Download Cold War Notes APUSH

Cold War Notes APUSH
What
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was the Cold War?
Ideological “war” fought between the United States and the USSR (soviet union)
Lasted from end of World War II until the fall of the Soviet union in 1991
The Cold War was clash of very different beliefs and ideology – capitalism (USA) versus
communism (USSR)
 It is called the “cold” war because these two superpowers did not directly fight against
each other on the battlefield (but did fight each other through other parts of the worldKorea, Vietnam, etc…
Beginnings of the Cold War:
The Yalta conference (February 1945)-Stalin (USSR) promise to allow free elections in Eastern
European countries that were now occupied by the communists (controlled from the USSR). He
doesn’t. (elections he does allow are rigged)
Potsdam conference (July 1945)
 Truman, Stalin, and Clement Atlee (British Prime Minister) meet in Potsdam, Germany to
discuss the future of post war Europe.
 It is decided to hold war crimes tribunals for Nazi leaders (the Nuremburg trials).
 Truman announced to Stalin that the United States had an Atomic bomb. Stalin already
knew because of Soviet spies at Los Alamos (the Manhattan project)
 Truman expressed the view that Eastern European countries be allowed to have free
elections. Stalin says that Eastern European countries will be soviet satellites countries.
Countries that would act as a buffer to potential future invasions of the Soviet Union.
Soviet satellite countries (Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany)
March 1946. Winston Churchill gives his “Iron Curtain” speech at a college in Fulton, Missouri. He
says: the Soviet Union has established an iron curtain that divided the Soviet Union and its Eastern
satellites, from the independent countries of Western Europe. Some say this is the symbolic start
of the Cold War.
Containment policy
Another key document from the cold war era was written by American diplomat George Kennan. He
states:
 The Soviet Union felt threatened by the United States and that the Soviet Union wanted to
expand for self-preservation.
 Kennan says that long-range long-term containment policy was need to stop communism from
spreading.
 According to Kennan, if communism was contained (stop from spreading to other countries),
it would eventually crumble under its own weight.
 Containment policy was central to most American policy toward the USSR for the next 45
years.
The Truman Doctrine-it would become the duty of the United States to assist all democratic
countries of the world who resisted communism.
The Truman Doctrine was issued in response to communist attempts to take over Greece and
Turkey (which had been financially backed by Great Britain). The USSR wanted to control the
Dardanelles strait (which would give the Soviet navy access to the Mediterranean Sea)
United States gives 400 million dollars to help Greece and Turkey resist communist aggression.
The Marshall Plan
 The United States gives 12 million dollars of economic aid to European countries devastated
from World War II.
 The rationale for this: economically strong countries would be able to resist communism.
Berlin Airlift (1948-1949)
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Thousands of people flee communist countries through West Berlin (which was controlled by
the allies since the end of WWII)
Joseph Stalin blocks roads in and out of West Berlin. People in West Berlin have no way of
getting supplies, etc…
Stalin is testing the Western powers (France, Great Britain, the USA) to see what they will
do. Go to war, leave West Berlin, etc….Truman sends 60 bombers to England.
The United States and British pilots fly enough food and supplies for the people of West
Berlin to survive. These daily flights last for 15 months.
Stalin backs down and ends the blockade of West Berlin.
NATO is formed in 1949: North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Defense treaty between the United
States and Western European countries as a deterrent against soviet invasion. . If a member of
NATO is attacked; it is considered an attack on all members of NATO. General Dwight Eisenhower
is chosen to be first Supreme commander of NATO.
In response to the formation of NATO. The Soviet Union and Eastern European satellite countries
from the Warsaw Pact. Communist defense treaty.
“Arms race” intense competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to build stronger
nuclear weapons and bombers to deliver these weapons.
September 1949, the USSR explodes its first Atomic bomb. Truman authorizes scientists to begin
work on a Hydrogen bomb (much more powerful that the A-bomb)
China falls to the communist in 1949.
 Chinese ally and leader of Nationalist China, Chiang Kai-Shek is forced out of power by Mao
Tse-tung and the communists.
