The Beginning of the Cold War

New and Dangerous Enemies

Truman’s Domestic Truman’s Domestic PolicyPolicy Succeeds to presidency after FDR’s deathSucceeds to presidency after FDR’s death

Inherits WWII, Atomic weapons program, Inherits WWII, Atomic weapons program, and emerging Cold War tensionsand emerging Cold War tensions

Key Challenges:Key Challenges:– Restructure MilitaryRestructure Military

Bring 10 million troops homeBring 10 million troops home Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (44) will provide Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (44) will provide

college tuition, home and business loanscollege tuition, home and business loans National Security Act (47) National Security Act (47)

– Department of Defense replaces War Dept.Department of Defense replaces War Dept.– National Security CouncilNational Security Council– Central Intelligence AgencyCentral Intelligence Agency

Truman’s Key ChallengesTruman’s Key Challenges EconomyEconomy

– Fears of postwar depression did not Fears of postwar depression did not materializematerialize

– People ready to buy after wartime shortagesPeople ready to buy after wartime shortages Demand outpaced supply – prices jumpedDemand outpaced supply – prices jumped Employment & production upEmployment & production up

– US had to convert from wartime to peacetime US had to convert from wartime to peacetime economyeconomy

Provide jobs for vets, meet consumer needs, Provide jobs for vets, meet consumer needs, control inflationcontrol inflation

Employment Act (1946) Employment Act (1946) – to prevent depression– to prevent depression

– Council of Economic AdvisorsCouncil of Economic Advisors formed to formed to advise prezadvise prez

Truman’s Key ChallengesTruman’s Key Challenges LaborLabor

– Wages did not rise with pricesWages did not rise with prices– Several major strikes (steel, coal, Several major strikes (steel, coal,

railroads)railroads) Truman takes hard-line & seizes mines – Truman takes hard-line & seizes mines –

threatens to seize railroads & draft workers threatens to seize railroads & draft workers into armyinto army

Unions back downUnions back down

– Congress moved to curb unions Congress moved to curb unions Passed Taft-Hartley Act over Truman’s vetoPassed Taft-Hartley Act over Truman’s veto

– No closed shopsNo closed shops– Union officials had to take loyalty oathUnion officials had to take loyalty oath– Prez could delay a strike that threatened natl. Prez could delay a strike that threatened natl.

safetysafety

1940s Civil Rights1940s Civil Rights Truman a champion of civil rightsTruman a champion of civil rights – looked – looked

to end racismto end racism– Asked black leaders for their top prioritiesAsked black leaders for their top priorities

Federal anti-lynching lawFederal anti-lynching law Elimination of poll taxElimination of poll tax Permanent Fair Employment Practice CommissionPermanent Fair Employment Practice Commission

– Repub. dominated Congress refused to pass billsRepub. dominated Congress refused to pass bills– Truman (1946) appointed Truman (1946) appointed biracial Committee on biracial Committee on

Civil RightsCivil Rights Report – Report – “To Secure These Rights”“To Secure These Rights” Recommendations sent to Congress – did nothingRecommendations sent to Congress – did nothing

– Truman had limited civil rights successTruman had limited civil rights success Jackie RobinsonJackie Robinson broke color barrier in MLB broke color barrier in MLB

(1947) - Dodgers(1947) - Dodgers– Earned respect with his skill – 1949 NL MVPEarned respect with his skill – 1949 NL MVP– 1st African American in Hall of Fame1st African American in Hall of Fame– Other teams soon sign black playersOther teams soon sign black players

Truman elected in 1948Truman elected in 1948 Running for first elected termRunning for first elected term A largely unexpected win for A largely unexpected win for

TrumanTruman Republican Thomas Dewey Republican Thomas Dewey

the frontrunner and expected the frontrunner and expected winnerwinner Dewey out-campaigned by Dewey out-campaigned by

