Download Challenges of World Leadership

Challenges of World Leadership
Cold War
Events of the 1940s & 1950s
What is a “Cold War”?
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A Cold War is a state
of political tension
between two nations,
which stops short of
full-scale war.
Tension between Superpowers
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After WWII, the United States & the Soviet
Union emerged as rivals that were strong
enough to influence world events.
Throughout WWII the U.S. & Soviets became
suspicious of each other, which was directly
related to their conflicting ideology.
VS.
United Nations
Representatives of fifty nations
established a peacekeeping organization
on April 25, 1945
Potsdam Conference
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The Big Three (U.S., Britain, Soviets) met at Potsdam,
where it became clear that Stalin would prevent free
elections & ban democracy in Russia’s satellite nations.
U.S. & Soviet Post-War Aims
All nations should have the right
to self-determination
Gain access to Europe’s raw
materials
Encourage communism in Europe
Rebuild its war-ravaged economy
with Europe’s resources
Rebuild European governments to
ensure stability
Control Eastern Europe to balance
U.S. control in Western Europe
Reunite Germany for European
Security
Keep Germany divided & weak so
it will not threaten them again.
Soviets control Eastern Europe
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Stalin took advantage of post-war chaos in Eastern
Europe & installed communist governments in Albania,
Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, & Poland
A war between communist & capitalist seemed to be
inevitable.
U.S. Response to Soviet Build-Up

Truman Doctrine – President Truman asked Congress for
military aid “to support free peoples who are resisting
subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures.”
A policy of containment had been adopted by the U.S.
against Soviet expansion.
U.S. Response to Soviet Build-Up
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Marshall Plan – Secretary of State George Marshall
established a policy where the U.S. provided aid to all
European nations “against hunger, poverty, desparation,
& chaos.”
Post-War Germany
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After World War II, Germany was
divided into four occupation
zones. The U.S., Britain, & France
controlled Western Germany while
the Soviet Union controlled
Eastern Germany.
The German capital of Berlin,
which was located in Eastern
Germany, was also divided
between East & West.
The Berlin Airlift
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Stalin saw an opportunity to wrestle control all of Berlin
from the three Allied Nations. In June 1948, he
blockaded all rail routes & highways into West Berlin.
The U.S. & Britain responded with the Berlin Airlift by
flying food & supplies into West Berlin for 327 straight
days. By May 1949 the Soviets, realizing their plan had
failed, lifted the blockade.
NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established
on April 4, 1949. Ten Western Europe nations joined the
U.S. & Britain to form a defensive military alliance.
Communism in Asia

