ch 27 Cold War
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Chapter 27 - Cold War
Remember quotes are optional - use a quote only if it represents a point of view of a notable or observer of the event/issue - and is short and to the point
How did American diplomats plan for the postwar world and attempt to settle postwar issues?
Key terms
The Marshall Plan
: a post-World War II initiative to provide
aid to all European nations
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
: a military
alliance formed Western nations to protect against the threat
of Soviet invasion.
Relevant quotes from important figures (NOT QUOTES FROM TEXT)
After World War II, American diplomats faced the challenge of planning for the postwar world. Two significant initiatives undertaken by American diplomats
were the Marshall Plan and the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The Marshall Plan provided aid to European nations for
humanitarian reasons, to rebuild Europe and create markets for US goods, and to strengthen pro-US governments against communist influence. For
example, under the Marshall Plan, the Economic Cooperation Administration was created to channel billions of dollars to aid economic revival in Europe.
NATO was also created to strengthen the military position of the US and Western European nations. In response, the communists formed a similar alliance,
the Warsaw Pact These diplomatic policies were part of a broader effort by American diplomats to contain communism and to promote stability in the
postwar world.
What made the growing tension between the US and USSR evolve into the Cold War?
Key Terms:
The Containment Doctrine
: foreign policy strategy adopted
to contain Soviet influence within its existing borders through
the use of military, economic, and diplomatic means.
The Yalta meeting
: a conference held where the leaders of
the Allied powers discussed the post-World War II
reorganization of Europe
Relevant quotes from important figures (NOT QUOTES FROM TEXT)
The growing tension between the US and USSR evolved into the Cold War due to differences in visions of the postwar world. The US wanted a world where
nations used democratic international bodies as mediators while the USSR sought to control areas of strategic influence. Tensions began to rise because of
Allied refusal to open a second front with the French invasion and an unresolved dispute over governance of Poland at the Tehran Conference. Additionally,
the Yalta meeting of the Big Three led to disagreements over the future of the Polish government, as the US wanted democratic governance while Stalin
wanted heavy reparations. The failure of the Potsdam Conference in July resulted in increased land for Stalin and the new Polish-German border. The
China problem was also a source of tension as the US had a vision of an open world "policed" by major powers, but this vision was troubled by the corrupt
Chinese government under Chiang Kai-shek. As a result of these tensions, the Containment Doctrine emerged, with the US no longer seeking the
"containment" of Soviet expansion, and the new Truman Doctrine sought aid for those forces opposing take-over of Communist influence.
How did postwar economic problems impact American politics and society?
Key Terms:
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (GI Bill)
: a
law that provided aid to veterans to help them readjust to
civilian life after returning from the war.
The National Security Act of 1947
: a law that created the
Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and
the Central Intelligence Agency in response to concerns over
the Soviet Union's expanding influence
Relevant quotes from important figures (NOT QUOTES FROM TEXT)
Following World War II, President Truman tried to transition the country back to normal economic conditions, leading to issues like high inflation, union
strikes in the railroad/mining industries, and the job displacement of minorities and women from returning soldiers. However, there was no economic
collapse due to an increase in spending on consumer goods from savings. The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (GI Bill) also provided education
and economic aid to returning soldiers, further increasing spending. Additionally, to restructure the military, the National Security Act of 1947 was enacted
due to the emergence of new security threats, creating the Department of Defense to combine all armed services, establishing the National Security Council
in the White House, and creating the Central Intelligence Agency to collect information.
Why and how did fear of communism impact American society?
Key Terms:
The Rosenberg trial:
a highly publicized court case where
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of passing atomic
secrets to the Soviet Union
Relevant quotes from important figures (NOT QUOTES FROM TEXT)
McCarthyism
: the political and social movement that was
marked by intense anti-communist accusations, often
unsupported by evidence
The fear of communism prompted the government to launch a crusade against subversion. The Republican party, seeking to capitalize on anti-communist
sentiment, created the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) to investigate communist subversion. The investigation into Alger Hiss, a former
State Department official, revealed his complicity with communists, fueling fears of communist infiltration. In addition, Truman's loyalty program was
implemented to monitor the loyalty of federal employees. Congress also passed the McCarran Internal Security Act, which required communist groups to
register with the government. The Rosenberg trial, in which Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for revealing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union,
further escalated fears of communist espionage. These events culminated in a national hysteria known as McCarthyism, led by Wisconsin Senator Joseph
McCarthy, who investigated communist agents in the government, leading to a wave of accusations.
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