Cold War Notes

Origins of the Cold War

Former Allies Clash

• Although the Soviet Union and the US fought on the same side during WWII they had very different political systems and resented each other.
• USSR – Communism/US – Democratic Republic
• USSR mad we didn’t recognize their country until 16 years after revolution
• US mad Stalin signed non-aggression pact with Hitler
• USSR mad US didn’t share Atomic Bomb info with them
• Although UN supposed to keep peace it would become a forum for two countries to try and influence other nations
• United Nations
• Headquarters built in New York City
• June 26, 1945 50 nations signed charter to establish it

Truman Become Pres.

• Truman becomes president near the end of WWII when FDR dies
• Was only VP for 82 days – formerly was a Senator
• FDR did not inform him about most issues including the Manhattan Project
• Many Americans doubted him because he was so different from FDR

Potsdam Conference

• Last wartime meeting of the BIG THREE (US, Britain, USSR)
• Participates were different than at Yalta Conference (Truman for FDR and Clement Atlee replaced Churchill when his political party won election)
• At Yalta the US and Britain had insisted USSR allow free and open elections in Poland and other Eastern European countries – Stalin Agreed
• In 1945 Stalin refused to allow this to happen – little the West could do

Tension Mounts

• Truman believed the only way to prevent WWIII was to create a new world order where all nations had the right to self-determination through free elections
• Stalin wanted to strip Germany of its industries to rebuild the USSR
• US and Britain opposed this demand BUT agreed that each country could take reparations from the part of Germany it occupied
• The US did not see destruction within the US border.  Thus our economy was booming.  We needed raw materials and wanted to sell goods to Eastern Europe.
• The USSR had lost 20 million in WWII and wanted protection from the west.  If the countries were communist, they would serve as a buffer for any future wars.
• USSR created satellite nations (communist countries dependent on USSR)
• In 1946 Stalin gave a speech – the USSR would only produce war materials not consumer goods because communism and capitalism were incompatible.  
• The US interpreted this speech as a declaration of war

Containment

• In Feb. 1946 the US proposed a policy of containment – preventing communism from spreading further
• Stalin views this policy as a call for war

COLD WAR

• Hostility between the US and the USSR that never resulted in military action
• Last until the breakup of the USSR in 1991
• During cold war both tried to spread their ideal of political superiority

Truman Doctrine

• The US would support any free country with economic and military aid threatened by internal or external opponents
• It first aided Greece and Turkey from communistic invasion

Marshall Plan

• In 1947 the US gave economic aid to European countries to help them rebuild after WWII
• After WWII many countries were put into situations worse than the depression – even in Britain electricity was limited to a few hours a day and food was rationed worse than during war
• Some Europeans begin to think maybe Communism with everything equal is the way to go
• Many American opposed giving away 12.5 billion dollars BUT
• In Feb. 1948 Soviet tanks invaded Czechoslovakia and took over the country
• Congress quickly approves plan
• By 1952 the Marshall plan was a huge success – European countries are flourishing and communism had lost its appeal

Germany

• After WWII Germany had been divided into four sections.  By 1948 France, England, and the US wanted to reunite the country because they felt a more stable Germany would be better for Europe. USSR disagreed
• In 1948 the Western part of Germany was reunited
• USSR retaliated by cutting off all highway, water, and rail traffic into Berlin.  Although the city of Berlin was in the USSR portion of German, it too had been divided into four parts.
• Stalin hoped this threat would force the West to give up the idea of reunification
• With 2.1 million German citizens facing starvation the west began the Berlin airlift.  For 327 days the west flew in food, gas, supplies to western Berlin
• By May 1949 the USSR realized in was beat and lifted the blockade
• Also in May 1949 citizens of West Germany approved a constitution and established Bonn as its capital.
• The USSR in turn created East Germany with East Berlin as its capital

NATO

• For fear of Soviet aggression 10 nations in Western Europe along with the US and Canada signed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• If one country was attacked it would be considered an attack on all of them
• For the first time in US history we entered a peacetime alliance

The Cold War heats up

China

• During the late 1930s Chinese Communists and Nationalists worked together against a common enemy (Japan).  
• In the North Mao Zedong lead the Communists
• In the South Chiang Kai-shek lead the Nationalists
• During the war the US gave 3 billion in aid to the Nationalists
• In China peasants were more likely to support Mao because he redistributed land and reduced rent
• As soon as WWII is over the two groups no longer work together and fight for control of the country begins
• Although the US supported the Nationalists by sending 2 billion in aid there was no way to overcome the strong support of Mao with the peasants
• In May 1949 Chiang and his supporters fled to Taiwan
• The American people were shocked and stunned that “containment” failed.  ??Should Truman have given more support?? ??Should we have sent troops not just money??
• Although most Americans understood it was beyond US control many Americans felt that the US was riddled with communist agents.  
• Fear of Communism began to spiral out of control