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U.S. aid to Nationalists in China
failed to control communism in
China, as Mao Zedong
established the People’s
Republic of China.
U.S. failure to contain
communism in China led to
accusations of communist
agents working within the U.S.
government
The Korean War
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After World War II, the Republic
of Korea was established in South
Korea under the leadership of
Syngman Rhee.
At the same time, the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea was
established in North Korea under
Kim Il Sung.
Events of the Korean War
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On June 25, 1950 the Communist
North launched an attack on South
Korea
On June 27th President Truman
authorized U.S. troops stationed in
Japan & a U.S. fleet to assist South
Korea.
Over 90% of the 520,000 troops
sent to aid South Korea were
American. The force was placed
under the command of General
Douglas MacArthur.
Events of the Korean War
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North Korea captured the South Korean
capital of Seoul & forced the South into
a small defensive position around Pusan
MacArthur made a surprise amphibious
landing at Inchon, while another force
attacked from Pusan.
The majority of North Korean troops
surrendered, while the others were
driven back across the 38th Parallel.
The advance continued deep into North
Korea.
Events of the Korean War
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In November 1950, 300,000
Chinese communist troops
joined the war on North
Korea’s side.
The Chinese drove U.N. troops
out of North Korea &
eventually captured Seoul
Over the next two years,
Chinese & U.N. forces battled
without any real advance by
either side
Events of the Korean War
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General MacArthur called for a U.S.
attack on China, but was rebuffed by
President Truman.
By April 1951, General Matthew B.
Ridgeway had retaken Seoul &
pushed Chinese & North Korean
forces back to the 38th parallel.
MacArthur continued to push the
idea of attacking China & publicly
criticized President Truman. This led
to Truman firing MacArthur.
Events of the Korean War
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Truce talks began in July 1951 &
finally in July 1953 the opposing
sides signed an armistice ending
the war virtually where it began.
A demilitarized zone was
established between North & South
Korea.
Communism was contained, but
lack of victory in Korea led to U.S.
citizens rejecting the Democratic
Party.
Election of 1952
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World War II hero Dwight D. Eisenhower became the
34th U.S. President.
Red Scare
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In 1949, the Soviets had exploded
an atomic bomb. Paranoia led to
thoughts that Americans had
passed secrets to the Soviets.
In 1950, German-born physicist
Klaus Fuchs admitted to passing
atomic secrets to the Soviets.
Fuchs implicated Julius & Ethel
Rosenberg & they were eventually
found guilty of espionage &
sentenced to death.
Red Scare
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Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy raised
accusations that Communists were taking
over the U.S. Government.
McCarthyism, attacks on suspected
Communists in the early 1950s & accusing
people of disloyalty without evidence,
exploited American fear of Communism to
gain support for Republican candidates in
1952.
In 1954, McCarthy made Communist
accusations against the U.S. Army, which
led to a televised Senate investigation. His
treatment of witnesses led him to lose his
public support.
Nuclear Arms Race
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The Soviets development of the atomic bomb led to the
U.S. developing the H-bomb, which was 67 times more
destructive than “Little Boy” dropped on Hiroshima.
Mutual deterrence or Brinkmanship, the fear of nuclear
war deterred the U.S. & Soviet Union from acting on
their suspicions, led the U.S. to continue to develop
nuclear weapons to rival or surpass the Soviets.
Central Intelligence Agency
The National Security Act (1957) reorganized the
Department of War to Defense and created the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA), which used spies to gather
information abroad.
Warsaw Pact
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After Stalin’s death in 1953, a military alliance was
formed by the Soviets, which linked the Soviet Union
with seven Eastern Europe countries.
Space Race Begins
In 1957, the Soviets successfully launched
the space satellite Sputnik, beating the
U.S. into space and sparking another
rivalry.
U.S. Highway System
Highway Act of 1956 – the largest public
works project in history begins frenzied
road building at government expense for
the purpose of moving military troops &
equipment quickly.
Challenges of World
Leadership
Kennedy & the Cold War
Election of 1960
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Massachusetts Senator John F.
Kennedy defeated Vice President
Richard M. Nixon to become the
35th U.S. President
At 43, Kennedy became the
youngest elected U.S. President &
spoke of a “New Frontier” with
promises of victory in the arms &
space races.
Peace Corps
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In August 1961 the Kennedy administration created the
Peace Corps, which provided skilled workers in the areas
of education, agriculture, health, technology, &
community development to work in the underdeveloped
nations of the world.
Crisis in Berlin
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In 1961, Soviet leader Nikita Kruschev ordered the
construction of the Berlin Wall, which became a symbol
of communist oppression, to stop refugees from crossing
from East to West.
Crisis in Berlin
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Due to problems caused by East
German refugees, Kruschev continued
to challenge U.S. control of West
Berlin.
Kennedy stood firm by proclaiming:
“We cannot and will not permit the
Communists to drive us out of Berlin”
Communist Cuba
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In the late 1950s, a young
Communist named Fidel Castro
became dictator of Cuba & quickly
established relations with the Soviet
Union.
In accordance with the U.S. policy
of containment, President Kennedy
approved a CIA plan to train antiCastro Cuban exiles to overthrow
Castro.
Bay of Pigs Invasion
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On April 17, 1961 U.S. sponsored Cuban exiles landed at the
Bay of Pigs on Cuba’s southwestern coast.
The invasion was unsuccessful & turned into a major
embarrassment for the Kennedy Administration.
Kennedy refused to send in air-support for the exiles, who
also did not receive the expected support of the Cuban
people. Castro’s anti-American sentiment increased.
Cuban Missile Crisis
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In October 1962 an American U-2 spy plane
photographed the construction of Soviet nuclear missile
sites in Cuba.
President Kennedy announced the discovery to the
American people & ordered a naval blockade
(quarantine) of Cuba.
Cuban Missile Crisis
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After thirteen days of intense negotiations, Soviet leader
Nikita Kruschev vowed to dismantle the missile sites in
exchange for a secret commitment to withdraw U.S.
missiles in Turkey & a public commitment that the U.S.
would not invade Cuba.
Cuban Missile Crisis
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Many of Kennedy’s military advisors favored an invasion,
but he stood firm on his attempt to peacefully resolve
the situation.
The result was a major victory for Kennedy & the U.S. in
the Cold War.
Space Race Continues
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Despite early Russian success with
Sputnik & putting the first human into
space, the U.S. surpassed the Soviets in
Space.
On May 5, 1961 Alan B. Shephard
became the first U.S. individual in
space.
On July 20, 1969 Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin &
Neil Armstrong successfully landed on
the moon fulfilling a promise made by
President Kennedy at the beginning of
his presidency.
JFK is Assassinated
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On November 22, 1963 at 12:30 pm President Kennedy,
visiting Dallas in an attempt to gain support for a tough
re-election campaign, was assassinated by Lee Harvey
Oswald.
JFK is Assassinated
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The assassination has been & still is the subject of
several conspiracy theories.
Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as the nation’s 36th U.S.
President.