Origins of the Cold War Essay

A. Sources of the Statesn Soviet TensionHad difference in view of post contend globe. US supported the view in which solid grounds gave up traditional force alliances, and dealt with each otherwise in a democratic process, with an outside(a) org. as mediator. Britain and Soviets favored view where system of traditional European balance of powers would reemerge.B. contend time DiplomacyBy Jan 1943 a strain in dealings with soviets was evident as Stalin refused to meet with Churchill and Roosevelt. The 2 refused Stalinsmost immediate choose to confound a 2 european fronts, but assured him that they would have unconditional surrender of Axis powers and they would not leave soviets out of ease negotiations. In Teharan Conference relations between Stalin and Roosevelt became better as Stalin concord to enter Pacific once hotstilities in Europe turn overd down, and US concord to 2 front western state of struggle. However there was tension on who would lead Poland once war was over. They avoided the issue by leaving it discordant.C. YaltaIn Feb. 1945the big three met in Soviet Union. Stalin was promised around territory mixed-up in Jap Soviet war of 1904, in pacific. Also agree to UN charter with a security system council, with members from 5 study powers. Issue of acculturation giving medication was compromised. Soviets had occupied Poland and installight-emitting diode the pro communistic Lubin Poles, but as strong as concur to let in some democratic London Poles into establishment.The future of Germany was in like manner unresolved. They agreed that after war each troop would control the representation of the country they were in and reunification would occur at a afterward time. US precious Germany to be reconstructed, and reunited, Stalin treasured heavy reparations. The Yalta conference sidestepped essential issues, and do the three men feel like they signed an grievous document. Weeks after signing Roosevlt watched as Stali n installed procommunist presidential terms in some(prenominal) nations and refused to murder the changes he promised to Roosevelt in Polish government. Roosevelt was adamant that Soviets were flexible, but would suffer stroke and die in April 1945.II. The Collapse of the PeaceA. The Failure of PotsdamA few yrs after taking office Truman, lots less patient with Soviets chastised opposed minister for violations of Yalta conference. However he had little leverage as soviets controlled central and eastern Europe and US was still in pacific war. Truman insisted on getting 85% of what he desireed but had to settle for much less. Truman conceded Poland and recognized the noncommunist forces in the Warsaw government. To settle issue of Germany Truman met with Stalin and Churchill in Postdam, he accepted the adjustments to the Polish German boarder and but refused Russians to claim reparations from move of Germany controlled by US French or Britain. This stance made it blow over t hat Germany would remain divided. The western z maven friendly to US, the Eastern to Russia.B. The China conundrumFor US hopes of a peaceful world to abide by true, China had to be strong and independent, until now the Chinese government under Chaing Kai Shek was feeble and incompetent. Chiang had free himself, unwilling to face the problem which were facing him. He was in lengthen rivalry with armies of Mao Zedong, which was in control of 1/4 the population. US would pump arms and money to the Chiang. Instead, US now looked to lacquer as an alternative pro western force in Asia. US get up all restrictions, promoting indusrial development, and economic produce.C. Containment DoctrineBy 19445 the Grand Alliance was over, and US was now working on a raw containment policy. Rather than creating an ease up world, they would work to contain the expansion of the Soviets. Truman issued his Truman Doctrine based on ideas of diplomatist George f. Kennan. United States would help n ations resisting sibjugation from outside sources or from armed minorities. He also asked for $400 million to help turkey and Greece, which would help them defeat communist insurgents, and established basis for US foreign policy for next 30 historic period.D. Marshal PlanAmerican policy maker wanted to do something to strengthen pro American governments in Europe before communists insurgents washed-up them. In June 1947 Sec of State George C. Marshall proposed plan for economic financial aid to all European nations even Soviets to join program of recovery. Soviets denied, but 16 other nations joined. Over three years, $12 billion would be effrontery to help spark economic revival. European industry rose 64% and caused communist strength to decline and US trade opportunities to increase.E. Mobilization at HomeFailed accords with Soviets over international control of nuclear weapons, made America redouble its nuclear research. The Atomic Energy Commison was to oversee all nuclear research civilian, and military, and in 1950 Truman aoorived development of ne H give out stronger than one used in 1945. The National warrantor Act created a new Departmen of Defense which would oversee all armed services. A National Security Council out of thw white house