History Semester 1 Finals

Iron Curtain

Winston Churchill's term for the Cold War division between the Soviet-dominated East (communism) and the U.S.-dominated West (capitalism).

-Churchill says that he is unable to see a proper democracy and that Europe is not liberating properly, which will NOT show permanent peace.

United Nations

-Since LON failed, United Nations Charter approved on April 1st 1945.

-Permanent members: US< China, USSR, Britain and France

-Provided humanitarian aid but was not good at preventing future conflicts because there was NO military

-Aimed to stabilize the WORLD, not just Europe.

Marshall Plan

-Official name: European Recovery Plan (ERP)

-US gave $13 billion to ANY European country for aid and they did not have to pay them back, even Soviet Union!

-Soviet Union refused and forced the countries under their sphere of influence from not participating

-Most of the money went to Britain and France

Capitalism vs Communism

-The main issue in the Cold War... US (capitalism) vs USSR (communism).

-US INTERPRETATION: Anything that is NOT a strict capitalist democracy is seen as Soviet Influence (communism).

Capitalism

Economic system where businesses are privately owned and controlled by supply and demand.

Communism

-Equality of social classes

-Political and economic theory created by Karl Marx, advocating class revolution and equality.

-Government controlled ALL production and distribution.

The Long Telegram

Message written by George Kennan in 1946 to Truman advising him to contain Communist expansion. Told Truman that if the Soviets couldn't expand, their Communism would eventually fall apart, and that Communism could be beaten without going to war.

-Described the USSP as historically expansionist and a threat to US interests and world peace (containment).

Truman Doctrine

America's promise to help countries fight against the spread of communism.

-US focused on providing aid to Greece and Turkey because they are close to the Soviet Union and might fall under their influence.

Containment policy

-US will provide economic and military assistance to prevent the spread of communism.

GOAL: Not to conflict with USSR and communist countries, but prevent the SPREAD of communism.

Occupation and Partitioning of Germany

SOVIET: Occupied East Germany and established a communist state

US: Occupied the south of Germany

BRITAIN: Occupied the northwest and west of Germany

FRANCE: Occupied the southwest of Germany

WEST GERMANY: Federal Republic of Germany (CAPITALIST)

EAST GERMANY: German Democratic Republic (COMMUNIST)

Berlin Blockage and Airlift

-Because of the currency reform in West Berlin, Stalin closed all land access routes between Berlin and Western zones.

-Truman provided aid via airlift

-Berlin Blockage removed on May 12th 1949

Berlin Wall

-1961

-A barrier that surrounded West Berlin and prevented access to East Berlin

-It was built because 2.5 million East Germans (communist) fled to the West (capitalist).

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NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

-Alliance of 12 European and American countries

-Soviets saw this as being DIRECTLY against them and violating the United Nations charter.

Warsaw Pact

An alliance between the Soviet Union and other Eastern European nations

-In response to NATO.

Proxy Wars and Conflicts

Armed conflict between 2 states or groups that act on behalf of other parties that are not directly involved in the hostilities/main conflict (ex. North and South Korea).

-Alternative to this was M.A.D (Mutually Assured Destruction)... US and Soviet didn't want this.

1948 Czechoslovak Coup

-Czechoslovakia was not FORMALLY within Soviet sphere... Leaders showed interest in taking the US's offer of the Marshall Plan.

-On February 1948, the communist party of Czechoslovakia with Soviet support created a coup to take control of the Czechoslovakian government.

Iranian Crisis

-1946

-Britain and Soviet Union sent troops to Iran to protect their oil fields and supplies. After this, Britain and Soviet Union were supposed to leave Iran.

-But... though Britain left, Soviet Union DIDN'T.

-US and Britain saw this as a threat and feared that Soviets would spread communism in Iran and take full control of their oil.

Turkish Strait Crisis

-Soviet Union wanted control of the Turkish straits

-Turkey didn't allow it because the Soviets would threaten their sovereignty and power

-US steps in and supports Turkey because they feared the spread of communism

-This mattered because it solidified Turkey as an important ally to the Western powers and Turkey joined NATO to counter Soviet influence.

Greek Civil War

-US and Soviet's indirect conflict over the future of Greece

-Two sides... SIDE 1: Communists under Soviet Influence (Yugoslavia, Albania and Bulgaria). SIDE 2: Greek Government backed by Britain and US.

-Communists wanted Greek to be a communist government Greek government wanted it to be democratic.

