist government • Eisenhower declines help to everyone • Refused to help East German protestors against Soviet domination • Refused to help Hungarian freedom fighters against Soviets

28. Waging Peace • Nuclear test ban treaty (detect nuclear testing without going on-site) • U.S. and U.S.S.R. agreed to suspend nuclear testing in the atmosphere – Agree to have conference • October, 1957: Russians launched Sputnik – First satellite to orbit Earth • U.S. concern about Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) – Does Soviet Union have more? • Khrushchev – “We will bury you” • Khrushchev wants U.S. Great Britain, France out of Berlin (2nd Berlin Crisis) • May, 1960: U-2 incident cancelled plans for summit on new Berlin Crisis

29. The Continuing Cold War • January, 1961: Eisenhower warned against growing military-industrial complex • Post-war era marked by Cold War rather than peace and tranquility • New leader of Soviet Union was Nikita Khrushchev