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Chapter 26 The Cold War Abroad and at Home 1945-1952 Introduction • • • • The onset of the Cold War Its impact on American life at home Impact on American foreign policy “state of mutual hostility short of direct armed confrontation” – Developed as the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. struggled to shape the postwar world in a way that “served its own national interests” Introduction (cont.) • 1.) How did President Truman’s and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s policies contribute to the Cold War? • 2.) What was the containment policy, and how did the U.S. govt. implement it between 1947 and 1952? • 3.) Why did New Deal liberalism weaken after WWII, and what effects did its decline have on Truman’s administration? Introduction (cont.) • 4.) What caused the red scare following WWII, and why did Americans become so frightened of Communism? • 5.) What impact did the Cold War have on civil rights for African-Americans? • 6.) What were the effects of the GI Bill of Rights on the postwar economy and society? The Political Setting, 1945-1946 • Demobilization and Reconversion – The Truman administration rapidly demobilized the armed forces • Dropped from 12 million men in 1945 to 1.5 million by 1948 – Many veterans had trouble readjusting to civilian life • • • • severe housing shortages disappearing defense plant jobs reestablishing family bonds Over a million marriages made during the War ended in divorce by 1950 Demobilization and Reconversion (cont.) • Women lost their wartime industrial jobs • Told by society that they should find fulfillment in marriage and motherhood – Many followed that idea – Others took new lower-paying jobs as office workers and saleswomen • By 1950--more women were in the paid labor force than had been during WWII The GI Bill of Rights • Passed by Congress in 1944 • Also called the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act • Reward men and women who fought for the U.S.A. in WWII • Help them adjust to civilian life • Veterans Affairs Dept. history of GI Bill The GI Bill of Rights (cont.) • Provided returning GI’s with low-interest govt.-backed loans – Start their own business – Buy homes or farms • About 4 million veterans bought homes with their GI loans – Greatly stimulated the postwar construction industry, economy, and suburbanization The GI Bill of Rights (cont.) • The govt. also offered to pay tuition and expenses for 4 years of college or professional training – 8 million veterans accepted this offer – By 1947--1/2 of the nation’s college students were GI Bill veterans – Enrollment soared – Many new 2 and 4 year colleges were founded to meet the demand • A generation of working class Americans rose to the middle class The Economic Boom Begins • By 1946, the U.S. economy was booming • Money the govt. gave veterans for education, loans, and businesses under the GI Bill stimulated growth • U.S. was the strongest industrial nation in the world • International Monetary Fund and World Bank – The U.S. mainly controlled and funded – Stabilized exchange rates – Help to rebuild Asia and Europe The Economic Boom Begins (cont.) • Wartime advances in science and technology made possible the development of new industries – Electronics – Synthetic materials • Consumes spent their war savings – About $135 billion – Bought homes, cars, electric appliances, televisions Truman’s Domestic Program • Employment Act of 1946 – A program to ensure economic growth and employment • Inflation soared – Office of Price Administration was cut • no longer were their price controls • Prices escalated • Strikes increased – Workers demanded higher wages to keep up with the cost of living • Truman wavered between getting tough with strikers and giving in to their demands Truman’s Domestic Program (cont.) • Shortages of housing and consumer goods continued – Industries struggled to catch up with consumer purchases • Americans blamed Truman for inflation, strikes, and shortages • 1946--elected Republicans as the majorities in Congress – 1st time since 1928 • Public uneasiness about the atomic arms race that was starting Anticommunism and Containment, 1946-1952 • Polarization and Cold War – After WWI, U.S. and U.S.S.R. began to argue over Eastern Europe • Especially Poland – Stalin insisted that friendly communist govts. must be installed on the Soviet borders • Secure Soviet Union from future attacks – Stalin did not allow free election there – Communist regimes came to power in Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania Polarization and Cold War (cont.) • Pres. Truman would not accept Soviet domination of Eastern Europe – It violated the principles of national selfdetermination • Truman believed that the spread of communism threatened American economic interests in Eastern Europe and elsewhere The Iron Curtain Descends • Stalin tightened his grip on Eastern Europe • Truman=“get tough with the Russians” • George F. Kennan – State Department expert on U.S.S.R. – Advised the U.S. should apply “long-term, patient, but firm vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies” The Iron Curtain Descends (cont.) • Winston Churchill – Iron Curtain speech – 1946 – Condemned Stalin’s behavior – Called for an anticommunist alliance of the English-speaking peoples – History Channel video – Iron Curtain speech transcript The Iron Curtain Descends (cont.) • Truman threatened to use U.S. naval and land forces if Stalin did not withdraw his troops from Iran and offered a nuclear arms control plan that Russia rejected • U.S. objected to a Soviet counter