Harry Truman vs. The World: Adventures in the Early Cold War
Big changes and challenges Isolationist nation -> a military superpower and a leader in world affairs through the United Nations; other international organizations Distrust became hostility as Communist dictators loyal to Stalin seized control in one country after another between Truman’s decision to confront the Soviets: a reasonable response, or did he overreact and misunderstand the Soviets’ desire to secure its borders? Isolationist nation -> a military superpower and a leader in world affairs through the United Nations; other international organizations Distrust became hostility as Communist dictators loyal to Stalin seized control in one country after another between Truman’s decision to confront the Soviets: a reasonable response, or did he overreact and misunderstand the Soviets’ desire to secure its borders?
Winston Churchill and “The Iron Curtain” Fulton, Missouri March 5, 1946 speech “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” day-in-history/churchill- delivers-iron-curtain-speech day-in-history/churchill- delivers-iron-curtain-speech /mod/churchill-iron.asp /mod/churchill-iron.asp Fulton, Missouri March 5, 1946 speech “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” day-in-history/churchill- delivers-iron-curtain-speech day-in-history/churchill- delivers-iron-curtain-speech /mod/churchill-iron.asp /mod/churchill-iron.asp
Crisis in Europe, Winter
Crisis in Europe, cont.
Undersecretary of State Dean Acheson meets with Truman… “Like apples in a barrel infected by the corruption of one rotten one...” “The fall of Greece or Turkey would open Asia, Western Europe, and the oil fields of the Middle East to the Red menace.” “The Soviet Union is playing one of the greatest gambles in history. We and we alone are in a position to break up that play.”
“Truman Doctrine” speech to Congress, March 12, 1947 “Mr. President, you’re going to have to scare hell out of the American people.” The United States must support free peoples everywhere “resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” ml ml “Mr. President, you’re going to have to scare hell out of the American people.” The United States must support free peoples everywhere “resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” ml ml
The “X Article” is published July, 1947 in Foreign Affairs: “The Sources of Soviet Conduct” by diplomat George Kennan “A long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies” would eventually cause the Soviets to back off their Communist ideology of world domination. July, 1947 in Foreign Affairs: “The Sources of Soviet Conduct” by diplomat George Kennan “A long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies” would eventually cause the Soviets to back off their Communist ideology of world domination.
National Security Act of 1947 Truman reorganizes the U.S. government for permanent war mobilization
The Marshall Plan, 1948 Secretary of State George Marshall’s “European Recovery Program”
Stalin tightens his grip Stalin takes over Hungary and Czechoslovakia in 1947 and 1948; Stalin turns his attention to Germany. Germany had been divided into four occupation zones: Great Britain, US, France, Soviet Union Berlin divided into four occupation zones (110 miles within Soviet-controlled territory) Film break! Stalin takes over Hungary and Czechoslovakia in 1947 and 1948; Stalin turns his attention to Germany. Germany had been divided into four occupation zones: Great Britain, US, France, Soviet Union Berlin divided into four occupation zones (110 miles within Soviet-controlled territory) Film break!
The Berlin Airlift Truman orders food and supplies airlifted into West Berlin (every 3 min., 24 hrs./day)
Chaos in Asia Soviets create a “sphere of influence” in Manchuria
1949: A Really Bad Year.
1950: Even worse. Jan. 1950: NSC-68: history/president-truman-receives-nsc-68 history/president-truman-receives-nsc-68 June 24, 1950: Open up your “Korean War web activity!”