TrumanTruman Chicago Tribune erroneously Chicago Tribune erroneously

calls Dewey the victor in a close calls Dewey the victor in a close racerace

The United NationsThe United Nations

Formed in San Francisco 1945Formed in San Francisco 1945– Security Council (5 perm. members w/ veto Security Council (5 perm. members w/ veto

power + 6 rotating)power + 6 rotating) U.S., U.S.S.R., Britain, France, ChinaU.S., U.S.S.R., Britain, France, China

– General Assembly of member nationsGeneral Assembly of member nations U.S. joins – near unanimous Senate ratificationU.S. joins – near unanimous Senate ratification

Meant to be a stronger version of old Meant to be a stronger version of old League of NationsLeague of Nations

– Would head off future wars through diplomacyWould head off future wars through diplomacy

Cold War: DefinitionCold War: Definition A state of political tension and A state of political tension and

military rivalry between nations military rivalry between nations (US & USSR) that stops short of (US & USSR) that stops short of full-scale war.full-scale war.

Cold War developed between the 2 Cold War developed between the 2 most powerful postwar countries most powerful postwar countries (US & USSR)(US & USSR)

Both tried to spread their influenceBoth tried to spread their influence Formed alliancesFormed alliances carried on arms racecarried on arms race supported opposing sides in warssupported opposing sides in wars

Soviet distrust of the WestSoviet distrust of the WestLongstanding distrust of West leads Longstanding distrust of West leads Soviets to set up “satellite” countries in Soviets to set up “satellite” countries in Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

– to secure Soviet borders and promote to secure Soviet borders and promote communism elsewherecommunism elsewhere

– Stalin promised democratic elections in those Stalin promised democratic elections in those countries but broke pledgecountries but broke pledge

– Red Army occupied countries insteadRed Army occupied countries insteadChurchill – Churchill – “An iron curtain has descended across “An iron curtain has descended across the continent”the continent”

Truman DoctrineTruman Doctrine U.S. would contain Soviet expansion and U.S. would contain Soviet expansion and

would use economic and military would use economic and military resources to help the “free peoples” of resources to help the “free peoples” of Europe resist communist aggression, Europe resist communist aggression, whether by direct attack or subversionwhether by direct attack or subversion

George Kennen’s Containment PolicyGeorge Kennen’s Containment Policy Controversial – how could US respond to all?Controversial – how could US respond to all? A possible answer…$$$$$$$$$$$$$$A possible answer…$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

– US pumped financial support to Greece and Turkey to US pumped financial support to Greece and Turkey to head off Communist influence and win loyaltyhead off Communist influence and win loyalty

Marshall Plan (1947) [In place 1948-51]

• Economic aid to Western Europe– Countries ravaged by years of war

• People suffering

– Sec. of State George Marshall offers aid to any European nations that want it – including Soviets

• Soviets decline, calling it an anti-Soviet plot

• 16 nations accept aid

– Congress debated issue for months – very expensive for U.S. (billions of dollars)

• Soviet take-over of Czechoslovakia in Feb. 1948 convinces Congress that the Marshall Plan is necessary

Effect of Marshall Plan• Marshall Plan very successful

economically & politically– Promoted strong economic recovery– Spurred cooperative economic enterprises

among Western European countries– Promoted political stability

• Better conditions = weaker communist parties in Western Europe

– Strengthens U.S. influence in Europe– U.S. industry benefits

Bretton Woods Conference

• Reps from 44 nations met at Bretton Woods, NH

– International Monetary Fund established 1944

– IMF set up World Bank to promote economic development

– U.S. Dollar becomes standard by which international currency is measured

Division of Germany• Following WWII, Germany occupied by U.S., GB,

FR, USSR• Soviets wanted weak Germany• Western powers wanted stable Germany They

combine their 3 zones (1948)• Aim to form an independent West Germany

• Soviets respond – cut off all ground routes through Soviet zone to Berlin – the Berlin Blockade