plan • Both countries developed and stockpiled more and more nuclear weapons The Iron Curtain Descends (cont.) • Cold War – U.S. and U.S.S.R. both would use economic pressure, nuclear threats, propaganda, and subversion against each other – They would not engage in direct military combat Containing Communism • March 1947 – Truman asked Congress for millions of dollars – Help the Greek and Turkish govts. fight communist rebel movements – May 1947--Congress appropriated the $$$ • Truman Doctrine – U.S. commitment to support peoples all over the world who were threatened by Soviet aggression and/or internal communist uprisings – Truman Doctrine speech Containing Communism (cont.) • Marshall Plan – – – – – Developed by Sec. of State George Marshall U.S. assistance to rebuild European economies $17 billion Attempt to prevent the spread of Communism By 1952, it had revived the Western European economically – Communist popularity waned – American business boomed with increased sales in Europe Confrontation in Germany • 1947-1948=Stalin took over Hungary and Czechoslovakia • U.S.A., G.B., and France united their zones of occupation in Germany into West Germany – Include Western occupied parts of Berlin • Berlin blockade – Soviet reaction to unification – Prevented all ground movement of goods and people between West Germany and West Berlin – Stalin hoped to halt the establishment of West Germany – June 1948 to May 1949 – History Channel video--Berlin Blockade Confrontation in Germany (cont.) • Berlin Airlift – Truman’s reaction to the blockade – Truman told Stalin that if the Soviets shot down any supply planes, the U.S. would retaliate with atomic bombs – History Channel video--Berlin Airlift • May 1949--Stalin ended the unsuccessful Berlin blockade • West German Federal Republic was formed – Include West Berlin Confrontation in Germany (cont.) • North Atlantic Treaty Organization – NATO – Formed in April 1949 – 10 European nations, Canada, and the United States – Anticommunist military alliance NATO nations today Confrontation in Germany (cont.) • The Soviets responded by: – 1.) establishing the Germany Democratic Republic (East Germany) – 2.) developed their own atomic bomb – 3.) Warsaw Pact • Military alliance of the Soviet Union and its satellite nations Confrontation in Germany (cont.) • The 2 superpowers divided Europe into rival armed camps. The Cold War in Asia • Both superpowers wanted economic and military influence in Asia • The U.S.: – helped rebuild Japan • Structurally and economically – Occupied much of Japan’s former Pacific island empire – Crushed a communist movement in the Philippines – Aided the French in their attempt to hold on to their empire in Indochina The Cold War in Asia (cont.) • In China though, the United States did not prevent the Nationalist govt. from overthrow – U.S. sent military and economic aid – Helped Jiang Jieshi – Mao Zedong overthrew Jieshi in 1949 – Communist nation The Cold War in Asia (cont.) • • • • Hysteria started in the United States Began a search for disloyal elements in the U.S.A. Republicans blamed Truman for losing China United States built the hydrogen bomb and increased military spending • Soviets built hydrogen bombs also • Thermonuclear terror increased The Korean War, 1950-1953 • In 1945--U.S.S.R. and the United States liberated Korea from Japanese rule • The Soviets set up a communist-governed nation – People’s Democratic Republic of Korea – North of the 38th parallel • United States helped to create a pro-Western nation – Republic of Korea – South of the 38th parallel The Korean War, 1950-1953 (cont.) • Democratic People’s Republic of Korea wanted to reunited Koreans under its rule • Invaded South Korea in 1950 • Truman sent U.S. forces under General Douglas MacArthur to South Korea to repel the invasion – Did so without consent from Congress July 1950 The Korean War, 1950-1953 (cont.) • The United Nations sent a token army to fight under MacArthur • U.S., U.N., and South Korean troops soon pushed the North Koreans back to the 38th parallel • Truman and MacArthur decided to conquer the North and put it under the control of the South Korean govt. The Korean War, 1950-1953 (cont.) • MacArthur’s armies neared the Yalu River • Mao Zedong warned that he would not “stand idly by” • MacArthur ignored the threat • He was caught off guard by the 33 Chinese divisions that forced his troops deep into South Korea October 1950 January 1951 The Korean War, 1950-1953 (cont.) • 1951--MacArthur’s forces reached the 38th parallel • Truman then ordered them to hold that position until a peace settlement was reached • MacArthur protested – He wanted total victory by using atomic bombs against China – Truman removed MacArthur--April 1951 • MacArthur was put in charge of civilian control over the military – History Channel speech--Truman – History Channel speech--MacArthur The Korean War, 1950-1953 (cont.) • Truce came in 1953 • Border between the 2 Koreas was nearly the same as in 1950 • U.S. lost 54,000 lives • Cost $54 billion • In 1953, the defense spending was 2/3 of the federal budget • In 1950 it was 1/3 • The U.S. also began aiding France against an independence revolt in Indochina • SEATO was created in 1954 – U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and other countries The Truman Administration at Home, 1945-1952 • The Eightieth Congress, 1947-1948 – Republican controlled – Began to undo the New Deal – Passed the Taft-Hartley Act • Less favorable to unions than the Wagner Act • Truman had vetoed it but Congress overrode the veto – Truman courted liberal, labor, and Jewish votes for the next election