The Cold War Begins Chapter 25

The Roots of the Cold War Causes Philosophical Differences: -Soviet Union: Communist, Totalitarian dictatorship   -United States: free-market capitalist, republic WWII Conflicts: -Soviets wanted British and Americans to open up a second European front earlier. -U.S. secretly developed the atomic bomb. Postwar Conflicts: -Soviet Union refused to live up to wartime promises of elections in Eastern Europe. -US made efforts to resist Soviet expansion. The Cold War: An era of high tension between the United States and the Soviet Union

Communism Spreads Stalin used whatever means were necessary to create communist-friendly governments in Eastern Europe. He achieved his goal, and most of the countries were under his direct control.

The Iron Curtain Winston Churchill criticized Stalin and the Soviets by claiming that an “iron curtain had descended across the continent.” The term refers to an imaginary line dividing Communist countries in the Soviet bloc form countries in Western Europe during the Cold War.

The United States Responds 3 Important Parts: Containment Truman Doctrine Marshall Plan

Containment Created by George Kennan The goal of the policy was to prevent the spread of Communism. It also included providing economic aid to other countries in order to strengthen them against the Soviet Union.

Truman Doctrine Designed to help Greece and Turkey resist the Soviets. President Truman’s pledge to provide economic and military aid to any country resisting the Soviet Union.

Marshall Plan Created by Secretary of State George Marshall. Goal was to rebuild the economies of European countries to create stable conditions for democracy. Gave $13.4 billion in aid to 17 countries. Mainly Britain, France and Italy.

Crisis in Berlin The Yalta Conference had divided Germany into 4 sectors  the Soviets kept theirs under Communist control. Eventually Germany was divided into West Germany and East Germany, with Berlin being divided as well. The Soviets cut off supplies of food, coal and other supplies to the people of West Berlin.

Crisis in Berlin

Crisis in Berlin Berlin Airlift: program in which the United States and Britain shipped supplies by air to West Berlin; took place from June 1948 to May 1949. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO formed in 1949 to provide collective security for the member nations against the Soviet Union. Still exists.

Healing the Wounds of War GI Bill: provided money for veterans to attend college or receive job training. Helped arrange for loans, unemployment benefits and help finding jobs. Baby Boom: Dramatic rise in the birthrates in the two decades following WWII.

Growing Fear of Communism Soviets successfully detonate an atomic bomb.

Growing Fear of Communism The threat of Communist China Nationalist government of China, led by Chiang Kai-Shek, supported by U.S. Communist government of China, led by Mao Zedong Nationalist government was corrupt and suffered from poor leadership  Communists won in China.

Fighting the Spread of Communism at home The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was originally intended to investigate all radical groups, but only focused on communism. Most famous case happened in 1947. Tried to investigate the possible Communist influence on the American Film Industry.

Fighting the Spread of Communism at Home Ten people who were called before the committee refused to testify. The Hollywood Ten were found guilty of contempt of Congress and jailed. Many agreed to provide names, and created a blacklist in Hollywood.

Anti-Communist Laws The Smith Act Made it a crime to call for the overthrow of the U.S. government or belong to any organization that did so. The McCarran Act Required Communist organizations to register with the government, made it illegal to plan for a totalitarian dictatorship, and prevented Communists from entering the US.

Spy Cases Alger Hiss Accused by Whittaker Chambers of being a spy. Denied accusations under oath  Chambers led the investigation to his Maryland farm, where he pulled rolls of microfilm he claimed were from Hiss out of a pumpkin. Hiss couldn’t be tried with spying but was charged with lying under oath.

Spy Cases Klaus Fuchs Worked on the Manhattan Project and gave atomic secrets to the Soviet Union.

Spy Cases Ethel and Julius Rosenberg Were accused of being leaders of a spy ring. Convicted of passing military secrets to the Soviets, sentenced to death. They were the first civilians to be executed for spying.

McCarthyism Senator Joseph McCarthy gave a speech in Wheeling, West Virginia claiming that there were known communists working for the U.S. Department of State  caused a sensation. McCarthy went on the attack. Made many charges, but had no evidence. When people complained, he suggested that maybe they has secrets to hide.

McCarthyism Critics labeled his tactics of spreading fear and making baseless charges McCarthyism. Began to attack the U.S. Army  Senate hearings were televised and his tactics were shown to everyone. They began to find his antics unfair.

Dividing Korea As a result of WWII, Korea was divided into 2 parts, along the 38th Parallel. North of that line, the Soviet Union would be in control. South of that line, the United States would be in control. This was not meant to be a permanent division.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea North Korea: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea South Korea -First leader: Kim Il Sung -Promoted a communist system -First Leader: Syngman Rhee -Promoted a democratic system Even though they had different ideas about how to do it, both North and South Korea had the same goal – bringing together the two halves of Korea into one whole. Syngman Rhee Kim Il Sung

Start of the Korean War In June of 1950, North Korean troops crossed the 38th Parallel and invaded South Korea  their goal was to reunited Korea by force. The U.S. believed that they had to take a stand against the Communist aggression for fear that it would send a signal to other nations that America would not help defend their freedom.

Start of the Korean War The military force sent to Korea was a United Nations force. It is referred to as a UN police action. Douglas MacArthur commanded the troops, though the U.S. never declared war.

Key Battles of the Korean War By Summer 1950, the North Koreans had pushed UN forces back to the city of Pusan.

Key Battles of the Korean War The Inchon Landing: brilliant plan by MacArthur to invade the port city of Inchon and regain territory in South Korea.

Key Battles of the Korean War The UN forces took back all of South Korea, but faced a difficult question—should they stop at the 38th Parallel? They pushed into North Korea, despite warnings from the Chinese.

Key Battles of the Korean War The Chinese attacked by coming across the Yalu River, UN forces retreat.

Key Battles of the Korean War MacArthur faced a problem—defeat by the Chinese, or a major war with them. He favored war. The American people did not, and he was fired.

Fighting Ends in Korea 2 main issues to a peace agreement: Location of the boundary between North and South Korea What to do with prisoners of war

Fighting Ends in Korea Negotiators met in the town of Panmunjom Eisenhower was elected president in 1952, and promised to end the Korean War. Eventually the war was settled and the territories remained split along the 38th Parallel The guns fell silent on July 27, 1953.

Fighting Ends in Korea Almost 37,000 American soldiers had died, along with 60,000 UN troops from other countries. Communist forces suffered some 2 million casualties. Almost 3 million North and South Korean civilians were killed.