• 2 million pro-Western Berliners isolated in W. Berlin• West responds with Berlin Airlift

• supply West Berliners with food, fuel, etc.• “Operation Vittles”• 327 straight days of RTC flights – 277K flights

• Defenseless cargo planes protected by threat of retaliatory atomic attack

• Soviets lift blockade – May 1949

1949 – a rough year!1949 – a rough year! East and West Germany formedEast and West Germany formed NATO formed – Soviets form Warsaw Pact NATO formed – Soviets form Warsaw Pact Fall of China to CommunismFall of China to Communism

Chiang flees to Taiwan (Formosa)Chiang flees to Taiwan (Formosa) Mao leads People’s Republic of ChinaMao leads People’s Republic of China Truman accused of “losing China”Truman accused of “losing China”

Soviets successfully test a-bombSoviets successfully test a-bomb Nuclear arms race beginsNuclear arms race begins

Sparks greater fear of Communism in U.S.Sparks greater fear of Communism in U.S.

Korean War• First “hot war” of the Cold War• Korea divided N & S after WWII at 38th

Parallel• North Communist

• Leader - Kim Il Sung – Capitol -Pyongyang

• South Capitalist• Leader - Syngman Rhee – Capitol – Seoul

• North invades South in effort to unify under Communism June 25, 1950• Supported by USSR and Comm. China

US Response to N. Korea• Immediately appeals to U.N.• Security Council (Soviets abstained) vote to

send troops under U.S. leadership• Douglas MacArthur

• War fought to a stalemate at 38th Parallel after back and forth struggle• China sent in troops when U.S. neared Yalu

River (border between N. K. and China

• MacArthur relieved by Truman after dispute over course of war• Mac. wanted to invade China with nukes!

Truman, Korea, and Limited War

• Truman not interested in a larger war in Korea• Simple looking to push N. K out of S.K.

• War lasts for 3 years• Nearly 55K U.S. deaths• 1952 presidential election served as a referendum on

the war – Eisenhower wins after vowing to end the war• Armistice signed in 1953

• “Limited War” reigns – war ends as a stalemate• N & S Korea remain divided today

Election of 1952Election of 1952 Eisenhower (R) vs. Stevenson (D)Eisenhower (R) vs. Stevenson (D)

Eisenhower’s running mate for VP – Eisenhower’s running mate for VP – Senator Richard Nixon (R-CA)Senator Richard Nixon (R-CA)

Checkers SpeechCheckers Speech People unhappy w/ how Korean War was People unhappy w/ how Korean War was

dragging ondragging on Ike promised to go to Korea and find a way to end Ike promised to go to Korea and find a way to end

the warthe war Eisenhower wonEisenhower won w/ 55.1% of vote – Reps. w/ 55.1% of vote – Reps.

back in White House after 20 yrs.back in White House after 20 yrs. Americans experienced prosperous years during Americans experienced prosperous years during

Eisenhower’s 2 termsEisenhower’s 2 terms No great changes from what previous No great changes from what previous

administrations were doingadministrations were doing Ike’s program called Ike’s program called “Dynamic “Dynamic

ConservatismConservatism

EisenhowerEisenhower

War hero & anti-Communist War hero & anti-Communist Eisenhower won 442-89 w/ 55% of Eisenhower won 442-89 w/ 55% of pop. votepop. vote

In campaign, accused Dems. of being In campaign, accused Dems. of being soft on communism and tolerating soft on communism and tolerating corruption in D.C.corruption in D.C.