 Mao establishes the Communist People ’s Republic of China
 Chiang Kai-Shek flees to the island of Formosa (now called Taiwan)
The Middle East and the Cold War
1. Ensure the region would not be vulnerable to attacks by the Soviet Union
2. Utilize the region as a staging point for potential military advances against the Soviet Union
(American missiles were placed in Turkey)
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The United Nations announces a plan for the creation of two countries in the Middle East.
One Jewish (Israel) and one Muslim (Palestine)
Israel accepts the U.N. plan and Israel becomes an official country in 1948.
Palestinians and the neighboring Arab states reject the U.N. plan.
Arab-Israeli War of 1948
 The following day Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Transjordan (Jordan) attack Israel.
 Israel defeats them all.
Throughout the Cold war. Israel is backed and supported by the United States while various Arab
countries are backed by the USSR.
1940 Smith Act-made it illegal to advocate the overthrow by force of the American Government.
Leaders of the American communist party are jailed. Smith Act upheld by Supreme Court in Dennis
vs United States court decision.
Loyalty review board-federal workers are removed from office (or resign) Suspected communists
sympathies.
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)-Congressional committee to investigate
communism within the American government and entertainment industry. Blacklist and Hollywood
ten?
McCarran Internal Security Act-all communists or communist-front organizations had to register
with the government; members of these organizations could not work in any job related to national
defense.
McCarran-Walter Act of 1952-Limited the immigration from Asia and Eastern Europe; this would
hopefully limit the influx of communism into the United States.
Communist spies in America
Alger Hiss: former state department official and advisor to FDR at Yalta.
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg-charged with passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. Both found
guilty of espionage and executed.
Korean War
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After World War II Korea (former Japanese colony until end of WWII) was divided into a
communist North Korea and a noncommunist South Korea along the 38th parallel.
June 1950; North Korea invades South Korea (Korean War begins).
The United Nations votes to send in peacekeepers (over USSR protest)
U.S. General Douglas Macarthur is appointed to lead the U.N. forces. The majority of
soldiers are United States soldiers.
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Macarthur pushes the communist North Koreans back into North Korea but are then pushed
back when communist China enters the war on the side of the North Koreans.
Inchon landingsPusan perimeterMacarthur is critical of Truman’s’ handling of the war (Macarthur wants Nationalists China
(Formosa) to attack Communist China and he wanted “total” victory). Truman relieves him of
command for insubordination.
McCarthyism-seeking out communists in the government. Many of Joseph McCarthy’s tactics to
uncover communism spies are questionable.
Red Scare-fear that communists (reds) spies had infiltrated American government and society.
Eisenhower and the Cold War
Eisenhower’s secretary of State John Foster Dulles believes “containment” not aggressive enough
to stop communism. He is an advocate of “massive retaliation” against communist advances
anywhere. Advocated greater reliance on nuclear weapons and air power.
Communist satellite country Hungary revolts against the USSR in 1956. Eisenhower is reluctant to
get involved for fear of WWIII. The Soviets crush the “Hungarian revolt”
Domino theory-if one country fell to communism, others would soon fall.
Southeast Asia
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The French pull out of Vietnam after their defeat at the Battle of Diem Bien Phu by
communist Ho Chi Minh.
Geneva Accords-international conference that established a North Vietnam under the
control of Ho Chi Minh (and eventual backing from the USSR) and a South Vietnam (with the
backing of the United States)
Suez Canal crisis (1956)
 Great Britain and France owned the Suez Canal (which Egypt had agreed to in a previous
treaty)
 Egypt wanted to buy weapons from the United States United States and wanted money
from us to help Egypt build the Aswan Dam in Egypt (for hydroelectric power), the U.S.
does not sell them to Egypt.
 Egypt askes the USSR for Weapons and money.
 Great Britain and the U.S. cut off loans to Egypt.
 Egyptian leader Gamal Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal.
 Britain and France (with help from Israel who had been getting attack by Egypt) attack
Egypt.
 The USSR threatens to aid Egypt.
