Download 8: The Cold War

US History, Part B
EOC Remediation
Lesson 8: The Cold War
Day 1: Cold War Review
Day 2: Cold War Graphic Organizer
EOC Practice Questions
Overview:
-Following World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union competed for power and influence in the world in what
became known as the Cold War. (8A)
-Although the nation enjoyed great prosperity during the 1950’s many Americans worried about consequences of growing
competition with the Soviet Union. Communist spies in the United States gave the USSR the technology it needed to
develop nuclear weapons. Some political leaders cited evidence that communists also held important positions in American
society and government. The Soviet’s launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, in 1957 intensified Americans’
tensions and fears. (8B)
-In June 1950, troops from communist North Korea invaded South Korea to bring it under communist control. U.S. forces
and United Nations forces went to Korea and fought North Korean and communist Chinese troops until 1953, when an
agreement ended the fighting and set the border between North Korea and South Korea at very near its prewar locations.
(8C)
-The Domino Theory was related to the United States general Cold War foreign policy of preventing the spread of
communism. It was the belief that if a nation came under communist control that, like a row of dominos, nearby nations
would also fall to communism. (8D)
-The Vietnam War seriously divided American society. When called to fight in Southeast Asia, many young Americans
believed it their patriotic duty to go, while other resisted military service, distrusted government leaders, and vigorously
protested the war. Over time, similar divisions over patriotism and policy arose among older Americans, too. (8F)
Key People and Events
President Harry Truman - _US President responsible for using atomic weapons to end war with Japan. Saw the nation into the Cold War. ____________
Cold War - _Era of rising tension between US and USSR in which no major military combat was realized. The mutual danger of nuclear war kept both countries safe.
Alliance of Progress: _(1961) JFK’s plan to establish economic cooperation between US and Latin America. ________________________________
Good Neighbor Policy: _FDR’s foreign policy towards Latin America. It involved the idea of non-interference and non-intervention by US. _____________
Truman Doctrine: _(1947) Harry Truman’s plan of containment offering military and financial aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent spread of communism. ____
Marshall Plan:_(1947) Sec. State George Marshall’s plan of containment that offered millions of dollars to Eastern European Nations. _________________
North Atlantic Treaty Organization: _NATO/ Group of 12 nations pledging loyalty to each other in the event of foreign attack. _________________
Berlin Airlift: _After USSR land blockade of Democratic West Berlin, the US flew thousands of air missions to drop food, medicine, and toys to W. Berliners. ____
Imperialism: _Act of a nation expanding its land, power, and influence throughout the world._________________________________________
Internationalism: _ a movement which advocates a greater economic and political cooperation among nations for the theoretical benefit of all. __________
Aggression: _Foreign use of force to broaden the reach of communist power and influence around the world. ________________________________
Containment: _US foreign policy of keeping communism from spreading o nations that were not yet under communist rule. _______________________
United Nations: _UN/ Group of allied nations with the power to embargo, place sanctions, form resolutions, and combat with a standing army, threat nations.__
Vietnam War: _Conflict between Communist North Vietnam and Democratic South Vietnam and United States in an effort to contain communism. ________
Tet Offensive: _Massive and simultaneous attacks by Communist Vietnamese across the country of S. Vietnam. Turning point in war for US military and public. _
Vietnamization: _Richard Nixon’s attempt to turn the fighting in Vietnam over to the South Vietnamese military that US had been training. _____________
Fall of Saigon: _(1975) Two years after US troops were pulled out of Vietnam, North Vietnamese conquered the Capitol and unified the nation of Vietnam. ____
My Lai Massacre: _War Crime in which US military opened fire in Vietnamese civilians, including women and children. _________________________
Draft: _Mandatory military service for single, non-college males beginning at age 18. _______________________________________________
The Cold War
Following World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union entered a 45 year period of tension between the two
countries known as the Cold War. The failure of the Soviet Union to all free elections in Eastern Europe (following the end of
World War II) and the establishment of communist countries prompted the United States to engage in a policy of
containment.
“Wonder why we’re not keeping pace?”
What event occurred in 1957 and how is it associated with the above
cartoon?
Space Race between US and USSR.
1.
Describe the U.S. responses to Soviet aggression after World War II:
Identify the responses below
Truman Doctrine
Military and economic aid given to Greece and Turkey to
prevent the USSR from communist control of these countries.
Marshall Plan
Economic aid to Eastern European nations that could easily be
taken over by the Communist Soviet Union.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Formation of a group of allied nations with the pledge of loyalty
for each other if the USSR tried to invade or take over any of
these nations.
Berlin Airlift
NATO airdrops of food, medicine, and toys to the citizens of the
blockaded West Berlin.
John F. Kennedy’s role in the Cuban Missile
Crisis
Effective leadership of US during a time of the highest tensions
in the Cold War. The closest we have come to nuclear war.
2. Why was the launching of Sputnik a significant event? It proved that the Soviets had the capability to launch rockets,
not only into space, but possible nuclear weapons at the US.
3. Why was the United Nations established and why would some be opposed to the U.S. participating in it? To create
international cooperation and to prevent a third World War. Only certain member countries have UN powers (Veto).
4. What role did Eleanor Roosevelt play in the United Nations? She was first American delegate to UN.
5. Identify each of the following and explain how they lead to an increase in Cold War tensions?
Identify the event
Explanation of increase in tensions
Arms race
Race to accumulate the largest and most powerful
militaries.
This included the build up (proliferation) of nuclear
weapons.
Space race
Race to successfully place man and weapons in
space. Race to put a man on the moon.