would govern forign and military policy. CIA would replace wartime office of strategic services. And engage in covert methods of collecting onformation.F. The Road to NatoTruman reached an agreement with Britain and France to merge their Germany zones into a new western German Republic. Stalin responded by direful a tight blockade of western berlin, Truman would drop supplied of food and provide for ten months allowing a city of 2 million to survive during this time. Stalin would nip the blockade in spring of 1949. Germany was now divided into 2 nations, federal Republic in west and Democratic Republic in east. In April 1949 12 nations signed agreement declaring an flack on one was an attack on all. Sovie t would do the same with other communist nations in Europe chated the Warsaw Pact in 1955.G. Reevaluating Cold War polityA series of events at end of 1949 propelled cold war in new direction as Soviets announced that they had tested their first atomic bomb, and the Chiang Kai-Shek nationalist government collapsed and was replaced by a communist extension of Soviets. Us would refuse to recoginize Chinese government and diverted attention to revitalizing Japan as a buffer against Asian communism. During this escalated atmosphere of crisis Truman called for a through review of forign policy. The National Securty Report was issued in 1950. The doc said US should not rely on other nations to resist communism, US moldiness stop expansion of communism in the world. It also called for 4x increase in US military budget.III. America After The WarA. The Problems of ReconversionEconomic growth continued after 1945, saving from consumers during the war started a boom, as did a $6 billion tax cut. The GI bill of rights, or Servicemens Readjustment Act provided houseing, education and job training to vets and increased their spending. grievous inflation cause prices to rise 15 % annually, compounding this was labor upheaval as major strikes were occurring in most industries. In 1946 John Lewis led the United Coal Workers out on strike for 40 days.Truman demanded scorch mine owners to agree to union demands, simulataneously the nations railroads shut down, however Truman threatened military intervention and the strike was over in a few days. Reconversion was difficult for women and minorities who entered during wartime. Now men where returning from war and wanted their old indus campaign jobs back, many women voluntarily gave them back but as much as 80% and all minority men wanted to keep jobs. Women would look to other areas of the economy, mainly the service sector.B. The Fair carry RejectedThe Fair deal was a 21 point house servant program calling for expansion of social security benefits, legal stripped-down wage increase from 40 to 65 cents public works and other programs. In all he wanted to declare an end to wartime moratorium on liberal reform. However the Republicans would regain control of house and senate and reduce government spending and many other reforms. The Taft Hawley Act would empower president to call a 10 day cooling period before a strike. Truman would veto it but relative overruled.C. The Elections of 1948Despites results of the 46 election Truman was not mobile to give up on new deal. In 1948 he proposed major civil rights bill but congress would defeat them all. Tuman was trying to constitute campaign issues. Truman had issue of unpopularity and weakening support in the democratic party. south wind democrats did not like the civil rights bills. Others did not like the way he dealt with Soviets. Republican had nominated Dewey, seemed to offer unbeatable alternative to Truman. Truman called republicans do nil good f or nothing. To dramatize this he called special session of congress, mostly republican, they met for 2 weeks in which nothing was accomplished. Truman would win by a very slenderise but decisive margin.D. The Fair Deal RevivedThe new congress was still hesitant to fair deal but did give some of what Truman wanted. They increased min wage to 75 cents and hour, extended social security to 10 million more people, and National Housing Act build 810,000 homes for low income housing. However his efforts for civil rights, the abolishment of lynchings, poll tax, fair barter all failed. Truman did battle descrimination on his own, he ended descrimination in government jobs, and tried to dismantle it in armed forces. Allowed justice dept. to get relate in discrinitory statues.IV. The Korean WarA. The Divided PeninsulaAt the end of WWII US and soviets had army in Korea, Russians in left a communist government with strong soviet troops, while us left an anti communist with a small military . The weakness of South Korea made north want to reunite the country. Truman reacted quickly to the invasion by sending limited American military assistance. Soviets protetested the UN Security Council for it refusal in acknowledging the Chinese government. This gave UN agreement to US for international assistance to South Korea. Truman would sed ground forces and General McArthur to command UN operations. Most UN troops were American. After driving communists out of south, Truman gave McArthur permission to go into North to make a uunified independent democratic Korea.B. From invasion to goThe invasion went swimmingly with the capture of Pyongyang in October. except Chinese government got tire as UN travel close to Chinese boarder, they would enter war and poke Americans back past 38th parallel and take capital of Seoul. By Jan UN started moving back north and regained capital for 2nd time, then war went into stalemate. Truman did not want direct conflict with China which he a rchetype would cause another world war. McArthur thought that it was a just that, a war with China, he thought heavy bombing on communists was necessary. McArthur would preserve letter to republican leader which caused Truman to relive him of command. 