The Cold War, A Bipolar Geopolitical World after World War II

Root of the Cold War U.S. Point of View –Soviet “spheres of influence” in E. Europe Yalta Conference: Democratic elections? Eastern Germany: Zones of Occupation –United Nations Resistance to democracy –“Iron Curtain”, Churchill Soviet expansion, Fulton, MO Soviet Point of View –No western front early enough –Frozen out of the Atomic project –No lend-lease after 1945 –Eastern Europe as a “buffer zone”

Map of the Postwar World Bretton Woods Conference and the International Monetary Fund –International bank for war recovery and development –Soviets don’t participate United Nations –Yalta Conference, “Big Three” World organization –Dumbarton Oaks Conference, August 1944 Basis for United Nations Charter San Francisco Conference, April 25, 1945 –Security Council

What About Germany? Nuremberg Trials –Potsdam Conference –“Denazifing Germany 22 Nazi’s tried, 12 executed Partition of Germany –Division of Berlin –Eastern Germany created by Soviets

…and Japan? Reconstruction and Democracy –Douglas MacArthur “hero of the Philippines” –War crimes trial 7 executed, 18 prison –Becomes an economic power house No military allowed –Division of Korea, 38 th

George Kennan and “Containment” Soviet expansionism –Eastern Europe, Germany, Middle East Truman Doctrine –Greece and Turkey –Defines foreign policy for next 20 years –Israel, 1948 Marshall Plan, 1947 –Western Europe –Soviet criticism Organization of American States (OAS) –Spread of communism in Latin America

US Government Reorganization and Rearmament National Security Act, 1947 –Dept. of Defense –NSC and CIA NSC 68 –Fall of China, large scale build up of US military Peacetime Draft, 1948 Voice of America –Behind the Iron Curtain Atomic Energy Commission –Civilian control, president sole authority

The Cold War Begins! Berlin Blockade, –Soviet blockades West Berlin –American “airlift” Had the Atomic Bomb, 1945 –Lifting of blockade, 1949 Got the Bomb in in 1949!

Truman’s Second Term and Cold War, (Secretary of State Dean Acheson) NATO –Collective security in Western Europe –Response to Berlin Blockade –CENTO, SEATO, and ANZUS –Warsaw Pact, 1955 Fall of China, 1949 –Mao takes over and spreads communism Hydrogen Bomb, 1952 –Bikini Islands –Soviets, 1953 –End of mankind?

The Korean War, North Korea Invades, June 1950 NSC-68 –Massive military build up UN Security Council –Vote, Soviet Union absent! Douglas MacArthur –Inchon and Pusan –Yalu River and the Chinese –“Limited War” –Cease Fire Repatriation Succeed in “containment”

Cold War At Home, A Second Red Scare Truman’s First Term, –Taft-Hartley, 1947 Veto, passed by Congress 80 Day “cooling off”, outlawed “closed shop” –Civil Rights “To Secure These Rights” Segregation of the Armed Forces Jackie Robinson –Presidential Succession Act, 1947 In case of nuclear war –22 nd Amendment, 1951 Limited president to two terms

Anti-Communist Crusade Smith Act, 1940 –Illegal to advocate government overthrow –Communists sent to prison HUAC indicts Algier Hiss, 1947 –Richard Nixon vs. Hiss (prominent New Dealer) Truman’s Loyalty Program –Loyality Review Board (Loyalty oaths) –FBI goes after “Reds” McCarran Internal Security Bill, 1950 –Communists must register with Attorney General –President detains “suspicious persons” –Truman Veto, passed by Congress The Rosenbergs, 1954 McCarthyism –Communists in the State Department and Military –Truman should be impeached

Election of 1948 and the “Vital Center” Dewey vs. Truman –Republicans want reduction of New Deal –Truman “Fair Deal” Minimum wage, new TVAs, Farm support, extension of Social Security, Civil Rights Vital Center, –Three major componets Anti-communism and containment Economic growth good for all Variety of ideas can exist in American society

American Society in the Postwar Era GI Bill of Rights –Servicemen’s Readjustment Act Baby Boom –Economic, social, and political effect Economic Boom- “The Affluent Society” –Income doubled –40% wealth, 6% population Sunbelt versus Frostbelt –War industries and air conditioning