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Cold War and the United States
SSUSH 20 Analyze the domestic and
international impact of the Cold War on the
United States
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Describe the creation of the Marshall Plan, U. S.
commitment to Europe, the Truman Doctrine and
the origins and implications of the containment
policy.
Explain the impact of the new communist regime
in China, the outbreak of the Korean War, and how
these events contributed to the rise of Senator
Joseph McCarthy.
Describe Cuban Revolution, the Bay of Pigs, and
the Cuban Missile Crisis
Describe the Vietnam War, the Tet Offensive, and
growing opposition to the war.
The Start of the Cold War
Marshall Plan -financial plan was
developed by Secretary of State George C.
Marshall. It sparked economic recovery in
Western Europe. The 12 billion dollars
helped stop the Soviet Union from
spreading into Western Europe.
 The Truman Doctrine- the policy started
by helping the countries of Greece and
Turkey, stop Soviet expansion into their
country. The United States would help any
country that opposed communism.
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The Start of the Cold War
Policy of Containment- the United
States would provide aid to any country
that opposed communism. The policy
was to contain communism in the
countries it was already in and not let it
expand to surrounding countries.
 The Iron Curtain- term coined by
Winston Churchill to describe the
division between Communist and nonCommunist life.
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Dividing Germany
U. S., Britain, and France merged their zones in
1948 to create an independent West German
state.
 The Soviets responded by blockading land
access to Berlin. The U. S. began a massive airlift
of supplies that lasted almost a year. (7,000 tons
a day) In May 1949 Stalin lifted the blockade,
conceding that he could not prevent the creation
of West Germany
 Thus, the creation of East and West Germany.
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The Division of Berlin
The Cold War Heats Up: Problems
of the Atomic Age
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The most frightening aspect of the Cold
War was the constant threat of nuclear
war.
 Russia detonated its first atom bomb in
1949.
 Truman ordered construction of the
hydrogen bomb.
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Call for buildup of conventional forces to
provide alternative to nuclear war.
The Rise of Communism
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China- Mao Zedong was the leader of
communist China. He had strict control of all
aspects of life in China. He made use of force
to destroy his enemies and keep control of the
country.
The Korean War- the war started when
communist troops from North Korea invaded
democratic South Korea. The United States
and the UN aided South Korea, but China
became involved when the allied forces
invaded North Korea. The war ended July 27,
1953, with Korea being divided along the 38th
parallel.
The Rise of Communism
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McCarthyism- started by Senator
Joseph McCarthy. He held hearings
trying to prove that members of the
United States government were
communist. He held hearings over four
years, but was unable to prove his
charges, even though he ruined the lives
of many people.
McCarthy
McCarthy accusing those
of communist
tendencies
Sen. Joseph McCarthy
The Korean War (1950-1953)
Since the end of WWII, North Korea and
South Korea were divided by the 38th
parallel.
 Soviet-backed troops from North Korea
invaded U. S.-backed South Korea in
June 1950
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The Korean War (1950-1953)
Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution- (1956) the forces of Fidel Castro
defeated the government of Cuba. Castro turned to
communism after economic sanctions were applied by the
United States. Castro declared himself president for life.
 Bay of Pigs- (1961) 1,500 Cuban exiles trained and
armed by CIA tried to invade Cuba. JFK refused to involve
U. S. forces, exiles captured by Castro. U. S. had to give
$53 million in food and supplies for release of the exiles.
The failure of this operation was an embarrassment to the
Kennedy administration and led to the Cuban Missile
Crisis.
 Cuban Missile Crisis- (1962) USSR built missile launch
sites in Cuba. JFK responded by blockading Cuba unless
USSR withdrew. Compromised by USSR removing their
missiles from Cuba and U. S. removing their missiles from
Turkey.
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Bay of Pigs
Cuban exiles captured
Khrushchev and Kennedy struggle
for power
Bay of Pigs
Vietnam War
Vietnam War was fought from 1957-1975.
The U. S. helped the democratic forces of
South Vietnam against the communists of
North Vietnam supported by the Soviet Union.
 Tet Offensive- was an offensive in 1968.
When the forces of North Vietnam attacked
force in South Vietnam. Most of the fighting
was in cities in the South. Even though the
North was defeated in the battle, it turned
American public opinion against the war.
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Vietnam War
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The United States became divided on the
Vietnam War. The hawks wanted the
country to continue the war and the doves
wanted peace. There were 50,000 anti-war
demonstrators who marched on
Washington, the firing on students at Kent
State by the National Guardsmen and
Daniel Ellsberg leaking a secret study on
the war to the press. These events caused
America to leave the war in March of 1973.
Television and the Vietnam War
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The Tet Offensive made the brutality of the
war very visible to Americans. The US Air
Force had been bombing South
Vietnamese villages for years; during Tet
the Air Force was bombing South
Vietnamese cities. The ARVN had been
killing prisoners for years; during Tet the
American television viewing public actually
got to watch a prisoner, with his hands
bound behind his back, being shot through
the head by a South Vietnamese general.
The Tet Offensive made the US news media,
and the US public, much less enthusiastic
about the war than they had been previously.
General Westmoreland did not get the
200,000 additional troops he had requested,
and in less than two years the US began
withdrawing substantial numbers of troops.
 In the long run the Tet Offensive was a
victory for the Communists, because of the
way it reduced the American will to fight.
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Student shot at Kent State University in Ohio.
POW’S