The Widening of the Cold War, 1949-1955
Studied by 0 people
Call Kai
Learn
Practice Test
Spaced Repetition
Match
Flashcards
Knowt Play1/95
Name | Mastery | Learn | Test | Matching | Spaced |
|---|
No study sessions yet.
96 Terms
What was the main aim of US Containment in Asia after 1945?
To prevent the spread of communism in Asia by supporting non-communist governments and using economic/military aid.
How did the US apply Containment in Korea (1950–53)?
By leading a UN coalition to repel the North Korean invasion and preserve an independent South Korea.
Why was the Korean War important for US Cold War policy?
It militarised containment, led to a major increase in defence spending and showed willingness to use force.
What was SEATO (1954) and why was it created?
A US-led defence pact for Southeast Asia created to prevent further communist expansion after the fall of China and the Korean War.
Who led the occupation of Japan after WWII?
General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP).
What were the main goals of the US occupation in Japan?
Demilitarisation
Democratisation
Economic reconstruction.
What key reforms were introduced under SCAP?
A new democratic constitution (1947), land reform, dismantling of zaibatsu, and women’s suffrage.
How did US policy shift with the "Reverse Course" (1947–48)?
The US prioritised economic stability and anti-communism over radical reforms due to Cold War tensions.
What was the significance of the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty?
It formally ended the occupation and restored Japanese sovereignty.
Why was Japan important to US Cold War strategy?
It provided an industrial base and strategic location for projecting US power in Asia.
Why did the US support Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek)?
Because he led the Nationalists against the Chinese Communists, fitting US Containment aims.
What happened when the CCP won the Chinese Civil War in 1949?
Jiang retreated to Taiwan; the US recognised Taiwan (ROC) as the legitimate Chinese government.
How did the Korean War affect US policy towards Taiwan?
Truman sent the 7th Fleet to the Taiwan Strait to protect Taiwan and prevent further Communist expansion.
What was the “Loss of China”?
A term used domestically in the US to criticise the Truman administration for failing to prevent the CCP victory.
What was NSC-68 (1950)?
A top-secret national security report recommending a major expansion of US military power to contain the USSR.
Why was NSC-68 created?
Due to events like the Soviet atomic test (1949) and the Communist takeover in China.
What did NSC-68 recommend?
Tripling defence spending, building the hydrogen bomb, and taking a more confrontational stance.
What made NSC-68 significant?
It militarised the Cold War and shaped US strategy throughout the 1950s.
How did Asia become central to the early Cold War?
Communist successes in China, the Korean War, and decolonisation made it a key theatre for containment.
How did Japan become a US Cold War ally?
Through occupation reforms, economic reconstruction, and the 1951 Security Treaty.
What was the impact of the Korean War on US strategy?
It globalised containment and led to rearmament based on NSC-68.
What long-term pattern emerged from US policy in Asia?
Reliance on strategic allies (Japan, Taiwan, South Korea) and willingness to use military force.
How was Korea divided after WWII?
At the 38th Parallel; USSR occupied the North and the USA the South.
Who led North and South Korea in 1950?
North Korea: Kim Il Sung (Communist).
South Korea: Syngman Rhee (anti-Communist authoritarian).
What motivated Kim Il Sung to invade South Korea?
Desire to unify Korea under communism, belief in strong North Korean forces, and expectation of Soviet/Chinese support.
What role did the US play in the outbreak?
Ambiguity in the US "defensive perimeter" speech may have implied Korea was outside US protection.
What Cold War context encouraged the war?
Tensions after the "Loss of China" (1949), Soviet atomic bomb test (1949), and growing globalisation of Containment.
Why did Stalin support Kim Il Sung’s invasion plan?
To spread communism, test US resolve, and extend Soviet influence without direct confrontation.
What support did the USSR provide?
Weapons, training, military advisers, and approval for the invasion.
Why did Stalin avoid sending Soviet troops?
To prevent direct war with the USA and avoid provoking nuclear confrontation.
How else did the USSR influence the conflict?
Boycott of the UN allowed US-led intervention—an unintended strategic error.
