Setting Up for the Cold War

CHAPTER 17

POST WORLD WAR II WORLD

• Yalta Conference

• February 1945 – Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin

• Peacekeeping organization, support newly freed nations

• Stalin agrees to support and keep peace

• April 12, 1945 – FDR dies; Truman steps in

• Poland was a buffer

• Stalin – no free elections

• Potsdam Conference – July 1945

• Churchill, Truman, Stalin – divide Germany into 4 areas controlled by:

• Great Britain, France, Soviet Union, United States

• United Nations – 1944

• Meet in Washington, D.C.

• Wrote a plan to keep and promote world peace

• 1945 – unanimous vote; approved

• Nuremberg Trials

• November 1945 – trials of high-ranking Nazi officers

• Sentences imposed by tribunal (panel of judges)

• 19 found guilty12 were sentenced to death (most by hanging)

• Adolf Hitler committed suicide April 30, 1945

• Could NOT use defense: “Following Orders”

Hermann Göring

• International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE) – “Tokyo Trials” – April 1946

• Hideki Tojo executed by hanging

• 28 high-ranking charged

• More than 5,700 lower-ranking personnel – separate trials

Tojo after suicide attempt

• UN Partition Plan for Palestine

• 1947 – 2 states: one was Arab, one was Jewish

• May 1948 – Israel created

• US recognized independence, Arab nation did not

• Israel vs. Arab state warred

• Peace treaty – signed 1949

• Jews now have a homeland – 1 million Palestinian Arabs were refugees

• Tensions high between US and Soviet Union

• US wanted Germany free

• Soviets disagreed – a free Germany would invade

• “Communist Satellite States”

• “Protecting borders” with

• terror & violence

• Churchill warned Truman of Soviet threat

• Stalin wants toprotect/increase his power

ROOTS OF THE COLD WAR

Communism1. Collective ownership of property

2. Organization of labor for the common advantage of all

3. Equal distribution of wealth

POSITIVES NEGATIVES

• US: democracy, free enterprise, free markets, free elections

• SU: communist, central government, planned economy

• Increased involvement in world affairs

• World feared spread of communism

• 1946 – Greek monarchy overthrown by Yugoslavian communist rebels

• US thought they were from Soviet Union

• 1947 – Truman Doctrine – economic aid to support fight against communism

• $400 million to Greece & Turkey = defeat of rebels

• World economy was terrible after WWII

• George C. Marshall – Secretary of State 1947

• Argued: Europe’s economic recovery necessary for world peace

• Marshall Plan – “friendly aid” to rebuild Europe

• $13 billion – 1948-1957

• Soviet Union refused aid

• Containment – prevent spread of communism

• US defense strategy / Soviet Union offense strategy

• US follows this for 30 years

Post-War Division of Germany

• June 1948 – Soviet blockade all highways, railways, etc.

• Fear of united Germany

• Berlin Airlift: US and GB flew food, fuel and other goods – aided 2 million people

• 321 days, Soviets lifted blockade to avoid war

• October 1949 – Germany divided into 2 nations

• Federal Republic of Germany – West Germany (W. Europe/US)

• German Democratic Republic – East Germany (S. Union)

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

• Collective defense, mutual response to attacks

• Warsaw Pact

• Soviet Union and Soviet controlled states as defense of NATO

TRUMAN ERA

• GI Bill of Rights (Servicemen’s Readjustment Act) – offered veterans benefits such as affordable housing, financial aid towards attending college (FDR signed – 1944)

• Labor Unrest – end of rationing, prices skyrocket

• United Mine Workers (UMW) – 1946

• 400,000 workers strike – Truman couldn’t reach settlement; mines under gov’t control

• UMW President John L. Lewis called for second strike

• Tried for contempt – fined $3 million – ended strike

• Taft-Hartley Act – restricts activity and power of labor unions

• Truman vetoes – Congress overrides veto

• 1948 Election – unrest over Truman’s abilities

• 1946 – Republican Congress – 1st in 18 years

• Republican candidate: NY Governor Thomas Dewey

• Dixiecrats – southern democrats who seceded from Dem. party to support segregation

• Public opinion favored Dewey – Truman won in stunning victory

• Won union votes for vetoing Taft-Hartley bill

• Won African American votes with support for civil rights

• Many Dixiecrats switched to Truman to avoid Dewey win

• Recovery of economy was important

• Fair Deal – intended to provide full employment; higher min. wage;affordable housing; soc. sec. benefits, nat’l health insurance; aid for farmers

• Post-War Boom!

KOREAN WAR

• China

• Communist under Mao Zedong

• Concerns over joining Soviet forces

• Japan

• US forces occupied Japan – US-style constitution

• Japan not allowed to fight in any war

• Korea

• 1910-1945 controlled by Japan

• Allies divided Korean peninsula – although union would be optimal (Soviets against)

• 38th Parallel – line of latitude separating North and South Korea

• South Korea – US

• North Korea – Soviet Union

• US and Soviets leave Korea

• North crossed border

• UN calls for cease-fire – North ignores

• To avoid spread of communism – UN advises action needed

• June 1950 – UN calls to support South Korea

• MacArthur goes to Korea to assess – reported S. Korea needs troops

• Surprise attack from behind enemy lines – pushes North out of South

• Forces North back towards Chinese border; China joins North – launches counter attack – BRUTAL push back over 38th parallel

• MacArthur calls for atomic bomb – Truman refuses

• 1951 – UN offensive pushes Chinese and N. Koreans behind line – STANDSTILL

• MacArthur called for atomic bomb – Truman refused

• MacArthur publicly criticizes the President

• Truman relieves MacArthur of duty - Speech

• Election of 1952 - Truman decided not to run for re-election

• Democrat: Adlai Stevenson / VP: John Sparkman

• Republican: Dwight D. Eisenhower / VP: Richard Nixon

• Nixon faced backlash – Checkers Speech

• Public support – secured place on ticket

• Eisenhower wins with 55% popular vote

• Before taking office Eisenhower visits Korea for peace talks

• Hints at use of atomic bomb if conflict continues

• 1953 – Joseph Stalin died

• Soviets pushed for end of war – peace moves forward – fighting still continued

• July 27, 1953 – two sided cease-fire signed; Korea split again at 38 th Parallel

• UN saw peace – North and South Korea saw “truce”

• DMZ – a narrow demilitarized zone established

• 1000’s of troops continue to face one another

ADDING TO COLD WAR FEARS

• Fear of communism

• Growth of US Communist Party

• Hollywood produces over 40 anticommunist films

• Combination of new technology and fear of communism

• 1938 – House Un-American Committee (HUAC)

• Disloyalty and harmful foreign influences

• Public hearings of suspected in Hollywood – none found - Blacklists created

• Loyalty Review Board – looked into backgrounds of federal workers – failed to find Communists

• Internal Security Act – suspected must register with gov’t

• gave right to arrest anyone suspected

• 1948 – Alger Hiss (former State Dept. Officer) accused

• Hiss denies claims – found guilty – serves 5 years

• 1951 – Julius and Ethel Rosenberg – tried for spying

• US divided: hype over “red scare” or communist spy ring

• Rosenbergs executed June 1953

• Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy

• Blamed spread of communism on government traitors

• Accused military

• Refused to provide names

• McCarthyism – making serious accusations without providing proof

• Army McCarthy Hearings

• McCarthy’s downfall