Containing the Red Menace: The Cold War Begins66 million people were killed in WWII. Ended in 1945. May 1945 Germany surrenders. Moment of concern because with the exception of Germany and Japan the Soviet Union was America’s number 1 enemy. Soviet Union entire nation was founded on basis of communism ideological. General George S. Paton – legend, known for considerable confidence, hardcore anti-communist; 1945-1991 Great Foreign Policy adversary – height for this rivalry. I. The Eagle vs. the Bear: Anticommunism and the “Cold War”a. Seen everywhere in American culture – movies, novels, etc.II. The Rise of Containmenta. WWII is over and we are worried about the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe in the hands of Soviet Union Joseph Stalin isin charge – has no intention of pulling troops out of eastern Europe. The Red army was already there and there wasn’t much US could do without starting another world warb. 1945 – What to do about the Soviets, Eastern Europe?c. The “Containment” doctrinei. Becomes US policy to make sure to not let Soviet Union spread ii. Articulated by George Kennan in Foreign Affairs, 19461. Europe has spread this far but we will not let them spread into east Europe we are going to stop their spread everywhere globally – significant task US is looked in. iii. Greece, 19471. the “Truman Doctrine” – makes containment official US policy2. Civil war between the left and right- communist and monarchists – British support anti communist – ask US for help. Truman decides to help. Speech – used to scare people getting people behind this idea. Send money and advise to Greece3. Truman Doctrine and containment are the same thing iv. “Monolithic Communism”1. Definition = “all communists, anywhere in the world, are under the control of the Soviet Union”2. Reality = not true; lots of rivalries, divisions, etc.3. Problems with idea of containment and all the people confined to it – assumes anyone who is communist must be under the control the Soviet – anything dealing with communism must be under the control of the Soviet Union but actually had a different idea in all ways. 4. Most communist are living in colonist countries– controlled by European countries d. Non-violent Containmenti. Economic aidii. The Marshall Plan (1947)1. $16 billion in aide to western Europe to rebuildits economy – a “New Deal” for Europe2. General George Marshall – 1947 war is over for2 years, Europe has been destroyed, give massive financial aid packages given to Europeans as a part of this containment idea. Trying to help them get back on their feet; taking deal idea and applying it to Europe. Poverty makes people become okay with communism iii. CIA covert sponsorship of music, art, films, etc1. Message about cultural freedom (weapons)e. Potentially-Violent Containmenti. The Berlin Airlift, 1948ii. Berlin was the capital of Germany, when the war is over it is taken over by various troops; Berlin is divided in to four cities. Sitting deep inside east Germany that is surround by communism; Berlinpathways to freedoms are cut off testing the US containment idea – for months set of constant air force back and forth with food and supplies. In the end the soviets back down. V. 1949-50: China goes Communist, and the Soviets get The Bomba. “Who lost China?”b. Second communist country – civil war since the 1920s between nationalist vs. communists. c. 1949 – soviet union gets the bomb – containment got a lot more interesting since other countries had nuclear weapons - VI. Publication of NSC-68 (1950)a. Adds a militaristic edge to containment policyb. Printed in April of 1950 – Harry S Truman summary of the soviet military ability and ideas of what we should do aboutthat – Product of its time. VII. Containment gets Violent – the Korean War (1950-53)a. The Chinese invasion and stalemateb. North korea invade the south (noncommunist) – US feels like we have to intervene – 1950 US troops are sent and we nearly get our butts kicked – Chinese Invade and attack the US at Ching Chunge Reservoir. 3 years later nothing changed- war that doesn’t change
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