What happened in the initial phase of the war (June–Sept 1950)?
North Korea swept through the South, forcing UN/US and ROK forces into the Pusan Perimeter.
What was the significance of the Inchon Landing (Sept 1950)?
A bold US amphibious assault that reversed North Korean gains and allowed recapture of Seoul.
Why did China enter the war in October 1950?
To protect its border, resist US presence near the Yalu River, and support communist allies.
How did Chinese involvement change the conflict?
Massive “human wave” attacks pushed UN forces back to the 38th Parallel.
What caused the stalemate (1951–53)?
Defensive attrition warfare, fortified lines, and reluctance of both sides to escalate further.
When was the Korean Armistice signed?
July 1953
What were the main terms of the armistice?
Ceasefire, creation of a Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) at the 38th Parallel, and no formal peace treaty.
Why was there no peace treaty?
Deep political division and unwillingness of both sides to compromise on reunification.
What delayed the armistice negotiations?
Disputes over prisoner repatriation and Stalin’s insistence on prolonging the war.
How did the war impact the Cold War globally?
It militarised the conflict and solidified the US policy of Containment worldwide.
What was the impact on US foreign policy?
Massive increase in defence spending (consistent with NSC-68), strengthening of alliances (NATO, SEATO).
How did the war affect China?
Enhanced prestige in the communist world, but caused major economic strain.
How did it affect Korea itself?
Massive casualties, destruction, and long-term division into North and South Korea.
What did the war show about the UN’s role?
Demonstrated that the UN could authorise military action, though dominated by US leadership.
What did the Korean War demonstrate about the Cold War?
It became a global conflict in which proxy wars replaced direct superpower confrontation.
What were the key turning points of the conflict?
North Korean invasion, Inchon Landing, Chinese intervention, and the stalemate.
Why was the war significant for superpower relations?
It entrenched hostility, accelerated rearmament, and formalised Cold War alliances.
How did the war shape future US actions?
Set a precedent for intervention to contain communism (e.g., in Vietnam).
What events around 1949–50 increased Cold War tensions?
The Soviet atomic bomb test (1949), the Communist victory in China (1949), formation of NATO (1949), and the outbreak of the Korean War (1950).
How did NSC-68 contribute to rising tensions?
It recommended a massive increase in US military spending and a more aggressive containment policy.
What role did Europe play in heightening tensions?
Germany’s division, the Berlin Blockade (1948–49), and integration of West Germany into the Western bloc increased rivalry.
What was McCarthyism?
A period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the US led by Senator Joseph McCarthy (1950–54), marked by accusations without evidence.
What caused McCarthyism?
Fear after the “Loss of China,” Soviet spy cases (e.g., Alger Hiss), and domestic political advantage for Republicans.
What tactics did McCarthy use?
Public accusations, Senate hearings, media pressure, and claims of communist infiltration in government and the army.
How did McCarthyism end?
The 1954 Army–McCarthy hearings exposed McCarthy’s methods on national TV, leading to his censure by the Senate.
How did McCarthyism affect Britain?
It increased US suspicion of British institutions, especially after the Burgess and Maclean defections (1951).
What impact did it have on Anglo-American intelligence cooperation?
McCarthyist fear slowed intelligence sharing and created mistrust, temporarily weakening the “special relationship.”
How did McCarthyism affect Western Europe?
It pushed European governments to take a harder anti-communist stance and justified crackdowns on left-wing groups.
What was Europe’s reaction to McCarthyism?
Many Western Europeans viewed it as excessive, undemocratic, and damaging to US moral authority.
Why did the US dominate the UN in the early Cold War?
Because the USSR often boycotted sessions, most member states were aligned with the West, and the US had strong economic and political influence.
How was US dominance shown during the Korean War?
The UN authorised military intervention in Korea while the USSR was boycotting, enabling a US-led coalition.
What structural advantage did the USA have in the UN?
Many UN agencies and funding mechanisms relied heavily on US resources.
Why was Soviet influence initially limited in the UN?
Smaller communist membership and frequent use of the Security Council veto.
