The making of a Superpower USA - Foreign Policy (1945-1965)

What did the US’ focus move to?

Threat of communism + containing it

When did China become communist?

1949

When did the US lose its monopoly of nuclear weapons established in 1945?

1950 - soviet spies uncovered their secrets

Who attended the 1945 Yalta conference?

Stalin, Attlee + Truman

What was the main thing agreed at the 1945 Yalta conference?

Germany would be divided + reparations would be paid

What was Truman’s 1947 doctrine?

Policy of containment + support to any country under the threat of communism

What did the 1948 Marshall aid do?

Provided $13 billion in aid to Europe (Stalin rejected this on behalf of all countries under his influence)

What was the Berlin airlift?

Started in 1948 + by 1949 8,000 tons of supplies were flown to Berlin per day

Who won in terms of the Berlin blockade?

USA, Stalin called off the blockade in May 1949

How many causalities did the Korean War cause?

27,000 American troops + 1 million Korean civilians

What was the Warsaw Pact?

A 1955 agreement (set up by Khrushchev) that created an alliance between communist countries (e.g, East Germany + Poland)

Why was the US unconvinced by Khrushchev?

New leadership but old ideologies HOWEVER he returned naval bases to Finland, reduced the red army by 500,000 + signed the 1955 Austrian Peace Treaty

What evidence shows that Khrushchev upheld Stalin’s ideologies?

Killed + replaced Hungary leader who wanted to leave the Warsaw Pact

What was the Eisenhower doctrine?

Extension of containment to the Middle East

How did the US’ defence spending increase?

$40 - $50 billion per year in the 1950s (90% on foreign aid)

How many spies did the USSR claim there were in American government branches?

221

Why were scientists Jullius and Ethel Rosenberg executed?

They gave away atomic secrets

What was the effect of the 1947 Loyalty Review board?

1,200 dismissed in 4 years, 6,000 resigned + 150 organisations banned

Effects of 1961 Bay of Pigs crisis?

Major failure for Kennedy + US government and Berlin Wall began to be built

What were the effects of Castro taking over Cuba in 1959?

Cuba removed all US buildings + US stopped buying their sugar but were replaced by USSR

What events took place after Khrushchev installed nuclear missiles in Cuba?

USA set up a blockade, neither wanted to back down but the USSR did + it looked like US won so they were overconfident in Vietnam

What are impacts of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis?

US secretly removed missiles from Turkey, USSR stopped placing missiles in Cuba + Hotline sped up communication between leaders

What was the impact of the 1969 Nixon doctrine?

Allies would take care of their own military defence (end of Truman doctrine) + Us involvement in Cold War ends

What were the impacts of the Berlin Wall crisis?

After 18hr standstill US backed down, soviet propaganda as US failed to stop its construction, Western success as soviets had to wall its people in (15-20% left East Germany) + this led to Khrushchev placing missiles in Cuba