Korea

• Japan had controlled Korea since 1910
• When Japan lost WWII the northern half became controlled by USSR (38th parallel) southern half US
• The 38th parallel was never supposed to divide the country (Industry – North, Agriculture – South) neither side can serve without the other
• In 1948 The Republic of Korea (South) established a country
• In response the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North) also created as government
• By 1949 both the US and the USSR had removed all troops and left the two governments alone with both claiming they had sole rights to Korea
• On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea starting the Korean War
• Could the US let another country fall to Communism?
• On June 27th 1950 the UN voted to send aid to South Korea (USSR boycotting UN because the UN would not recognize communist China)
• The combined forces were placed under the command of General Douglas MacArthur

Korean War

• At first there seemed to be no stopping North Korea, they moved almost completely through South Korea except for one small defensive zone
• MacArthur launches an attack by placing troops behind enemy lines – which works
• They move North Korean troops back across the 38th parallel – achieved goal of preserving South Korea – NOW WHAT?

• The Dilemma
• If pursued they go on the offensive
• Want a unified Korea – have to continue
• If invade North Korea China has vowed to help so as to not “Let Americans come to the border”
• On October 7, 1950 UN forces – lead by US – invade North Korea
• Although troops push almost all the way to the Yalu River, China responses by sending troops into North Korea
• For two years the two sides battle to control all of Korea but neither can make enough advances
• MacArthur wants to invade China ad use the Atomic Bomb in order to secure a win
• Truman does not want to engage in an Asian War and China had a pact with the USSR – WWIII???
• MacArthur tries to go over Truman’s head by appealing to high Republican leaders to get support
• Truman relieves MacArthur of his position
• Americans are outraged that their “hero” was fired (69% of Americans supported MacArthur)
• Americans will eventually see Truman’s side and support for MacArthur dies down
• On June 23, 1951 USSR suggests a stalemate
• Finally, in 1953 the two sides sign an armistice ending the war

Effects of War

• Still two countries (38th parallel)
• Cost 54,000 American lives
• $20 to $22 billion in expenditures
• Americans reject Democratic Party – elect Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 election

The Cold War at Home

Fear of Communism

• The fear in the US was real considering how many nations had fallen to Communism in Europe and China
• During WWII 80,000 Americans claimed their loyalty to the Communist Party
• In 1945 two State Department workers and a naval intelligence officer had stolen classified documents and passed them to a Communist Magazine
• In the same year a former Soviet embassy clerk came to the US bringing proof that someone leaked secret info about the Atomic Bomb to the USSR
• Some view Truman as too soft – he responses
• Loyalty Review Board
• Purpose – investigate govt. workers and dismiss anyone who was disloyalty
• From 1947 – 1952 3.2 million employees were reviewed
• 212 were released and another 2,900 left because they felt their constitutional rights were being abused
• House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)
• The biggest group that the HUAC probed was Hollywood because during WWII since USSR was our ally some pro-Soviet movies were made, also some people in Hollywood were connected to the Communist and Socialist Parties
• 43 people in the film industry were subpoenaed to testify
• Ten “unfriendly” witnesses decided not to corporate with the committee
• Hollywood Ten were sent to prison in response Hollywood execs instituted a blacklist and about 500 writers, producers, actors, directors had their careers ruined because of Communistic ties

Spy Cases Stun Nation

• Alger Hiss
• In 1948 a former Communist spy, Whittaker Chambers, accused Hiss of spying for the USSR
• To support his charges, he produced microfilm of documents he said were typed on Hiss’s typewriter
• Too many years had passed for the government to charge him with espionage but a jury found him guilty of perjury – for lying about the documents – sent to jail
• Hiss claimed he was innocent and Chambers forged the documents

• Rosenberg’s
• On Sept. 23, 1949 – the USSR exploded an Atomic Bomb
• Most had estimated that it would take 3-5 years for them to figure it out – SPIES?????
• In 1950, a British physicist Klaus Fuchs admitted to giving USSR info about Americas Atomic Bomb
• Implicated in the case were Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
• The Rosenberg’s denied charges against them and pleaded the fifth, when asked about being Communist
• The Rosenberg’s were found guilty and sentenced to death
• Many people felt that the evidence was too weak for the death penalty and asked for clemency
• The case went all the way to the Supreme Court – who refused to overturn the case

Although in 1990 some new evidence came out from the USSR at the time the info was circumstantial and many people felt it was a witch-hunt

