Origins of the Cold War Essay

A. Sources of American Soviet tensenessHad oddment in trip up of s hold back off contend area. US supported the view in which nations gave up traditional soldiers everyiances, and dealt with each opposite in a pop process, with an international org. as mediator. Britain and Soviets favored view where system of traditional European balance of powers would reemerge.B. state of struggle time finesseBy Jan 1943 a strain in relations with soviets was evident as Stalin refused to couple with Churchill and Roosevelt. The 2 refused Stalinsmost immediate take aim to have a 2 European fronts, so far assured him that they would have flat surrender of Axis powers and they would non pull up stakes soviets out of peace negotiations. In Teharan host relations between Stalin and Roosevelt became better as Stalin agree to scratch Pacific integrity time hotstilities in Europe died down, and US concord to 2 front westbound struggle. to a greater extentover there was tension on who would exist Poland once struggle was over. They avoided the issue by leaving it unresolved.C. YaltaIn Feb. 1945the big trio met in Soviet Union. Stalin was promised some district lost in Jap Soviet war of 1904, in pacific. Also agreed to UN charter with a security council, with members from 5 major powers. Issue of Polish chairpersonial term was compromised. Soviets had occupied Poland and inst in every(prenominal)ed the pro commie Lubin Poles, enti confide as well agreed to let in some democratic London Poles into governing body activity.The upco instantg of Ger legion(predicate) was also unresolved. They agreed that after war each troop would control the factor of the country they were in and reunification would conk at a later time. US valued Germany to be reconstructed, and reunited, Stalin treasured tough reparations. The Yalta conference sidestepped important issues, and make the ternion men feel like they write an important commercialismument. W eeks after signing Roosevlt watched as Stalin installed pro communist governments in several nations and refused to make the changes he promised to Roosevelt in Polish government. Roosevelt was adamant that Soviets were flexible, only if would suffer stroke and die in April 1945.II. The Collapse of the PeaceA. The Failure of PotsdamA a few(prenominal) twenty-four hour periods after taking office Truman, much less uncomplaining with Soviets chastised foreign minister for violations of Yalta conference. However he had little leverage as soviets controlled profound and eastern Europe and US was console in pacific war. Truman insisted on maturateting 85% of what he wanted compose 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 and refused Russians to claim reparations from separate of Germany controlled by US French or Britain. This stance made it clear that Germany would continue divided. The westward zone friendly to US, the eastern to Russia.B. The mainland China ProblemFor US hopes of a peaceful founding to come true, China had to be sound and independent, however the Chinese government under Chaing Kai Shek was feeble and incompetent. Chiang had single out himself, unwilling to face the problem which were set about him. He was in prolonged competitor with armies of Mao Zedong, which was in control of 1/4 the population. US would pump accouterments and money to the Chiang. Instead, US straight outdoor(a) looked to japan as an alternative pro western force in Asia. US elevate all restrictions, promoting indusrial discipline, and scotch growth.C. Containment DoctrineBy 19445 the Grand Alliance was over, and US was now working on a risingly bement insurance policy. Rather than creating an open population, they would work to conta in the expansion of the Soviets. Truman issued his Truman Doctrine based on ideas of diplomat George f. Kennan. United States would help nations resisting sibjugation from extraneous sources or from armed minorities. He also asked for $400 million to help washout and Greece, which would help them defeat communist insurgents, and set up basis for US foreign policy for next 30 years.D. Marshal computer course of instructionmeAmerican policy maker wanted to do something to strengthen pro American governments in Europe before communists insurgents destruct them. In June 1947 Sec of State George C. marshall proposed see for economic service to all European nations even Soviets to join program of recovery. Soviets denied, notwithstanding 16 former(a) nations joined. oer three years, $12 meg would be employn to help spark economic revival. European industry rose 64% and bringd communist strength to decline and US trade opportunities to increase.E. mobilisation at business fi rmFailed balances with Soviets over international control of thermonuclear 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 bomb stronger than one used in 1945. The National security measures Act created a new Departmen of confession which would oversee all armed services. A National Security Council out of thw gabardine planetary house would govern forign and military policy. CIA would flip 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 Re cosmos. Stalin responded by imposing a tight blockade of western berlin, Truman would pour forth supplied of food and fuel for ten months allo seduceg a city of 2 million to survive during this time. Stalin would lift the blockade in give of 1949. Germany was now divided into 2 nations, federal official official Re semipublic in west and representative Republic in east. In April 1949 12 nations signed agreement declaring an eruption on one was an attack on all. Soviet would do the aforementioned(prenominal) with otherwise communist nations in Europe called the Warsaw treaty 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 tried their first atomic bomb, and the Chiang Kai-Shek nationalist government collapsed and was replaced by a communist multiplication of Soviets. Us would refuse to recoginize Chinese government and diverted attention to revitalizing japan as a buffer against Asian societalism. During this escalated atmosphere of crisis Truman called for a through round off of forign policy. The National Securty Report was issued in 1950. The doc said US should not rely on other nations to resist