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The United States convinces Great Britain and France to retreat from Egypt.
Eisenhower Doctrine-stated that the United States would help economically and militarily to assist
any Middle East country threatened by communist aggression.
Rio Pact (1947)-defensive alliance of most Western Hemisphere countries (North and South
America) against communism.
1959-Fidel Castro take over Cuba from U.S. ally Fulgencio Bastista. Establishes communist regime
and becomes ally of the USSR. Castro nationalized all American business and property in Cuba.
The Arms race
Both the United States and Soviet Union build up their nuclear arsenals
American fear of a “missile gap” (Soviets might have more nuclear weapons than we did)
Sputnik launched
 The USSR launch the first man-made satellite that could orbit the Earth. Americans fear
these new satellites could be armed with nuclear weapons that could reach the United
States within minutes; no defense against this.
 American schools focus more on math and science to keep up with the Soviets. (NDEANational Defense and Education Act. Congress creates NASA)
American U-2 spy plane shot down over the Soviet Union. American pilot (Francis Powers) taken
prisoner.
Bay of
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Pigs (1961)
Plan to liberate Cuba from Castro
The CIA would train Cuban exiles to take Cuba back; U.S. would provide air cover.
Complete fiasco; virtually the entire Cuban force is killed or captured when they land in
Cuba.
Embarrassment for the Kennedy administration.
Berlin Wall goes up (1961)
People from communist satellite countries continue to escape communism through West Berlin.
The USSR and East Germans build the Berlin Wall to stop people from escaping.
October 1961, Checkpoint Charlie
Meeting of the tanks-tense 16 hour standoff of Soviet and American tanks in Berlin.
Cuban missile Crisis
 Soviet nuclear missile sights are detected on Cuba (90 miles from Florida)
 President Kennedy orders a “Quarantine” of Cuba to prevent any more Soviet missiles from
reaching Cuba.
 Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev backs down. Agrees to remove the missiles.
 Kennedy agrees to remove the American missiles from Turkey. And promises not to invade
Cuba.
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“Hot line” installed. Direct phone lines between the White House and the Kremlin.
The Vietnam War
 Vietcong-Communist guerillas who lived in South Vietnam but fought against South Vietnam.
 President Kennedy sends American advisors to South Vietnam to train South Vietnamese
forces.
 When LBJ (Lyndon Baines Johnson) becomes president after Kennedy is assassinated he
increases American troops and advisors (in non-combat roles) sent to Vietnam.
 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution-North Vietnamese gunboats fire on American destroyers while in
the Gulf of Tonkin (international waters). This resolution passed by the U.S. Congress gives
Johnson the power to “prevent further aggression” by North Vietnam.
 American soldiers fight jungle warfare and Vietcong make it difficult to know who is a
friend and who is an enemy.
Battle of Khe SanhBattle of Ia DrangBattle of Hamburger HillTET offensive
 Vietcong (and NVA-North Vietnamese Army) offensive launched on the first day of the
Vietnamese new year.
 They attack numerous cities throughout South Vietnam.
 They are easily defeated by American soldiers in the following days.
 But the TET offensive turns American public opinion against the war.
Hanoi Hilton-infamous prison in North Vietnam where American POWs are tortured, starved, and
beaten.
Vietnamization-Richard Nixon’s plan for getting American troops out of Vietnam. Involved training
the South Vietnamese Army to fight for itself.
Nixon orders massive bombing raid on North Vietnam, North Vietnam agree to peace talks.
At the Paris Peace Accords of 1973 it is agreed:
 American forces would leave Vietnam within 60 days
 American POWs would be returned (they were not)
 The Boundary between North and South Vietnam would be respected.
April 30, 1975-North Vietnam overruns the South and captures Saigon (Capital of South Vietnam)
Détente (a French word meaning release from tension) is the name given to a period of improved
relations between the United States and the Soviet Union that began tentatively in 1971 and took
decisive form when President Richard M. Nixon visited the secretary-general of the Soviet
Communist party, Leonid I. Brezhnev, in Moscow, May 1972.
