America

Page 1

Overview:

USA emerged from the war the most powerful with the strongest economy

unparalleled growth and opportunity for expansion

led to suburbanisation etc

still a very real fear of Communism

Anti-Communist witch-hunt led by the House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and Sen. Joseph McCarthy

General move from isolationism i.e. seen through their involvement in the Cold War in Europe and Asia with the USSR and China

Development of the Cold War:

https://edsitement.neh.gov/curriculum-unit/origins-cold-war-1945-1949

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMDQg2i17I8

1945 - Truman comes to power after the death of Roosevelt

USA had the monopoly of atomic weapons

by the end of the century (19490 - the USSR had developed the atomic bomb - a lot sooner than USA had anticipated

by the end of the decade, the USA was concerned Communism was a global issue that therefore required global commitment

China - 1945

Korean War - 1950 -53

Post-War Relations:

USSR wanted security in knowing they wouldn't be attacked without warning again - i.e. they signed a Treaty of non-aggression with Nazi Germany and then were invaded - lost 20 million soldiers

Ensured through control of their neighbors - Buffer Zone

1945 - Roosevelt's successor Harry S. Truman - not very sympathetic to the sacrifices made by Stalin

Stalin was imposing Communist regimes on many countries 'liberated' from Nazi rule or still under Soviet occupation

Truman was worried about the forcing of Communism on European countries but there was little he could do for the countries already under Stalin's control. He was incredibly concerned that it shouldn't spread further

Believed USSR was not seeking security but wanted to control Europe.

The Atomic Bomb:

Withheld telling Stalin about it at the Potsdam Conference

The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki:

After Hiroshima (6 Aug 45) - a statement released from the White House warned if the Japanese people did not surrender 'expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth.'

*Reasoning:

Bring the war in the Pacific to a rapid conclusion

Make the Soviet Union more likely to seek agreement

The bombing of Nagasaki (9 Aug 45) - killed more than 70,000

Aug 10 45 - Official surrender

Iran - Soviet and British troops simultaneously invaded in 1941 during the First World War. both agreed to withdraw their troops six months after the end of hostilities between Allied and Axis forces.

The Soviets didn't meet their deadline for withdrawal

Truman wrote Stalin privately - public announcement reiterated their threat

Stalin withdrew partly due to military threats and partly due to favorable oil agreement with Iran

China - by 1946, strong probability that there would be a Communist overthrow of the nationalist government

Greece/Turkey:

War taken a toll on Britain's economic and physical resources, by 1947 - could no longer support

1947 - Britain wrote the US, they could no longer support the Greek and Turkish governments against Communist rebels

March 1947 - speech to congress, Truman emphasized communism vs democracy - 'will of the majority' vs 'will of the minority'

defend 'free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures'

Truman requested $400 million to provide aid

Stalin condemned the Truman Doctrine - stating the US was using 'Dollar Diplomacy' to extend their capitalist empire.

From 1945 onward - Stalin's determination to safeguard the USSR - instilled Communist regimes in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary

in response US developed policy of Containment

Acknowledged there was little there could be done for those countries already under communist control but aimed to prevent further spreading, either in Europe or the rest of the world

1946 'Iron Curtain' speech by Winston Churchill

iron Curtain descending through the middle of Europe

The Truman Doctrine (1947):

Truman distanced himself to an extent from the Iron Curtain Speech

Offered support to countries struggling against Communism

'I believe it must be the policy of the United States to support peoples who resist being enslaved by armed minorities or by outside pressure.'

'Containment'

Doctrine was first applied to Greece

Marshall Aid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C72ISMF_D0 (Embed)