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UNIT 15 THE COLD WAR, THE KOREAN WAR, AND THE VIETNAM WAR 15:1 The Origins of the Cold War: ● Many conflicts of the Cold War began at the Yalta summit meeting in February 1945. ● The “Big 5” (USA, Britain, France, USSR, and China) had a veto in the UN. ● The status of Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe was a major factor in the Cold War. Both sides wanted to control the region for the following reasons: √ Economics: both sides wanted access to the markets and resources of Eastern Europe. 15:1 The Origins of the Cold War continued: √ Security: Neither side wanted the other’s armed forces in Eastern Europe. √ Ideology: The Soviets wanted to spread Communism and the West wanted to establish democratic-capitalism in Eastern Europe. √ Domestic politics: Truman was under tremendous political pressure not to let Eastern Europe fall under Soviet domination 15:2 The early Cold War: ● The West interpreted the Greek Civil War as the first step in a world-wide Communist conquest. ● In May 1947 President Truman said that it would be the policy of the US to “support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation” and the policy of Containment was born—the US would not allow Communism to spread. ● Congress backed up the Truman Doctrine by appropriating $400 million and the Greek Communists were defeated. 15:2 The early Cold War: ● Beginning in 1948 the US implemented the Marshall Plan and billions of dollars were given to Europe to help it rebuild from the devastation of World War II. George Marshall 15:2 The Berlin Blockade and the formation of NATO: ● From June 1948 to May 1949 the Soviets blocked Western access to West Berlin. The US and Britain responded by airlifting in supplies. 15:2 The Berlin Blockade and the formation of NATO continued: ● In April 1949 the US and 11 other nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) stating that “an attack on one would be an attack on all.” The USSR responded by forming the Warsaw Pact with its satellites. ● President Truman moved US forces to bases in Europe. 15:3 The Communist success in China: ● The Communists under the leadership of Mao Zedong used the war with Japan to gain support from the peasants. Mao ● The Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek was weakened by the Japanese invasion, disunity, and corruption. ● After years of fighting the Communists won in December 1949. The Nationalists fled to Taiwan. Marshall, Chaing’s wife, and Chiang 15:3 The Korean War, 1950-1953: ● Korea was divided at the 38th parallel after World War II. ● In June 1950 Communist North Korea attacked South Korea and President Truman sent in US forces under the auspices of the UN to help the South. 1:3 The Korean War, 1950-1953 continued: ● The US responded to the North Korean attack because: √ It wanted to keep its influence in Asia by supporting it allies. √ The Democrats had to prove that they were “tough on Communism.” √ The war could be used as a justification to rearm the military. √ Containment—The Communist victory in China and the Berlin Blockade reinforced the idea that the US had to respond forcibly to Communist aggression. The US mistakenly thought the Korean attack was directed from Moscow. 15:3 The Korean War, 1950-1953 continued: ● When UN forces approached the Chinese border in late 1950 Chinese troops entered the war. ● President Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of his command of the UN forces when MacArthur argued that the war should be expanded beyond Korea. ● After the election of President Eisenhower an armistice was signed in July 1953. The country remained divided at the 38th parallel. Over 54,000 Americans died in Korea. Douglas MacArthur President-Elect Eisenhower in Korea Marines at Inchon 15:4 The Suez Crisis and the Hungarian uprising: ● Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal in the summer of 1956. ● Israel, Britain and France attacked Egypt in October 1956 at the same time that the Soviets were crushing an uprising in Hungary. ● The US and the USSR applied great pressure on Israel, Britain and France and they withdrew from Egypt. ● The US did nothing to help the Hungarians and the Soviets regained control of Hungary. 15:4 The U-2 Incident: ● A US U-2 spy plane was shot down over the USSR. When President Eisenhower denied the flights were taking place Premier Khrushchev produced the captured pilot and a May 1960 summit meeting in Paris was ruined. 15:4 The Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis: ● In April 1961 Cuban exiles, trained and supported by the US, invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in an attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro. ● The forces were defeated and President Kennedy had to admit US involvement and pay Castro $60 million to get the captured exiles freed. 15:4 The Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis continued: ● In October 1962 the US discovered that the USSR was placing offensive nuclear tipped missiles in Cuba. ● The US placed a naval blockade around Cuba and prepared to invade Cuba unless the missiles were removed. ● The USSR backed-down and the missiles were removed. The US removed some missiles from Turkey as a compromise, but the world came very close to nuclear war. ● The crisis caused both sides to be more careful in the future. Castro and Khrushchev 15:4 The Cuban Missile Crisis continued 15:4 The Berlin Wall: ● In April 1961 the USSR solved the problem of East Germans escaping to the West by building a wall across Berlin. 15:5 The Vietnam War: ● The US became involved in Vietnam for the following reasons: √ Containment—the US thought that the USSR was directing the Communist movement in Vietnam. √ Ideology—support American values. √ Economics—maintain the Open Door in Indochina. √ Security—keep the balance of power in Asia intact. √ Domestic politics—Politicians had to appear strong in the fight against the “spread of Communism.” Ho Chi Minh 15:5 The Vietnam War continued: ● During 1946-1954 the Communist Viet Minh, under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh, fought the French. US leaders supported the French because: √ They wanted French support for Containment in Europe. √ They wanted to counteract the Communist victory in China. √ They saw a connection between “Communist aggression” in French Indochina and Korea. 15:5 The Vietnam War continued: ● After the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel. ● The leader of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem, refused to allow unification elections and in 1957 the Vietcong began an uprising and the US sent military advisors to help the South. Diem and Eisenhower 15:5 The Vietnam War continued: ● Buddhists began to protest Diem’s policies. ● In November 1963 Diem was assassinated and the Communists appeared to be winning the war. 15:5 The Vietnam War continued: ● The August 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gave President Johnson a free hand in Vietnam and the US began bombing the North. ● US combat troops were introduced into Vietnam in March 1965. ● The February 1968 Tet Offensive caused US public opinion to turn against the war. ● President Johnson did not run for reelection and after his 1968 victory President Richard Nixon “Vietnamized” the war. ● In April 1970 US and ARVN troops invaded Cambodia. 15:5 The Vietnam War continued: ● In February 1971 the ARVN invaded Laos and suffered a severe defeat. ● In March 1972 US airpower help defeat a major NVA attack on the South. ● To reassure South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu, and to pressure the Communists, President Nixon ordered massive bombings of North Vietnam during December 1972. 15:5 The Vietnam War continued: ● In January 1973 a peace treaty was signed and US forces left Vietnam. ● The Communists triumphed in Vietnam in 1975 and unified the country. ● The war divided the US. It was relatively easy to avoid military service if one wanted to do so. 15:5 Map of The Vietnam War 19 73 19 72 19 71 19 70 19 69 19 68 19 67 19 66 19 65 19 64 19 63 19 62 19 61 15:5 Troops in Vietnam: 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 15:5 Vietnam Combat Deaths: 16,000 14,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 19 72 19 71 19 70 19 69 19 68 19 67 19 66 0 19 61 -1 96 5 Combat Deaths 12,000