The Cold War

 

  1. And then there were two – Following the war the United States and the Soviet Union were in the best shape.
    1. The US produced 50% of the world’s manufactured goods.
    2. The Soviet Union had suffered (approx. 34 million dead) during the war, but due to its size was still a formidable foe.
    3. Harry Truman as President – The country had low expectations of Truman’s capabilities, but he was willing to make a decision and did not “pass the buck”.
    4. Joseph Stalin was still dictator of the Soviet Union – he sought a “sphere of influence” around the S.U.
  2. The United Nations – direct descendant of the League of Nations
    1. 50 nations met in San Francisco to create the United Nations
    2. Two branches were formed

                                                               i.      The Security Council – made up of 5 permanent members (U.S., Britain, Soviet Union, France, and China), and 6 elected members from the general assembly.  These nations had veto power over any proposal.

                                                             ii.      The General Assembly – made up from the rest of the member nations.  Could discuss and vote, but did not have veto power.

                                                            iii.      International Monetary Fund – its goal was to create a world monetary system – would allow member nations to borrow from and invest in member nations.

                                                           iv.      International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) – designed to help develop poorer nations around the world.

  1. Start of the Cold War
    1. The Soviet Union was concerned with keeping its borders safe and under control.
    2. Great Britain and the US were afraid of expansion of Soviet power and territory
    3. The Soviet Union signed treaties giving them control of Eastern Europe – in return they would give control of Japan to the US.
    4. Stalin thought that liberated countries would be grateful to the S.U. and vote in Communist leadership – when Hungary voted against the Communists – Stalin seized power there
    5. Winston Churchill coins the term “iron curtain” in a speech in Missouri – he was warning the world against the expansionist desire of the Soviets.
    6. Most of the west misread Stalin – when confronted he would back down, when left alone he moved ahead.
    7. The west practiced a form of appeasement with Stalin by not confronting him over Poland, Hungary, or Czechoslovakia.
  2. The Truman Doctrine and Containment
    1. Great Britain could no longer support Greece or Turkey. Truman decided to give aid to both countries. He stated “it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures”.  He convinced Congress to give $400 million aid over 15 months.
    2. Containment – Keenan wrote that the Soviets were like a fluid stream, filling up any area where permitted. He proposed that we must contain Soviet expansion tendencies anywhere in the world.
    3. Truman created the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Central Intelligence Agency to provide security for the nation.
    4. Marshall Plan – Most European nations were suffering following the war.  General Marshall proposed that the US should help reduce the poverty and hunger of Europe, allowing the nations to recover.  The US provided $13 Billion in aid from 1945-1949
    5. Stalin tries to remove dissent from Eastern Europe – trials, confessions, and executions remove those who are felt to be disloyal.
    6. The Soviet Union cuts off West Berlin from the rest of Germany to force the west out of East Germany.  The west responds with an 11-month airlift of supplies.  The Soviets eventually back down and re-open Berlin.
    7. NATO – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is formed to protect Western Europe from the Soviets – if one is attacked, all will respond. (Members are: US, Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Luxembourg, Iceland, and Canada.  Greece, Turkey West Germany, and Spain soon join)
    8. The Soviet held nations respond in kind with the Warsaw Pact.
  3. Truman at home
    1. Truman felt he must continue FDR’s program of the New Deal.
    2. US economists feared inflation and unemployment following the war.  Unemployment failed to materialize, as people were very willing to spend what had been saved during the war. Inflation rose by 25% in 1946, but as supply caught up with demand (production rose) prices stabilized.
    3. G.I. Bill – rewarded veterans for their service (we learned from WWI’s failure) immediately by offering them loans for homes, free college tuition, and unemployment compensation.
    4. Midterm election – Republicans took control of the House and Senate.  This conservative Congress removed many New Deal programs. 

                                                               i.      Taft-Hartley Bill – Outlawed the closed union shop, and forced a “cooling-off” period before a strike could occur.

                                                             ii.      Twenty second Amendment – limited the Presidency to two terms.

    1. Election of 1948

                                                               i.      Everyone assumed that Truman would lose the Presidency (Republican slogans included “To err is Truman”, and “Had enough?”

                                                             ii.      Republicans nominated Thomas Dewey (NY Gov.)

                                                            iii.      Democrats stayed with Truman (after some debate).  Truman vowed to remain liberal and continue New Deal type programs

                                                           iv.      The American Communist Party felt Truman wasn’t liberal enough and nominated Henry Wallace

                                                             v.      Southern Democrats who did not like Truman’s anti segregation policies nominated Strom Thurmond as the States Rights Party (nicknamed Dixiecrats).

                                                           vi.      Truman campaigned as “Give ‘em hell Harry” across the country.  He felt he could win by blaming Congress as the “do-nothing Congress”.

                                                          vii.      Public opinion polls forecast a Republican landslide – they were wrong (as was the Chicago Sun)

                                                        viii.      Truman won by 2 million popular votes and 117 electoral votes

                                                           ix.      He began his “Fair Deal” program – among other things he ended segregation in the armed forces.

  1. Korean War
    1. In 1949 the Soviets had tested an atomic bomb; we started work on the hydrogen bomb, and the race was on
    2. Following WWII the Korean Peninsula had been split into 2 parts on the 38th parallel.  The Soviets held the North and the US controlled the South.  Both set up governments.  Kim Il-Sung asked permission from the Soviets and then attacked South Korea in June 1945.
    3. Truman felt that if the US did not respond other nations would fall to the Communists.  He sent General MacArthur to defend South Korea, and asked the United Nations to hear the matter.  The Soviets boycotted the UN meeting and the UN authorized the use of force against North Korea.
    4. War was never declared or approved by Congress – Truman declared the fighting a “UN Police Action”.
    5. By early September the UN troops had been pushed back into the SE corner of S Korea.
    6. MacArthur counterattacked at Inchon on Sept. 27 and forced the Communists back to the 38th parallel.
    7. China warned the US if it pushed the attack into N. Korea it would counter-attack, MacArthur thought they were bluffing and pushed into N. Korea on November 24.  On November 26 the Chinese counterattacked and moved into S Korea.
    8. MacArthur felt that all-out war should be pursued and publicly stated that the atomic bomb should be dropped on China (killing the peace talks that were ongoing)
    9. Truman wanted a war with the limited goal of stopping Communist expansion – MacArthur disagreed often and very vocally.  Truman fired MacArthur for insubordination. 
    10. Most Americans supported MacArthur, and a Congressional committee was formed to look into Truman’s actions.
    11. The UN force pushed the Chinese and N Koreans back to the 38th parallel.  A peace treaty was signed setting up new borders for N and S Korea that were virtually identical to where they were before the war.\
  2. McCarthyism
    1. Senate Joe McCarthy from Wisconsin said that Communism was spreading in the US.  He stated that he had lists naming known Communists in Government employ.
    2. McCarthy never proved there were any Communists in the US gov’t but thousands of people in many industries across the country were accused of being Communist sympathizers.
    3. Congress passed the McCarran Internal Security Act over Truman’s veto, as well as the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.  These set up a national-origins quota system, and permitted the Subversive Activities Control Board to investigate accused Communists.