McCarthy

• Joseph McCarthy was a senator from Wisconsin.  In his first three years he received the reputation for being ineffective – to get reelected he needed to do something
• Feeding on fear McCarthy began to accuse one person after another WITHOUT any evidence
• McCarthyism – unfair tactic of accusing people of disloyalty without providing evidence
• At various times he claimed to have 57, 81, and 205 communists in the State Department
• He never actually gave a single name!
• Whenever challenged he gave new accusations
• He was careful to only name-call in the Senate where he was immune from slander
• Finally, in 1954 McCarthy spoke out against the US Army – which lead to a national Senate investigation
• McCarthy’s use of bulling casts him public support – Senate condemns him
• McCarthy dies three years later

Two Nations Live on the Edge

U.S Policy

Hydrogen Bomb

• Since 1942 scientists working on the atomic bomb suspected it was possible to create an H-bomb- in which atoms fuse
• Estimates were that the bomb would have the force 67 times the size of the Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
• Most of the scientists opposed making the bomb though for morality issues
• The USSR successful explosion of an atomic bomb took away US nuclear advantage and politicians and military advisors will push for a more powerful weapon
• On Jan. 31, 1950 Truman gave the go ahead to work on the H-bomb and exploded the first one Nov. 1, 1952
• The advantage lasted less than a year – in Aug. 1953 USSR exploded their own
• Brinkmanship
• By now Dwight D. Eisenhower is President – his policy to keep the peace is to promise use of all force including nuclear weapons against any war threat
• Increase of air force and nuclear weapons
• USSR answers this policy with a similar one and also increases weapons building

Cold War worldwide

CIA – Central Intelligence Agency

• WE knew the USSR would use secret operations – we needed to stay on an even level

• One of the first covert mission of the CIA was in the Middle East
• In 1951 Iran’s Prime Minister placed all oil under govt. control
• To protest Western Nations boycott – will Iran turn to USSR for aid
• In 1953 the CIA persuades the shah to replace the Prime Minister – west remains loyal to Iran
• In 1954 CIA takes action in Guatemala – afraid govt. is communist sympathizers
• CIA trains an army who invades country and leader of army becomes the Dictator

Geneva Summit

• In 1953 Stalin dies and tensions seem to lessen
• USSR recognizes West Germany and conclude peace treaties with Austria and Japan
• However, in 1955 when West Germany is allowed to rearm and join NATO the Soviets get scared
• They sign their own alliance system known as the Warsaw Pact
• In July 1955 Eisenhower meets with Soviet leaders in Geneva Swit. to discuss world issues
• US proposes an “open skies” policy where both could fly over each other’s country to guard against surprise attacks
• Soviets reject the plan – feel it is a trick
• Summit accomplishes nothing – but the spirit of Geneva is seen as promise for peace

Crisis in the Middle East

• Both the US and USSR agreed to the formation of Israel after WWII
• In 1955 Britain and US agree to help Egypt build a dam on the Nile
• Egypt begins to strengthen ties with USSR – West pulls out of Dam
• Angered, Egypt seized the Suez Canal (controlled by France and Britain although in Egypt)
• Joining forces Britain, France, and Israel (had been attacked by Egypt) invade Egypt
• When the USSR threatens missiles against Britain and France the US warns they won’t allow this action
• Confrontation is avoided when the UN imposes a cease-fire.
• The Canal reopens in April 1957 under Egyptian management

Hungary

• In 1956 Nikita Khrushchev publicly criticized Stalin for committing crimes against Soviet people – Was USSR becoming better?
• Hungary was one country that wanted more rights and Khrushchev agreed with a new change in prime minister and the Soviet army left the country
• Hungarians then demanded more rights
• Moscow responded with force
• In Nov. 1956 tanks rolled into Hungary and killed approximately 30,000 Hungarians
• The US sent money and food BUT not military aid

Eisenhower Doctrine

• The USSR had gained prestige because of outcome in Egypt
• In Jan. 1957 the Eisenhower Doctrine said the US would defend any Middle Eastern country against Communism

Cold War and the Skies

• Sputnik
• On Oct. 4, 1957 the Soviets launched the first satellite into space
• The fact that they could launch the satellite proved they had the power to launch a nuclear warhead anywhere in the world from the USSR
• Americans are worried we are falling behind – education changes
• On May 25, 1961, Kennedy gave a speech challenging America to land a man on the moon and return him safely by the end of the decade. 
• Apollo 11 landed on the moon on July 16, 1969.
• U-2
• Even though the open skies policy was rejected Americans had been flying over USSR with U-2 planes to take pictures
• On May 1st a U-2 plane was shot down over the USSR
• This incident heightened tension between the two countries
• At a conference supposed to promote peace Khrushchev publicly denounces the US and leaves because of the U-2 plane