The Americans, Chapter 18 The Americans, Chapter 18

The Beginnings of the Cold War The Beginnings of the Cold War During WWII, the US and the Soviet Union were Allies. It was an uneasy alliance. During WWII, the US and the Soviet Union were Allies. It was an uneasy alliance. Distrust persisted, even though differences in our political ideas and economic systems were not emphasized during the war. Distrust persisted, even though differences in our political ideas and economic systems were not emphasized during the war. From President Truman’s perspective, the Soviet leader, Stalin, started the Cold War by making false promises during wartime meetings with Allied leaders, vowing to allow free elections in the Eastern European countries the USSR had occupied during the latter part of WWII. From President Truman’s perspective, the Soviet leader, Stalin, started the Cold War by making false promises during wartime meetings with Allied leaders, vowing to allow free elections in the Eastern European countries the USSR had occupied during the latter part of WWII.

The Aftermath of WWII The Soviet Union did NOT pull its troops out of these Eastern European countries and communist governments were established in all of them. The Soviet Union did NOT pull its troops out of these Eastern European countries and communist governments were established in all of them. Also, much of Eastern and Western Europe had to be rebuilt from the devastation of the war. Also, much of Eastern and Western Europe had to be rebuilt from the devastation of the war.

Soviet Expansion in Eastern Europe

The Truman Doctrine In response to communist uprisings in Greece and Turkey, Truman told a joint-session of Congress... In response to communist uprisings in Greece and Turkey, Truman told a joint-session of Congress... “I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” “I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” This became known as the “Truman Doctrine,” which would guide our early Cold War foreign policy. This became known as the “Truman Doctrine,” which would guide our early Cold War foreign policy.

The Marshall Plan The Marshall Plan Because of Western Europe’s economic problems after WWII, it was believed that these countries were especially vulnerable to being taken over by communism. Because of Western Europe’s economic problems after WWII, it was believed that these countries were especially vulnerable to being taken over by communism. The US Congress passed the Marshall Plan. This plan would send $13 billion to Western European countries to help them rebuild, allowing their capitalist economies to recover and enabling them to resist the threat of communism. The US Congress passed the Marshall Plan. This plan would send $13 billion to Western European countries to help them rebuild, allowing their capitalist economies to recover and enabling them to resist the threat of communism.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Also, in a further attempt to protect Western Europe, a defensive alliance was made between the U.S., Canada, and 10 Northern and Western European countries, commonly called NATO. Also, in a further attempt to protect Western Europe, a defensive alliance was made between the U.S., Canada, and 10 Northern and Western European countries, commonly called NATO.

In response, the Soviet Union established the Warsaw Pact and so the line was drawn.... In response, the Soviet Union established the Warsaw Pact and so the line was drawn....

The Korean War When communist North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, the US commitment to the Truman Doctrine was put to the test. When communist North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, the US commitment to the Truman Doctrine was put to the test. Truman asked the newly formed United Nations to take action to stop this aggression. Truman asked the newly formed United Nations to take action to stop this aggression.

U.N. Forces Aim to Free South Korea The U.N. forces, under the leadership of U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, invaded near Pusan and made another successful landing near Inchon. The U.N. forces, under the leadership of U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, invaded near Pusan and made another successful landing near Inchon. Soon many North Korean troops were trapped in South Korea and were forced to surrender. Soon many North Korean troops were trapped in South Korea and were forced to surrender.

The Conflict Expands Northward MacArthur convinced Truman that UN forces should invade N. Korea to unify Korea under a democratic government. MacArthur convinced Truman that UN forces should invade N. Korea to unify Korea under a democratic government. The invasion went very well. Within two months UN forces had reached the Yalu River, which divides North Korea from China. The invasion went very well. Within two months UN forces had reached the Yalu River, which divides North Korea from China.

“A Whole New War” Then China, which had recently become a communist nation, invaded and forced the U.N. troops out of North Korea. Then China, which had recently become a communist nation, invaded and forced the U.N. troops out of North Korea. The war would drag on for two more years with very little ground changing hands. The war would drag on for two more years with very little ground changing hands.