by: • condemned the reactionary Congress • Recognized the new state of Israel The Politics of Civil Rights and the Election of 1948 • • • • • • President’s Committee on Civil Rights 1946 Set up by Truman Investigate racism Suggest ways to protect minorities Congress should pass: – Antilynching bill – Anti-poll tax bill – Other civil-rights bills The Politics of Civil Rights and the Election of 1948 (cont.) • Southern Democrats resisted these possible changes • Truman did not make any specific proposals • 1948 Democratic National Convention – Liberals and urban politicians forced the party to adopt a strong civil-rights platform – This allowed Truman to press for the measures recommended by his civil-rights committee • Southern Democrats founded the Dixiecrat Party – Nominated Strom Thurmond for President • Segregationist from SC The Politics of Civil Rights and the Election of 1948 (cont.) • • • • • 1948 election had 4 candidates: Democrats--Truman Republicans--Thomas Dewey Dixiecrats--Thurmond New Progressive Party--Henry Wallace – Made up of left-wing Democrats • Many believed Dewey would win easily The Politics of Civil Rights and the Election of 1948 (cont.) • Truman secured the northern African-American vote: • Issued executive orders against discrimination in govt. employment and segregation in the armed forces • Truman received the support of northern AfricanAmericans and the Roosevelt New Deal coalition – Gave Truman a close victory – Wallace and Thurmond did not take enough of the Democratic vote to make a difference 1948 Election The Fair Deal • Truman’s social and economic reforms – Increase in the minimum wage – Increase in social-security benefits – Public-housing construction – Removal of slums • Conservation Southern Democrats and Republicans blocked all civil-rights and most Fail Deal measures The Politics of Anticommunism • Loyalty and Security – Federal Employee Loyalty Program • Established March 1947 • Truman formed after Republican accusations that he was not protecting internal security • Provided for checks on all govt. workers • Remove out any disloyal personnel – Between 1947-1951: • more than 500 people were fired • Thousands resigned – Most because they espoused unpopular beliefs, not because they had committed unlawful acts The Anticommunist Crusade • The loyalty program stimulated more fear of subversion • Magazines published stories about the “red” menace • 39 states passed laws requiring their employees to take loyalty oaths • Teachers, union leaders, and public officials hesitated to advocate reform – Fear of being suspected of being procommunist The Anticommunist Crusade (cont.) • House Un-American Activities Committee – – – – HUAC 1947 Began hearings on communist influence Witnesses who refused to testify about their own and other people’s past political activities and views were cited for contempt of Congress • They lost their jobs • Hollywood studios and radio networks blacklisted employees they considered left-wing The Anticommunist Crusade (cont.) • The Truman administration prosecuted the leaders of the Communist Party – Conspiracy to preach the overthrow of the govt. – The Supreme Court upheld the convictions • The First Amendment freedoms may be restricted to protect national security • There were only 30,000 American Communist • Any danger from them was minimal Alger Hiss and the Rosenbergs • Hiss worked in the State Department • 1950 • Accused of giving classified documents to the Soviets • Convicted of perjury for lying Alger Hiss and the Rosenbergs (cont.) • Ethel and Julius • Part of a spy ring that had stolen atomic secrets for the Soviets • Found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage • Rosenbergs insisted they were innocent • sentenced to death Alger Hiss and the Rosenbergs (cont.) • Republicans claimed that the Hiss and Rosenbergs cases proved that the Democratic administration had been made up of communist traitors McCarthyism • Rep. Senator from WI • Without supporting evidence McCarthy accused many public officials of communist activities or being agents – Democratic senators, members of Truman administration, and other public officials McCarthyism (cont.) • He won a following among insecure and/or discontented groups • He frightened political leaders into rigid anticommunist stances on complex issues • McCarran Internal Security Act – 1950 – Subversive Controls Act – Communist had to register with the Attorney General • McCarran-Walter Immigration and Nationality Act – 1952 – Quota system The Election of 1952 • Democrats--Adlai Stevenson • Republicans--Dwight D. Eisenhower • Eisenhower and the Republicans won easily won the White House and Congress – McCarthyist labeling of the Democrats as the party of treason – Stalemate in Korea – Eisenhower’s pledge to go to Korea to end the war Conclusion • WWII was followed by a period of economic boom • GI Bill of Rights contributed to that prosperity • Rose a generation of working-class veterans into the middle class • Millions of GI’s attended college, started businesses, bought homes Conclusion (cont.) • The U.S.A. tried to contain communism – Aid to Greece and Turkey – Marshall Plan – Berlin airlift – Help create West Germany – Organized NATO – Fought the Korean War Conclusion (cont.) • Truman’s anticommunist rhetoric and govt. loyalty program contributed to a red scare – Silenced dissenters – Weakened Democratic liberalism • Republicans could not undo popular New Deal programs, but they did block most Fair Deal initiatives • The election of 1952 ended the 1st phase of the postwar era and 20 years of Democratic control of the presidency