-Britain eventually had to withdraw because of economic collapse

-US supported instead and defeated communist powers in Greek.

Nuclear Deterrence

because of M.A.D, if two nations have nuclear weapons neither is likely to use them.

Arms Race

Competition with between US and Soviet Union to build the most powerful and advanced weapons.

-Kept both powers on the edge as they kept making nuclear weapons.

M.A.D

Mutually Assured Destruction

-The ability to completely destroy each other in war actually provides a level of stability because of the Nuclear Deterrence.

Brinkmanship

A foreign policy practice where one of both parties push a dangerous situation to the brink to get a desired outcome.

-Aggressive and risky

-ex. Soviet placement of missiles in Cuba (1962).

Harry Truman

-Because US president when FDR died... took over during WW2 and led Cold War for US

-Sent aid to South Korea during Korean War

-Containment Policy and Truman Doctrine

Joseph Stalin

-Communist dictator of Soviet Union

-Helped Kim II Sung get in power of North Korea because he lived in the Soviet Union for some time.

Chinese Civil War part 1

-1927

-KMT (nationalists) vs CCP (communists)

- Chiang Kai-shek of the KMT wanted to split the KMT and CCP, which led to the Shanghai Massacre... KMT wanted to eliminate communist influence and purged them.

-KMT had the upper hand in the end.

Chinese Civil War part 2

-1946 to 1949

-KMT vs CCP after Second Sino-Japanese War.

-During WW2, they worked together to stop Japanese powers.

-After that, they fought for power again.

-CCP got support from peasants and backed by Soviets. KMT got support from US but struggled with corruption.

-Mao Zedong and the People's Republic of China won... led to Communism all over China.

Mao Zedong

(1893-1976) Leader of the Communist Party in China .

-Established People's Republic of China (PRC).

-Led the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution.

-He was different from Stalin's communist beliefs because Stalin got power from industrial workers, but Mao got power from AGRICULTURAL workers

-Mao aimed to do communism BETTER than Stalin.

Chiang Kai-Shek

Leader of the Nationalist Party of China (KMT)

-Anti-Communist and purged communists out with extreme violence during Shanghai Massacre which led to the 1st Chinese Civil War.

-Led the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan after his defeat in the 2nd Chinese Civil War. It was recognized as the legitimate government of China

Republic of China

-In Taiwan led by the KMT after they lost the Chinese Civil War part 2

-Recognized by Western democracies as the legitimate government of China

People's Republic of China

-In mainland China led by the Mao's communist govt.

-Recognized by communist govts like Soviet Union

-Claims that Taiwan is a TERRITORY in China, and that the PRC should be the legitimate govt of China.

Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty

Guarantees that US will intervene and protect ROC (communist) if PRC (nationalist) invades and attacks.

Maoism

Power comes from agricultural workers and peasants instead of the working class.

Great Leap Forward

-Self industrialize, be a great power, and do communism better than Stalin

-For the Peasants

-Woman started gaining more rights... were allowed to learn and teach

-EVERYONE had to contribute to industrialization

-Backyard Steel Production

-Food production competitions to engage people to grow more crops

-Eventually led to famine, violence and damaged crops.

Cultural Revolution

-Brought by the youth and students

-Mao wanted to destroy past beliefs of Confucianism and filial piety.

-Rebellions against Bourgeois (those who had capitalistic mindsets)

-Set up re-education camps to "cleanse the mind" of capitalism..

-Ended when Mao died in September 1976... society shifted focus to money and economy.

Little Red Book

Mao's quotations of the proper Communist living; carried by the Red Guard and the youths.

Red Guard

The youths who led Mao's Cultural Revolution. Wore red arm bands and carried his book. Terrorized Chinese citizens and determined who went to camps.

Korean War

-One of the first proxy wars in the Cold War

-Made the Cold War "hot"

-South Korea (US) vs North Korea (USSR)

-Constant crossing of the 38th parallel and conquering of land

-Ended in armistice but separation still occurred because US and USSR didn't know how to reunify Korea again.

Kim II Sung

Communist leader of North Korea.

-Became the leader through help of Stalin.

Partition of Korea

-This was ultimately the Korean War

-People's Democratic Republic of Korea (NORTH; Soviet Union)

-Republic of Korea (SOUTH; United States).

-After the war, since both sides of Korea were polar opposites, the US and Soviets didn't know how to reunite Korea again... so they left them alone as South and North.