Success in this race translated to ability to fire
nuclear weapons at opposing countries.
McCarthyism
Product of America’s “Red Scare,” this was the
incarceration and possible deportation of
Americans alleged to have communist ties.
This elevated American fears that communism was
gaining a foothold in the US.
House Un-American Activities
Committee (HUAC)
Congressional Committee tasked with deciding if an
alleged American communist was actually a
communist. They passed down conviction and
sentencing.
Also elevated fears that communism was
successfully spreading in the US.
6. Explain U.S. involvement in the Korean War:
Reasons for U.S. Involvement in Korea
Outcomes of US Involvement in Korea
US policy of containment. US wanted to keep
communism in North Korea (above 38th parallel) and to
avoid its spread into Democratic South Korea.
Korean War ended in a “stalemate,” in which Korea
returned to pre-war situation. Communist North Korea
and Democratic South Korea divided by 38th parallel.
7. How was the Korean War related to U.S. containment policy? US goal in Korea was to keep communism in North Korea
not to overthrow the communist government in N. Korea. Just keep communism from spreading.
8. How did defense spending impact economics from 1945-into the 1990’s? With the exception of defense companies, US
economy was injured. US deficit more than tripled. Soviet economy could not keep up, and defense spending
ultimately bankrupt the USSR. This led to its dissolving.
9. How did the Cold War impact education spending from 1945 into the 1990’s? In an effort to produce the Cold War
leadership of the future, the US turned its focus to spending on education; namely in the fields of math and
science.
10. Identify the following terms and explain how they related to the topic of the Cold War:
-Loyalty oaths- Public pledges by American citizens that they had not, nor would they ever act in a way to aid the
spread of communism.
- Venona Papers- List of names of Soviet Agents during the Cold War. It was deciphered by US intelligence.
-Alger Hiss- Soviet agent caught attempting to gather sensitive intelligence in the US.
-Julius and Ethel Rosenberg- Married couple, and Soviet spies who were got obtaining US military secrets and were
summarily executed.
-containment- US policy enacted to prevent the spread of communism into free and sovereign nations.
EOC Practice Questions
The Cold War
1.
I believe that is 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 we must
assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own
way.
-President Harry Truman
In making this statement, President Truman was announcing what became known as the
A. Cold War
B. Alliance for Progress
C. Good Neighbor Policy
D. Truman Doctrine
(8A, 29A)
2. Which action was undertaken largely to combat the spread of communism after World War II?
A. formation of the Marshall Plan
B. the U.S. occupation of Japan
C. creation of the United Nations
D. the partition of Germany
(8A)
3.
I have here in my hand a list of 205 people that were known to
the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist
Party, and who, nevertheless, are still working and shaping the
policy of the State Department.
-from a speech by Senator Joseph McCarthy,
February 9, 1950
The charges made in this quote and the public’s reaction to them illustrate a political environment in the United States that
resulted fromA. The Red Scare after World War II
B. World War II
C. the announcement of the Truman Doctrine
D. the Cold War
(8B, 29A, 29B)
4.
A.
B.
C.
D.
How was Sputnik linked to the arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States?
It was powered by atomic energy.
It used technology stolen from the United States.
It was the first artificial satellite launched into space.
It showed the USSR had rockets powerful enough to strike the U.S.
(8B, 29B)
5.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which American foreign policy is best illustrated by U.S. involvement in the Korean War?
The Truman Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine
The Marshall Plan
the Good Neighbor Policy
(8C)
6. Which term best expresses the reason the United States became involved in the Korean War?
A. imperialism
B. internationalism
C. aggression
D. containment
(8C, 29B, 30B)
7.
Marshall Plan
Truman Doctrine
Domino Theory
?
Which of the following best completes this diagram of U.S. world involvement during the Cold War?
A. United Nations
B. Vietnam
C. Containment
D. Arms Race
(8D, 29B, 30B)
8
The application of the Domino Theory in foreign policy in best illustrated by the United States’ involvement inA. World War II in the 1940’s
B. Vietnam in the 1960’s and 1970’s
C. the civil war in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990’s
D. the War on Terror in the present day
(8D)
9. Which event marked the turning point in American public opinion about the U.S. government’s policies in Vietnam?
A. the fall of Saigon
B. the invasion of Cambodia
C. the My Lai Massacre
D. the Tet Offensive
(8E)
10. President Richard Nixon’s policy of Vietnamization in the Vietnam War called forA. ending U.S. involvement by giving South Vietnamese forces a greater role in combat
B. accepting the unification of Vietnam under a government that included communists
C. invading neutral Laos and Cambodia to seize enemy bases and supplies that existed there
D. bombing communist North Vietnam to convince it to stop fighting and make peace
(8E)
11. Which bumper sticker expresses the sentiment behind the addition of the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
in 1971?
A. Down with the draft!
B. If I’m old enough to Fight, I’m old enough to vote!
C. I’m going to be drafted, so I should be able to drink!
D. Only Congress can make war!
(8F)
12. A member of the “silent majority” during the Vietnam Era was most likely to be A. a hawk
B. a dove
C. a member of the media
D. opposed to the military draft
(8F, 30B)
Answer Key
1. D (8A,29A)
2. A (8A)
3. D (8B, 29A, 29B)
4. D (8B, 29B)
5. A (8C)
6. D (8C, 29B, 30B)
7. C (8D, 29B, 30B)
8. B (8D)
9. D (8E)
10. A (8E)
11. B (8F)
12. A (8F, 30B)