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Year 10 Mandatory History Study Notes Semester 1 Exams 2013 The Big Chill Cold War · The Cold War · A period between 1945 (to 1991) during which there was great hostility and tension mainly between theUSA & USSR (Soviet Union), although the two never came into direct contact · Period of global rivalry between the communist and non-communist world · Allies in WWII –Soviet Union -–USA -–Britain · Rivalry = Communist vs. Capitalism · USSR Becomes Communist · Difference · Cold war was different to other wars in numerous ways · No sudden attacks or declaration of war (e.g. Pearl Harbour) · No Physical fighting or direct conflict · This is why it is a “COLD” war rather than a “hot” war · Political war · Tension and fear Impact of WWII · More people killed than in any other war (est. 55 000 000 +) · Calamitous effects of death and destruction · Cities and towns destroyed · Races of people decimated · Introduction of atomic bomb by USA · Continues to gain power · World changed by WWII · Population Changes · Displaced persons · Refugees · Returning soldiers · Lost homes · Territorial Changes · Changing map · Britain losing power · Communists e.g. Russia gaining ground · The end of WWII marked the beginning of the cold war The ‘Super Powers’ · Soviet Union vs. United States · Differences in ideology caused conflict between the two SOVIET UNION UNITED STATES Population: 190 000 000 (1950) War Losses: machinery, manpower industry losses on a large scale War Gains: territory and position. Surrounded by other communist countries. Economy: Based on aSocialist system –government plans and runs -------------------everything for the people –no individual allowed to profit ----------------from work of others –all profits go to government ------------------to provide goods/services Political Parties: one-party system (Communist only) System of Government:Totalitarian Population: 153 000 000 (1950) War Losses: mainly in manpower War Gains: Economy prosperous because of war. Investment and trade flourishing. Economy: Based on a Capitalistsystem –most business and industry ------------------privately owned (companies, -----------------individuals) –role of govt. more restricted -----------------than under socialism –‘free enterprise’ = amyone -------------------can open a business and -----------------------compete freely (as long as --------------------they have money to do so) Political Parties: two-party system – Republicans and Democrats + smaller parties System of Government: Democratic Cold War Alliance Systems · The Iron Curtain · Dividing line between communist eastern Europe and non-communist West · Political, military & ideological barrier erected by Soviet union after WW2 to seal itself & allies off from open contact with the west and other non-communist areas · Occasional and varied use as metaphor · Prominent after used by Winston Churchill in a speech in 1946 in USA · “…an iron curtain has descended across the continent” · Curtain = block out · Iron = impenetrable · NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organisation · Signed April 4th 1949 · Military alliance · 28 nations from Nth America & Europe e.g. UK, Germany, France, USA, Canada · Why? · Broad effort to serve 3 purposes · Deterring soviet expansion · Forbidding the rival of Nationalist · “Keep Russia out, America in and the Germans down.” · Warsaw Pact · March 14th 1955 · Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, German D.R., Hungary, Poland, Romania · Mutual defence treaty between communist states of central and eastern Europe · Friendship, co-operation, mutual assistance How The Cold War Came About. · Meeting of Grand Alliance 1945 · USA ® Harry Truman · USSR ® Joseph Stalin · Britain ® Winston Churchill · Truman and Churchill wanted freedom and democratic governments throughout post war Europe · Stalin wanted a “buffer zone” between USSR & Germany to prevent German invasion · Stalin refused to withdraw troops from eastern/central Europe but Truman held ‘trump card’ of atomic bomb · Changed the balance of power in favour of the US · Emergence of the atom bomb at end of WWII · Many lived in fear · Could not believe existence · Large scale (nuclear war) ® end of life? · After WWII, 2 groups formed · Eastern Bloc: Communist Russia & Allies · Western Bloc: Capitalist/Democratic USA & Allies · Old allies divided by political views · UN formed but no longer ‘one world’ · Britain losing power – other ‘western’ countries in Europe being overshadowed by the growth of USA & USSR · Stalin working to make Russia a great power · Made sure countries around fell into line · Developed communist governments · Stalin unpopular “cruel and evil dictator” · Growing tension between US & USSR How The Cold War Was Fought. Political Competition between superpowers · Arms Race – Each Superpower built up as many weapons as it could and placed missiles/bases in friendly countries to establish presence · Space Race – Superpowers competed to have the best satellites and rockets and to be the first in space · Economic Aid – superpowers gave money & resources to gain the friendship of poorer countries · Military Aid – Superpowers helped rebels overthrow other governments · Treaties – Superpowers signed treaties and agreements with friendly countries & formed alliances to spread their influence over the world · Prestige – superpowers tried to outdo each other in sport, cultural events and standards of living · Sport = war without weapons · Olympics important propaganda/prestige · Threats – superpowers criticised each other to put the other side down · Espionage – spies and secret agents tried to find out each other’s secrets · Propaganda – superpowers used the media, books and films to criticise the opposition and promote the benefits of their way of life The United Nations · Formation · Why was it formed? · After WW2, many felt that an organisation to keep world peace was needed · Maintain peace · Successor of the ‘League of Nations’ · Formed to settle arguments between countries so that war could be avoided · “To maintain international peace and security and … to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to peace” - Charter · When/Where · 1945 · Conference in