socialis m, US must stop expansion of communism in the world. It also called for 4x increase in US military budget.III. America afterwards The WarA. The Problems of ReconversionEconomic growth continue after 1945, saving from consumers during the war started a knock down, as did a $6 stepion tax cut. The GI bill of rights, or Servicemens Readjustment Act provided houseing, instruction and job training to vets and increased their spending. grievous inflation cause prices to rise 15 % annually, compounding this was labor unrest as major smoothens were occurring in most industries. In 1946 John Lewis led the United ember Workers out on strike for 40 days.Truman demanded coal mine owners to agree to marriage ceremony 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(a) from war and wanted the ir old industrial 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 aim jiltedThe Fair deal was a 21 point domestic program handicraft for expansion of social security benefits, levelheaded minimum wage increase from 40 to 65 cents public works and other programs. In all he wanted to declare an end to wartime moratorium on gratuitous reform. However the republicans would recruit 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 congress over command.C. The Elections of 1948Despites results of the 46 election Truman was not ready to give up on new deal. In 1948 he proposed major civil rights bill but congress would defeat them all. Tuman was seek to build campaign issues. Truman had i ssue of unpopularity and enervating support in the democratic party. souther 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 nothing good for nothing. To hit the ceiling this he called special session of congress, loosely republican, they met for 2 weeks in which nothing was accomplished. Truman would bring in by a very trim 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, ext stop social security to 10 million more people, and National Housing Act make 810,000 homes for low income housing. However his efforts for civil rights, the abolition of lynchings, poll tax, fair employment all failed. Truman did battle descrimination on his own, he finish descrimination in government jobs, and tr ied to pull down it in armed forces. Allowed justice dept. to get involved in discrinitory statues.IV. The Korean WarA. The Divided PeninsulaAt the end of WWII US and soviets had troops in Korea, Russians in odd a communist government with strong soviet troops, while us left hand an anti communist with a miserable military. The weakness of South Korea made unificationerly want to reunite the country. Truman reacted quickly to the impact 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 ascendance UN operations. Most UN troops were American. After capricious communists out of south, Truman gave McArthur permission to go into north to make a uunified independent democratic Korea.B. From invasion to StalemateThe invasion went smoothly with the capture of Pyongyang in October. just Chinese government got weary as UN moved close to Chinese boarder, they would enter war and push Americans back other(prenominal) 38th parallel and take hood 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 difference of opinion with China which he mind 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 write letter to republican attracter which caused Truman to relive him of command. 69% of Americans supported McArthur and was welcomed enthusiastically. on that point was hostility towards Truman until other military attraction publicly showed support for his decision. Stalemate go along in Korea, negotiations began in 1951 but war would drag on until 1953.C. Limited MobilizationTo fight inflation during wartime Truman set up the Office of Defense M obilization. When its actions failed Truman took more forceful 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 flighty about communism. Did not know why boarder skirmish had gone on so long unresolved and 140,000 murdered wounded. Led to second campaign against communism.V. The fight Against SubversionA. HAUC and Alger darnrepublicans wanted something to attack Democrats with and and democrats wanted to take issue away from the,. The House 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 lambast about their politicial beliefs, they were sent to jail for contempt. other public investig ation was against higher(prenominal) rank senate member Alger Hiss, when reports from a former communist agent said that Hiss had passed classified ad documents to him. Hiss sued for slander but chamber 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 allegiance Program and the Rosenburg CaseTo protect against republican attacks, Truman initiated a widely publicized loyalty 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 babble that information had been passed from America. Young british scientists testified he gave information, the tria l 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 retained their innocence. All these cases came to grip the nation of subversion. The public was fearful of infiltrated communists and being accused of communism also. Out of this would come public consider of 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 drawing card 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. hardly a(prenominal) spoke out against him, even Eisenhower who despise him did not while running for presidency.D. Republ ican RevivalFrustration in Korea, and a bad year in participatory party caused Truman to drop out of presidentship race. Gov. Adali Stevenson would be nominated instead. Republican nominated Eisenhower, and as his running mate chosen Nixon. Nixon would attack the democrats for being cowardly in their attack against communism. Eisenhower and Nixon would win overwhelmingly, and republican would regain control of both houses. The election finish 20 years of democratic domination, and ended worst turbulence of post war era.VI. ConclusionEven 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 dominance 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 econo mic aid through Marshall plan and protecting them from communism. At home ferocity of the infiltration of communists into American government was provide by reports and publicized court cases.