Why was China isolated after 1949?
The US refused to recognise the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and instead recognised the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the UN.
How did US policy contribute to China’s isolation?
Trade embargoes, diplomatic pressure on allies, and containment strategies aimed at preventing communist expansion in Asia.
What role did the Korean War play in isolating China?
China’s entry on the side of North Korea confirmed US fears and hardened US policy against the PRC.
How did China’s exclusion from the UN impact its global position?
It limited diplomatic influence and reinforced reliance on the USSR.
What was the overall effect of domestic fears in the US during the early Cold War?
They intensified anti-communist policies, influenced foreign policy, and strained relations with allies.
What connected McCarthyism with wider Cold War tensions?
Both were driven by fears of communist expansion, espionage, and the belief that containment was failing.
How did early Cold War tensions reshape global politics?
They solidified ideological blocs, strengthened US-led alliances, and marginalised communist China.
Why was the UN a key arena for early Cold War competition?
It became a stage for superpower influence, with the US initially holding the advantage.
What was the purpose of Cold War alliance systems?
To consolidate power blocs, deter the opponent, and extend influence globally.
What was NATO and when was it formed?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (1949), a US-led defence alliance for Western Europe.
What was the significance of West Germany joining NATO (1955)?
It strengthened Western Europe’s defences and prompted the Soviet response (Warsaw Pact).
What was the Warsaw Pact and why was it created?
A Soviet-led military alliance formed in 1955 in response to NATO expanding.
How did SEATO (1954) and CENTO (1955) expand US influence?
They created a chain of alliances around the Soviet Union and China, extending containment to Asia and the Middle East.
What was Eisenhower’s general approach to the Cold War?
“New Look” policy—more reliance on nuclear deterrence, lower conventional spending, and global containment.
Who was John Foster Dulles?
Eisenhower’s Secretary of State and architect of many 1950s Cold War strategies.
What is 'brinkmanship'?
The policy of pushing dangerous situations to the edge (“the brink”) to force the opponent to back down due to fear of nuclear retaliation.
Why was brinkmanship appealing to Eisenhower and Dulles?
Nuclear weapons were cheaper than conventional forces—offering “massive retaliation” while reducing defence costs.
What criticism is often made of brinkmanship?
It increased Cold War tensions and risked accidental nuclear war.
What was the Domino Theory?
The idea that if one country fell to communism, neighbouring states would follow like falling dominos.
Who introduced the Domino Theory and when?
President Eisenhower, 1954, in reference to Southeast Asia.
Why was Indochina important to US strategy?
It was seen as the key domino in Southeast Asia; losing Vietnam could trigger regional communist expansion.
How did the USA support French efforts in Indochina?
By providing financial aid (up to 75–80% of French war costs by 1954) and political backing against the Viet Minh.
Why did the US refuse direct military intervention at Dien Bien Phu?
Fear of another land war in Asia and lack of allied support (e.g., Britain refused).
Why was the Geneva Conference held?
To settle the conflict in Indochina and address tensions in Korea and Southeast Asia.
What happened at Dien Bien Phu before Geneva?
The French were decisively defeated by the Viet Minh (May 1954), forcing negotiations.
What were the outcomes for Vietnam?
Vietnam was temporarily divided at the 17th Parallel; elections were planned for 1956 to reunify the country.
Why did the US not sign the Geneva Accords?
It rejected the temporary division of Vietnam and feared a communist victory in elections.
What was the significance of Geneva?
It ended French colonial rule in Indochina and marked the start of greater US involvement in Vietnam.
What overall trend took place in the 1950s Cold War?
Formation and expansion of structured alliance systems that divided the world into clear blocs.
How did US strategy shift under Eisenhower?
From Truman’s conventional containment to nuclear-based “New Look” containment and brinkmanship.
Why did Southeast Asia become a major focus for the US?
The Domino Theory suggested communist expansion there would threaten global balance.
What did the Geneva Conference reveal about Cold War diplomacy?
Negotiated settlements were possible but fragile, often widening US commitments rather than resolving tensions.