THE ONSET OF THE COLD WAR

America: Past and PresentAmerica: Past and Present

Chapter 28Chapter 28

The Cold War Begins:Issues Dividing U.S., U.S.S.R. control of postwar Europe economic aid nuclear disarmament

The Division of Europe

1945--Russians occupy eastern Europe, American troops occupy western Europe

Soviet Union seeks eastern European buffer U.S. demands national self-determination

through free elections throughout Europe Stalin converts eastern Europe into a

system of satellite nations

Withholding Economic Aid

Russia devastated by World War II Some Americans seek to influence Russia

with Lend-Lease economic aid 1945--United States halts Lend-Lease

without Russian settlement Leverage lost in shaping Soviet policy

The Atomic Dilemma

1943--nuclear race between U.S., U.S.S.R. 1946--Baruch Plan

– Rapid reduction of U.S. military force– Gradual reduction favors U.S. atomic

monopoly Soviet Union

– Larger conventional army than U.S.– Immediate abolition of atomic weapons

Containment

1947--George C. Marshall appointed Secretary of State

Dean Acheson seeks for U.S. England's former role as arbiter of world affairs

George Kennan calls for “containment of Russia’s expansive tendencies”

The Truman Doctrine

1947--Truman seeks funds to keep Greece, Turkey in western sphere of influence

Truman Doctrine: “support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressure”

Doctrine an informal declaration of cold war against the Soviet Union

The Marshall Plan

1947--George Marshall proposes aid for rebuilding European industries

Russia refuses aid 1948--Marshall Plan adopted by Congress Plan fosters western European prosperity

The Western Military Alliance

1949--North Atlantic Treaty Organization– Military alliance includes U.S., Canada, most of

western Europe– U.S. troops stationed in Europe

NATO intensifies Russia's fear of the West

The Berlin Blockade

June, 1948--Russians blockade Berlin Truman orders airlift to supply the city 1949--Russians end blockade U.S. political victory dramatizes division

The Cold War Expands

1947--U.S.-Russian arms race accelerates Conflict expands to Asia

The Military Dimension

1947--National Security Act – Department of Defense unifies armed forces– Central Intelligence Agency coordinates

intelligence-gathering– National Security Council advises president

Defense budget devoted to air power 1949--first Russian atomic bomb explodes,

U.S. begins hydrogen bomb development

The Cold War in Asia

1945--U.S. consolidates hold on Japan, former Japanese possessions in Pacific

1949--victory of Mao Tse-tung brings China into Soviet orbit

Truman refuses recognition of Communist China, begins building up Japan

The Korean War

June, 1950--Communist North Korean forces invade U.S.-influenced South Korea

Truman makes South Korea’s defense a U.N. effort, sends in U.S. troops– U.S. routs Korean forces in South– Attempt to unify Korea draws in China– U.S. pushed back to South, war a stalemate

Result--massive American rearmament

National Defense Outlays, 1945-1960

The Cold War at Home

New Deal economic policies undermined Fears of Communist subversion Republicans use anticommunism to revive

their party

Truman's Troubles

Obstacles to Truman’s Fair Deal reforms– Apathetic public– Inflation– Labor unrest

1946--Republicans win Congress

Truman Vindicated

1948--Thomas Dewey versus Truman– Truman thought unelectable– Southern Democrats, Northern liberals desert– Roosevelt coalition reelects Truman on

domestic issues Republicans respond by challenging

Truman’s handling of the Cold War

The Loyalty Issue

Fear of Communist subversion Truman administration conducts campaign

against “subversives” Democrats blamed for

– "losing" China to Communism – Russia's development of a hydrogen bomb

McCarthyism in Action

1950--Senator Joseph McCarthy launches anticommunist campaign

Innocent overwhelmed by accusations Attacks on privileged bureaucrats

– supported by Midwest Republicans – attract Irish, Italian, Polish workers to

Republicans 1954--attack on Army discredits McCarthy

The Republicans in Power

1952--Eisenhower captures White House for Republican Party

July 27, 1953--stalemate accepted in Korea Eisenhower deals passively with McCarthy December, 1954--McCarthy censured

Eisenhower Wages the Cold War

Eisenhower relaxes tensions with Russia Eisenhower’s fears

– Debt imposed by defense spending – Possibility of atomic warfare

Entanglement in Indochina

Eisenhower refuses military aid for French retention of colonial Indochina

Victory of Communist Ho Chi Minh prompts intervention to prevent election

Vietnam divided South Vietnam under U.S. puppet regime

Containing China

Tough line against China Drive wedge between China, Russia Strategy ultimately works Effects not immediately apparent

Turmoil in the Middle East

1956--Nasser nationalizes Suez Canal France, England invade Egypt Eisenhower wins Middle East trust by

pressuring English, French withdrawal 1958--Lebanon invites U.S. troops to

maintain order

Covert Actions

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) used to achieve covert objectives

Iran--CIA restores the shah to power Guatemala--CIA ousts leftist government Cuba--CIA attempts assassination of Castro

Waging Peace

October, 1957--Russians launch Sputnik March, 1958--Nikita Khrushchev elected

Soviet premier October--U.S., U.S.S.R. agree to suspend

nuclear testing in the atmosphere November--Berlin blockade threatened May, 1960--U-2 incident

Ongoing Tensions

January, 1961--Eisenhower warns against growing military-industrial complex

Post-war era marked by Cold War rather than peace and tranquility