The Origins of the Cold War, 1945-53 Outline Definition Europe z Early Cold War America z Asia z z
Learning Objectives: z z
Understand the causes of the Cold War Identify early Cold War flashpoints
Definition z
Conflict between US and USSR
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Financed and assisted their factions in smaller countries
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Rather than fighting one another directly
Source of Tensions Atlantic Charter, 1941 z z
Self-determination for rebuilding of Europe Spheres of influence
Casablanca – January 1943 z
Stalin a “no show”
Teheran – November 1943 z z
Second front within 6 months Soviets to declare war on Japan
Wartime diplomacy Teheran (continued) z
Status of Poland z
Two Polish governments in exile
Yalta – February 1945 z z
United Nations Security Council z
China, France, Great Britain, Soviet Union, USA
More wartime diplomacy Occupied Poland now pro-communist USA took no action z Germany z z
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4 zones of occupation Berlin – 4 zones
Potsdam z
Concedes Poland
Partition of Germany
China Chiang Kai-shek z
Corrupt and unpopular
Mao Zedong z
Popular backing
Civil War in 1940s z z
US supports Chiang Anxious to rebuild Japan as pro-western
Containment z
The Truman doctrine US had the right to intervene in and prevent Communist takeovers of other nations z Financial assistance z
The Marshall Plan z z
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5 June 1947 Loans and grants to western European nations Reconstruction Promote foreign trade Maintain capitalist economies 16 applicants, 12 billion dollars
Mobilization of Home Front Selective Service Atomic research up Atomic Energy Commission National Security Act of 1947 z z
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Defense National Security Council Redefined CIA
The Berlin Crisis December 1946 US, UK, French occupation zones merged z Common currency introduced June 1948 z 24 June 1948 Stalin blockaded West Berlin z Air Lift of essentials for 10 months z z
West Berliners await airlift, 1949
End of blockade z
Blockade lifted May 1949
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Federal Republic of Germany z
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West Germany
German Democratic Republic z
East Germany
Fall out of blockade z
April 1949
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North Atlantic Treaties Organization (NATO)
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May 1955
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Soviets formed Warsaw Pact
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Soviets have atomic bomb
In the meantime . . . 1949 Soviets produce atomic bomb Chiang Kai-shek regime collapses Mao Zedong Mainland China Taiwan
Mao Ze Dong
On the domestic side . . . Truman’s 21 points – the Fair Deal Expands Social Security Minimum wage to 65 cents z Fair Employment Practices Act z Public housing, slum clearance z Scientific research z Nationalization of atomic energy z National health insurance z z
But . . . Republican congress in 1946 wanted to reduce spending, Truman got full employment Employment Act of 1946
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Council of Economic Advisors to assist president No new powers Wage and price controls removed Inflation soars and shortages of meat, housing, cars continue
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Cuts
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Demand drives prices up Education Social security Public works Taxes for the wealthy, not middle class Truman vetoes
Labor and Women Labor stronger than ever z z
14.5 million members Wages had been frozen and end of overtime meant 30% pay cut
Women z z
Many wanted to keep working Now relegated to lower paying light industry or service jobs
Economy survives By 1947 worst is over Defense spending 38 billion dollars in aid used for US goods z Soaring birthrate z Servicemen’s Readjustment Act z z
GI Bill 1944 z 16 million vets get training, unemployment, cheap loans z z
1948 Election Dixiecrats States Rights Strom Thurmond Left Wing Democrats z z
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Henry A. Wallace
Campaign skills Whistle stops Support for foreign policy Fondness for New Deal Booming economy
Congressional concessions Minimum wage – 75 cents Social Security expanded National Housing Act 1949 z
Low income units – 350,000 over 15 years
Civil Rights – defeated No discrimination in federal hiring z Justice investigates Civil Rights violations z
McCarran-Walter Act 1952 Ends ban on z
Asian immigration and citizenship
Kept quota system
McCarthyism and HUAC z
McCarthyism z
Senator Joe McCarthy (R), WI
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House un-American Activities Committee -1948
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Political ploy
Senator Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn
HUAC activities Hollywood State Department Alger Hiss z z
Jailed for perjury Served 4 years
Goes on for 10 years z z
Refusal to testify meant guilt Being singled out meant job loss and public ostracism
Army z
Televised in April 1954
Affluence 1945-1960 GNP up 250% Unemployment less than 5% z Inflation 3% or less z Spending z z
Highways Defense z Korean War z z
Growth Baby boom z
20%
Suburbs William Levitt z
Mass produced homes
Consumption Credit purchases up 800% Credit cards, charge accounts Car culture Auto ownership up 400% 1950-1980 Federal Highway Act of 1956 z
Motels z z z
Holiday Inn in Nashville 1952 Drive-ins MacDonald’s - 1955
Technology Television 1946 – 17,000 sets 1957 – over 40 million z TV news replaces other sources z Altered professional/college sports z Reinforced national ideals z z
Dishwashers, Garbage disposals Washers and dryers
Consensus culture Containment – political term Consensus – national culture Competitive capitalistic growth, abundance Historic qualities of Americans z Indications of American supremacy z z
Innovations Antibiotics z z z
Pesticides
Penicillin 1928 Widespread 1948-50
Vaccines z z z z
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Electronics z
1940s – TV Transistor – 1948
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Intelligent circuitry
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Smallpox Typhoid Yellow Fever Polio - 1954
DDT Toxic
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Mini everything Leads to computers
Computers UNIVAC Census Bureau by Remington rand Co. Used audiotape z Election predictions in 1952 z z
IBM z
First data processing computers marketed
Military Hydrogen Bomb 1952 Soviet Union in 1953 z Fusion of atoms, not splitting z Need for better rockets z Research done by Air Force z z
Minutemen Polaris
Space Program Sputnik z z
1957 Soviet success
NASA z
1958
Mercury z
1962 – John Glenn
Truman got approval to rearm West Germany Committed troops to NATO Military spending up z z
14 billion in 1950 50 billion in 1953
Korean War
Korea Japanese control 1904 til end of WW2 Divided at 38th parallel South Korea – Korean Democratic Party Syngman Rhee z North- People’s Republic of North Korea z Kim Il-sung z z
Korean War z
Causes z z
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Course
June 1950 90,000 North Koreans invaded South Korea June 30 – US troops committed under MacArthur
Effects z z z
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Integrated armed forces Partition American troop presence z
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Poorly trained and equipped Regained 38th parallel MacArthur goes North Contrary to order, troops go within 40 miles of Chinese border 150,000 Chinese enter Seoul lost 12/50 Matthew B. Ridgway z
8th army
Congress not asked to declare war
36,000 dead; 100,000 wounded
Election of 1952 Eisenhower/Nixon Issues z z
Korean War Anti-Communism
55% of popular vote Republican majority in congress (barely)
The Eisenhower Years 1953-1961 Civil Rights Foreign Policy Vietnam z Iran z