SALT I (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)-Nixon and Brezhnev agree to halt continued buildup of
nuclear weapons.
Nixon visits china in 1972-historic trip to improve relations and start trade talks.
Genocide in Cambodia-Cambodia fell to the Communist (Khmer Rouge). Pol Pot has almost 1/3 of his
country killed for going against his communist party.
USSR invade Afghanistan in 1979.
 President Carter orders Wheat embargo against the USSR.
 Boycotts 1980 summer Olympics that were held in Moscow.
 United States assists the Mujahidin (Muslim fighters fighting the USSR)
Ronald Reagan elected president in 1980
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Calls the USSR an “Evil empire”
Increases military spending (new weapons, MX missiles, B-1 bombers, and increases U.S.
Navy from 450 to 600 ships.
SDI-Strategic Defense Initiative: Plan for building high tech system of lasers to shoot
down incoming soviets nuclear missiles. Critics call it “Star Wars”
Officially accepted in a military doctrine known as Mutual Assured Destruction, a.k.a. MAD. Mutual
Assured Destruction began to emerge at the end of the Kennedy administration. MAD reflects the
idea that one's population could best be protected by leaving it vulnerable so long as the other side
faced comparable vulnerabilities. In short: Whoever shoots first, dies second.
From MAD to SDI
MAD actually acknowledged more than just nuclear parity. Both sides admitted their vulnerability
and prepared early thinking on a concept that later became known as "Star Wars." As early as 1961
former secretary of defense Robert McNamara said: "If we could create an umbrella we would need
it, no matter what it costs."
In subsequent years, protecting strategic forces rather than the population appeared to be the
morally wrong choice. When MAD lost its domestic credibility, the Reagan administration promised
to work toward Mutual Assured Security (MAS) instead of relying on MAD.
Communists (called Sandinistas) overthrow government in Nicaragua. Reagan provide military aid to
the “contras” (those fighting the Sandinistas). Democrats pass Boland Amendment prohibiting
further aid to contras.
The United States had sold Iran weapons (they were in a war with Iraq)
Reagan staff member suggests using money from arms deal to fund contras. Becomes known as the
Iran-Contra affair.
“Tear Down this Wall”-Reagan quote to Mikhail Gorbachev. Saying if he (Gorbachev) genuinely
wanted peace with the West to come down here and tear down the Berlin Wall.
Able Archer (read the following article)
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/02/nato-war-game-nuclear-disaster
For his strong stance against communism and the USSR; Reagan is credited with winning the Cold
War with the Soviets. Critics would disagree.
Venona
The Venona project was a counter-intelligence program initiated by the United States Army Signal
Intelligence Service (a forerunner of the National Security Agency) that lasted from 1943 to
1980.[1] The program attempted to decrypt messages sent by Soviet Union intelligence agencies,
including its foreign intelligence service and military intelligence services.[2] During the program's
four decades, approximately 3,000 messages were at least partially decrypted and translated. [3]
The project produced some of the most important breakthroughs for western counter-intelligence
in this period, including the discovery of the Cambridge spy ring[4] and the exposure of Soviet
espionage targeting the Manhattan Project.[5] The project was one of the most sensitive secrets of
United States intelligence. It remained secret for over a decade after it ended and was not
officially declassified until 1995
Soviet spies exposed during Venona project include: Harry Dexter White, Theodore Hall, Duncan
Lee, and Lauchlin Currie
Berlin Wall comes down (1989: the USSR announces that it can no longer afford to support
communist satellite countries. Berlin citizens tear down the Berlin Wall.
Soviet Union collapses in 1991.
Things for you to do
Iran the Shah of Iran
Napalm
My Lai Massacre
SDS (Students for a Democratic Society)
Kent State
National Security Act 1947
NSC-68
“Two Chinas”
Spirit of Geneva
Kitchen Debate
Ich bin ein Berliner
Margaret Thatcher
Mikhail Gorbachev (glasnost and perestroika)
Tiananmen Square (1989)
Operation Rolling Thunder