““I am going to clean up the mess in I am going to clean up the mess in Washington”Washington”

If elected, he promised to go to Korea to If elected, he promised to go to Korea to

end the stalemate in that cold war conflictend the stalemate in that cold war conflict

Massive Retaliation and Massive Retaliation and BrinksmanshipBrinksmanship

Sec. of State John Foster Dulles - Sec. of State John Foster Dulles - hardline anti-Communisthardline anti-Communist

Proposed policy of massive retaliationProposed policy of massive retaliation Use all of force, including nukes, if attackedUse all of force, including nukes, if attacked Discouraging aggression with threat of massive Discouraging aggression with threat of massive

response known as brinksmanship – being response known as brinksmanship – being prepared to go to the brink of war to achieve prepared to go to the brink of war to achieve objectivesobjectives

Makes US dependent on stockpiling nuclear weaponsMakes US dependent on stockpiling nuclear weapons Reduces effectiveness of limited warReduces effectiveness of limited war

Example - Soviet attack on Hungary (1956)Example - Soviet attack on Hungary (1956) Hungarians tried to shake off Soviet dominationHungarians tried to shake off Soviet domination Soviets attacked HungarySoviets attacked Hungary US took no military action - wouldn't risk nuke war US took no military action - wouldn't risk nuke war

over itover it Uprising crushed with brutal forceUprising crushed with brutal force

The New Red ScareThe New Red Scare Fear of subversion (undermining govt.)Fear of subversion (undermining govt.)

– Loyalty checks of govt. employeesLoyalty checks of govt. employees Spy casesSpy cases

– Alger Hiss – U.S. State Dept. official accused Alger Hiss – U.S. State Dept. official accused of passing secrets to Communist Party (case of passing secrets to Communist Party (case lasted from 1948-50)lasted from 1948-50)

Accused by Whitaker Chambers – confessed Soviet Accused by Whitaker Chambers – confessed Soviet agent and an editor at agent and an editor at TimeTime magazine magazine

sentenced to 5 years for perjury – lying to House sentenced to 5 years for perjury – lying to House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

– Richard Nixon participated in House investigationRichard Nixon participated in House investigation

– Julius & Ethel Rosenberg – Comm. Party Julius & Ethel Rosenberg – Comm. Party activistsactivists

Convicted of passing a-bomb secrets (1951)Convicted of passing a-bomb secrets (1951) Public protests & appeals to Sup. Ct. failedPublic protests & appeals to Sup. Ct. failed Executed in electric chair - 1953Executed in electric chair - 1953

McCarthyismMcCarthyism Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy (R)Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy (R)

– Reckless anti-Communist crusader – no one safe Reckless anti-Communist crusader – no one safe from accusationsfrom accusations

– McCarthy claimed to have list of 205 McCarthy claimed to have list of 205 communists who worked in State Dept. (never communists who worked in State Dept. (never proven)proven)

Later alleged that govt. agencies and even presidential Later alleged that govt. agencies and even presidential administrations were infiltrated by communistsadministrations were infiltrated by communists

He called those who took issue w/ his attacks disloyalHe called those who took issue w/ his attacks disloyal– Even accused U.S. Army of spyingEven accused U.S. Army of spying

– Televised hearings on the issue revealed to 20 Televised hearings on the issue revealed to 20 million viewers the bullying tactics of McCarthymillion viewers the bullying tactics of McCarthy

Censured by Senate (Dec. 1954) – for conduct Censured by Senate (Dec. 1954) – for conduct “unbecoming a member of the United States Senate.”“unbecoming a member of the United States Senate.”

McCarthy’s influence destroyedMcCarthy’s influence destroyed McCarthy symbolic of the new Red Scare – people McCarthy symbolic of the new Red Scare – people

afraid of communism and the “Evil Empire”afraid of communism and the “Evil Empire”

Impact of Early Cold WarImpact of Early Cold War

Red scare Red scare Arms raceArms raceTense relations with USSRTense relations with USSR Increasing anxiety among Americans that Increasing anxiety among Americans that

a new and deadlier conflict would happen a new and deadlier conflict would happen in their lifetimein their lifetime

Cold War tensions make their way into Cold War tensions make their way into American culture (literature, films, etc.)American culture (literature, films, etc.)