San Francisco · Australia’s Role · Australia = Founding Member (one of 20) · Instrumental in construction of charter & was on committee that drafted declaration of Human rights · e.g. suggested some 38 amendments to the UN charter (26 accepted) · Dr Evatt · Dr Herbert Evatt · One of leading figures at conference · Believed in the rights of small powers like Aus. & that they could play a role in the UN · Closely involved in preparing final document of Human rights · September 1948 · Evatt elected president of general Assembly (only Australian ever) · Sign of Australia’s increasing influence in world affairs · Structure · Australia’s Contribution to the UN · Member of UN & attends general assembly · Has had seat on security council 4 times · Has permanent office (mission) in Paris to coordinate Aus’ work with world body · Plays active role in influencing international affairs through support of many UN conventions · Convention = statement of principles or beliefs · UN Convention on the Rights of the Child · Sets out rights all children should enjoy · Nations which accept 7 ratify this convention e.g. AUS, will seek to uphold the principles in the convention or even pass laws in own countries · Funds · Contributes to budget · Contributes funds & resources to UN projects · Works through many UN specialised agencies e.g. contributes funds · UNESCO · Only international organisation which seeks to promote international co-operation by advocating an understanding of different cultures & societies and fostering & advancing educational, scientific and cultural knowledge · WHO, UNICEF etc. · Peacekeeping · Contributes troops to UN peacekeeping forces around the world · Work in an area of the world which is troubled or where outbreak of conflict is possible/likely · Kashmir: Since 1947, India & Pakistan have disputed over border area of Kashmir. 1952 – 1985 Aus. sent military observers to keep peace · Cyprus: Conflict between Greek & Turkish inhabitants. Since 1964 – Aust. police part of UN peacekeeping force · Somalia: 1990s – civil war between different clans of African country. Aust. force of 900 worked to provide humanitarian relief & maintain order · Dr H.V. Evatt · Has been barrister in high court & leader of Labor party 1951 - 1960 · “His work as one of the drafters of the UN Charter, as President of the UN General Assembly and supporter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights assure Evatt of an honoured place in history. He realised that the future of humanity depended upon the three principles upon which the United Nations was founded: peace and security, economic development and respect for fundamental human rights” Australia’s Response to the fear of communism Chifley Government 1945 – 1949 · In 1946, Curtain’s successor Ben Chifley & the ALP won the election · Due to weakened opposition · Opposition Liberal party · Newly created · Led by Robert Menzies · Was not strong at the time ® needed time to rebuild · Liberal Party · Stood for private sector & middle class · Private sector – privately owned businesses · Opposed Labor’s attempts to expand public sector · Public sector – government owned · Seen as socialist threat · LP & its leader Menzies exploited cold war fears of communism to oppose ALP and win public support · Even though ALP had declared the communist party “a foe” in 1946 · ALP’s aim was to expand welfare state – wanted full employment · Chifley’s idea of the role of the government was to make sure everyone had work and access to adequate welfare services e.g. health · LP believed in the concept of the welfare state (wealth of society should be shared & government responsible for the welfare of citizens esp. the needy) · 1949 Coal Strike · Coal miners (mining union controlled by communists) went on strike to obtain better conditions, pay & hours · Eventually strike broken by sending in the army · Chifley’s use of army troops to break the communist-led coal strike put the ALP in a difficult position · He could not be seen as being “soft” on communism but for a Labor PM to use troops against a union was unthinkable to many · Although the ALP defeated striking workers, it suffered a loss of prestige due to Chifley’s army decision · Particularly important issue facing the government b/c it forced a Labor government into a no-win situation where it could be accused of being soft on communism or betraying its union supporters. · Nationalisation of Banks · Chifley government attempted to nationalise (govt. take-over) private banks · Legislation challenged by high court & was ruled unconstitutional · Was to become one of the most important issues of 1949 election · Chifley’s unsuccessful attempt to nationalise the banks was another opportunity for Menzies and the LP to accuse the ALP of being socialist Chinese Revolution · During WW2, civil war in China between the communists and the nationalists · By 1949, the communists had won power and the nationalists set up an alternative government in Taiwan · From the 1940’s (1949) to the 1970s, the western world recognised the nationalist government in Taiwan as the government of China · Nationalist government was on security council · Australian fear of China · “European island in an Asian sea” · Australia paranoid when China becomes communist · China is so close to Aus. geographically · The 1949 communist revolution in China created problems to Australia's north and led the Australian government to follow the US in not recognising communist China diplomatically. Instead, Australia supported the nationalist government in Taiwan. 1949 Election · In the lead up to the 1949 election, Menzies made several key promises which appealed to the people including abolishing petrol rationing, reducing taxes and stopping inflation. However, most significantly he promised to ban the Communist party if elected · Chifley’s Labor government losing popularity (see p7) · Resulting victory of Liberals on progressing anti-communist platform · Menzies won General election partly because he played on the Australian fears of communism · Exploited cold war fear to oppose Labor and attempt to eradicate communism Attempt to Ban the Communist Party (in a Nutshell) EBKA HERPES · E

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