The Impact of the Korean War In 1953, an armistice divided North and South Korea near the original border set before the war. In 1953, an armistice divided North and South Korea near the original border set before the war. We had lost 54,000 men and spent $67 billion. We had lost 54,000 men and spent $67 billion. Our marginal success in this conflict, so soon after the WWII victory, lessened US confidence in our policies and our military power. Our marginal success in this conflict, so soon after the WWII victory, lessened US confidence in our policies and our military power.

The Cold War at Home The events in Eastern Europe, the fall of China to communism in 1949, and the Korean War helped increase Americans’ fears of a communist threat to the U.S. The events in Eastern Europe, the fall of China to communism in 1949, and the Korean War helped increase Americans’ fears of a communist threat to the U.S. The public assumed that there were communist spies throughout the U.S. The public assumed that there were communist spies throughout the U.S. These fears were reinforced by the news media, popular literature, and the motion picture industry. These fears were reinforced by the news media, popular literature, and the motion picture industry.

Hunting for Communists In the late 1940’s the U.S. Congress set up the House Un-American Activities Committee to investigate and expose communist subversives in the U.S. In the late 1940’s the U.S. Congress set up the House Un-American Activities Committee to investigate and expose communist subversives in the U.S. This committee questioned actors, movie producers, authors, professors, and others that they thought were spreading communist ideas. This committee questioned actors, movie producers, authors, professors, and others that they thought were spreading communist ideas.

The Rise of Senator Joseph McCarthy In 1950, a young senator from Wisconsin grabbed the headlines by claiming to have a long list of the names of communists working in the U.S. State Department. In 1950, a young senator from Wisconsin grabbed the headlines by claiming to have a long list of the names of communists working in the U.S. State Department. He rapidly became one of the most famous men in America. He was allowed to conduct Senate hearings in which he bullied those he unfairly accused of being “reds,” or “communist sympathizers”. He rapidly became one of the most famous men in America. He was allowed to conduct Senate hearings in which he bullied those he unfairly accused of being “reds,” or “communist sympathizers”.

The End of the McCarthy Era None of these charges were ever proven to be true, but many reputations were ruined just by being questioned at the hearings. None of these charges were ever proven to be true, but many reputations were ruined just by being questioned at the hearings. In 1954, he made accusations against high-ranking Army officers. He had gone too far. This would be his political downfall. In 1954, he made accusations against high-ranking Army officers. He had gone too far. This would be his political downfall. The Senate voted to censure him. The Senate voted to censure him. To this day, the expression “McCarthyism” means — using unfair tactics to make false accusations. To this day, the expression “McCarthyism” means — using unfair tactics to make false accusations.

The Beginnings of the Nuclear Arms Race The Soviets tested their first atomic bomb in The Soviets tested their first atomic bomb in We developed the hydrogen bomb by 1952, but the Soviets had one by We developed the hydrogen bomb by 1952, but the Soviets had one by From that point on, the U.S. and the Soviet Union would spend billions of dollars trying to produce the strongest nuclear arsenal. From that point on, the U.S. and the Soviet Union would spend billions of dollars trying to produce the strongest nuclear arsenal.

The Beginnings of the Space Race In 1957, the Soviets sent a small satellite into space. It was named “Sputnik.” In 1957, the Soviets sent a small satellite into space. It was named “Sputnik.” This caught us by surprise because we were just planning to launch our first satellite. This caught us by surprise because we were just planning to launch our first satellite. In response, the Congress passed measures to improve U.S. education and to create our NASA space program. In response, the Congress passed measures to improve U.S. education and to create our NASA space program. The space race that followed is related to the arms race. Rockets can deliver missiles. The space race that followed is related to the arms race. Rockets can deliver missiles.

The Cold War Continued... The Cold War would continue to guide our foreign policy through the coming decades until the fall of the Soviet Union in The Cold War would continue to guide our foreign policy through the coming decades until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.