The Cold War & Korean War

The Alliance of the “Big Three” Crumbled The hardline stances between the USSR & US led to over 4 decades of animosity The foreign policy and poor relations between the US and the Soviet Union from is called the Cold War

Cold War War of words, ideologies. The Cold War did turn “hot” on a few occasions Most major altercations in these years pitted the US against the USSR

Origins of the Cold War Mutual Distrust US did not trust communism. Violence, lack of civil liberties USSR still angry at troop losses. Believed US and UK deliberately did not open a second front in WWII USSR did not allow free elections in Eastern Europe. Buffer-zone US kept the USSR out of reconstructing Japan Different ideas about post-war world

Cold War Intensifies “Iron Curtain” Alliance to stop Soviet aggression Lines are drawn Becomes the future dividing lines of NATO and Warsaw Pact

US Response - Containment George F. Kennan – State Dept. US Containment Policy until 1989  Cannot invade USSR  MUST stop Soviet expansion  Negotiate, sanctions, finally force

Truman Doctrine Greece & Turkey. War against communist supported insurgents Doorway for USSR into Middle East and Western Europe Truman sent $400M in aid to Greece & Turkey Pledged American aid to all “free peoples fighting oppression” US became a global police force against communism

Marshall Plan 2 goals – Humanitarian Aid and contain/fight communism US gave $17B in free aid to Western Europe to reconstruct the post-war economy Worked in Western Europe. Recovery, stopped spread of communism, promoted trade and helped US businesses

Post War Germany & Berlin Airlift Germany was occupied and split between US, UK, France, & USSR Berlin, in the Soviet zone, was also split Most in Berlin were anti-Soviet, Moved to the western zones Stalin ordered a blockade in and out of Berlin in 1948 Risk of war Berlin Airlift  dropped food and supplies via planes  One plane every three minutes  Stalin lifts blockade in 1949

Post War Germany

Domestic Policy during the Cold War Election of 1948  Truman (Dem) – Expand New Deal, Civil Rights  Strom Thurmond (Dixiecrat) – continue segregation  Thomas Dewey (Rep.), moderate  Truman won in a very close election

“Fair Deal” Truman wished to expand the New Deal – Called it the Fair Deal Raise minimum wage, expand social security Federal $ to public education (not passed) Promoted civil rights legislation (not passed) Wanted national health care (not passed)

Anti-Communism in the US Many in the US government also “waged war” on communism in the States HUAC – House UnAmerican Activities Committee  Investigated government employees  Promoted Hollywood anticommunist productions

McCarthyism Senator Joe McCarthy from Wisconsin Used an anti-communist campaign to gain election Claimed that over 200 commies worked in the State Dept. Unsubstantiated charges, but very popular for a short time Condemned by Senate in 1954 in public/TV hearings

The Korean War

Asia after World War II US occupied Japan until 1952, but kept military bases there after 1952 Mao Tse-tung, receiving some aid from the USSR defeated Chiang Kai-Shek (US supported) Chiang and KMT evacuated to Taiwan US did not send troops

And Then There was Korea 1949 – NATO is formed Soviets supported N.K. while the US backed S.K Communist North Korea invaded anti-Communist South Korea Meanwhile the United Nations promised assistance to S.K. If attacked (USSR could not use veto, had boycotted UN)

UN Forces in Korea Truman sent Gen. Douglas MacArthur and UN troops (mostly US though) Never officially declared war Pushed North Korea back past 38 th Parallel Gen. MacArthur moved troops into North Korea

Chinese Counterattack and the Second American Tie In Nov China sent 300,000 troops into Korea Pushed the UN forces back past the 38 th Parallel “Worst military setback...” Stalemate Fallout between Truman and MacArthur

The Cold War Moving Forward A decade after WWII, the Cold War had intensified Neither the US nor the USSR was willing to risk direct action The Cold War turned “hot” in Korea and later in Vietnam American faith and confidence in Truman faltered Meanwhile, the Civil Rights Movement was picking up steam