69% of Americans supported McArthur and was welcomed enthusiastically. in that location was hostility towards Truman until other military leader publicly showed support for his decision. Stalemate continued in Korea, negotiations began in 1951 but war would drag on until 1953.C. Limited MobilizationTo fight inflation during wartime Truman set up the speckle of Defense Mobilization. When its actions failed Truman took more drastic actions. When rail workers walked off the job he ordered government to take control. In steel strike he did same but supreme court ruled he had exceeded his power. The war brought economic boom as government pumped money into the economy. But made many Americans insecure, and anxious about communism. Did no t know why boarder skirmish had gone on so long unresolved and 140,000 dead wounded. Led to second campaign against communism.V. The Crusade Against SubversionA. HAUC and Alger dameRepublicans wanted something to attack Democrats with and and democrats wanted to take issue away from the,. The menage Un-American Activities Committee in 1947, started publicized investigations of communist subversion. They started arguing that communists had infiltrated Hollywood, and when may former communists film maker refused to talk about their politicial beliefs, they were sent to imprison for contempt. Another public investigation was against elevated ranking senate member Alger red cent, when reports from a former communist agent said that Hiss had passed classified documents to him. Hiss sued for slander but Chambers produced images of the document. Do to statute of limitation, occurred over 7 years ago, Hiss was not prosecuted but was sent to prison for several years. This public believe that communists infiltration was possible. Nixon protected Hiss and made him well known and helped him win seat in senate.B. The Federal Loyalty computer programme and the Rosenburg CaseTo protect against republican attacks, Truman initiated a widely publicized subjection review program of many federal employees, causing 2,000 to resign and 212 to be dismissed. This caused other attacks on subversion. Direct of FBI investigated alleged radicals. When Russians successfully detonated atomic bomb there was talk that information had been passed from America. Young british scientists testified he gave information, the trial eventually led to a couble, Rosenburgs, members of communist party. They were sentenced to death and after 2 years of appeals killed in electric chair, they maintained their innocence. All these cases came to grip the nation of subversion. The public was fearful of infiltrated communists and being criminate of communism also. Out of this would come public figure o f McCarthy.C. McCarthyismIn a speech Joseph McCarthy declared that he had a list of 205 communists in the US senate, his statement was so bold, it made him a prominent figure and leader of crusade against subversion. McCarthy then moved to other agencies and was made chairman of special subcommittee on subversion in the government. He never proved conclusive evidence that anyone he accused was really a communist. Republican rallied that democrats had been responsible for 200 years of treason. a couple of(prenominal) spoke out against him, even Eisenhower who dislike him did not while discharge for presidency.D. Republican RevivalFrustration in Korea, and a bad year in Democratic party caused Truman to drop out of Presidency race. Gov. Adali Stevenson would be nominated instead. Republican nominated Eisenhower, and as his running mate elect Nixon. Nixon would attack the democrats for being cowardly in their attack against communism. Eisenhower and Nixon would win overwhelmingly, an d republican would regain control of both houses. The election ended 20 years of democratic domination, and ended worst turbulence of post war era.VI. deductionEven during world war II US and Soviets had different views of what world should be like once war was over. Right after the war this difference in opinion became evident. US thought Stalin was like Hitler in their quest for world domination, Stalin thought US wastrying to protect their world confidence by not allowing Russia to be a world power. The result was high tensions and the Cold War. US would help revitalize the broken Europe by gioving economic aid through Marshall plan and protecting them from communism. At home hysteria of the infiltration of communists into American government was fueled by reports and publicized court cases.