Cold War Unit USII Honors

What was the source of early Soviet-American tension?

The source of early tension between the Soviets and Americans began at the Atlantic Charter in 1941.  This was a period in time when people abandoned their traditional beliefs in military alliances.

What harmed Roosevelts bargaining power at the Tehran conference? What agreement was reached at Tehran?

Something that harmed Roosevelt’s bargaining power at the Tehran conference was Stalin’s need for American assistance against Germany.  The agreement that was reached upon was that the Soviet Union would enter war in the pacific after the hostilities were over in Europe.

What issues were discussed at Yalta? What decision about post-war Germany was made at Yalta?

At Yalta, decisions about the Russo-Japanese war were talked about and that the United Nations would be formed.  Stalin wanted to impose heavy reparations on them and to ensure a permanent dismemberment of the nation.

How did Truman's attitude toward Stalin differ from that of Roosevelt's?

Truman’s attitude differed from Roosevelt’s because he sided with them in the government who considered the Soviet Union untrustworthy. 

What concessions did Truman make at Potsdam?

At Potsdam, Truman made concessions that recognized the Warsaw (Polish) government and hoping that the amount of communism will go away.

In as much detail as possible, describe ‘the China Problem’.

The Chinese problem was the Chinese government was corrupt and incompetent with no support at all.  The current government had a feud with an old foe by the name of Mao Zedong.

What was America’s solution to ‘the China Problem’?

America’s solution to the China Problem was to find an alternative to the government with being a third party government taking over.

What is the Truman Doctrine? Provide an example of the Truman Doctrine being enforced.

The Truman Doctrine emerges in 1946 Europe due to events that were happening in Turkey and Greece.  An example is when America eased soviet pressure on the Turkey and helped the Greek government.

What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan?

The Marshall Plan was to aid in the economic reconstruction of Western Europe.  Some of the motives were that Europe would maintain concerns and be a drain on the United States.

Describe the series of events known as the ‘Berlin Airlift’ and explain its significance

To begin, the Berlin Airlift started when Stalin imposed a blockade around the Western parts of Berlin, then Truman ordered a massive airlift to fuel the city to prepare.

What was the Soviet Union's response to the creation of NATO?

The Soviet Union’s response to the creation of NATO was to create alliances with communist governments in Eastern Europe called the Warsaw Pact.

What two events in 1949 worried American leadership? What changes to American Foreign policy in 1950 did those two events influence?

The 1st event was that the Soviet had made its first atomic bomb.  The 2nd event was that Chiang Kai-Shek’s government had collapsed.    These two events influenced the National Security council report which was also the NSC-68.

What was Truman’s ‘Fair Deal’? How did congress react to it?

Truman’s Fair Deal which called for the expansion of Social Security Benefits, the raising of minimum wage and promotion of scientific research.  Congress reacted to this by rejecting it.

What ‘Fair Deal’ policy was Truman able to get passed after his election in 1948? What issues did he not make any progress on?

He was able to get passed the amount of tax rates that were imposed on certain families to reallocate funds to certain lower incomes.  He did not make progress on health insurance and education.

Describe the causes of the Cold War and the United States’ interest in the conflict

Certain causes of the Cold War were World War 2, Emergence of nuclear weapons, and New Deal recovery programs.  The United States was a nation that wsa with its own prosperity and ultimately fascinated with itself and their technological advancements that were transforming the world.

What key issue did Truman and General MacArthur disagree during the Korean War? How did Truman handle the disagreement? How did the public react?

They disagreed during the Korean War because Truman wanted to avoid a direct contact with China but MacArthur felt the opposite way.  Truman reacted by relieving MacArthur of their duties.  Truman was greeted by “wild enthusiasm” by the United States

What was the purpose of the House Un American Activities Committee?

The purpose of the HUAC was to hold publicized investigations to proved that the government encouraged communism.

What was the significance of the Alger Hiss case?

The significance of the Alger Hiss case was that he passed documents to the Soviet Union and could not be charged due to the statute of limitations that had been placed upon him.

ow did Truman attempt to protect the Democratic party from criticism of communist infiltration?

The Truman administration attempted to create a program that would review the loyalty of federal employees that made people resign under pressure and people had been dismissed.

Who was Joseph McCarthy and what actions did he take to investigate the ‘loyalty’ of Americans? Do you agree or disagree with his actions?

McCarthy was a Republican senator from Wisconsin who began prosecuting other agencies by investigating other offices.

How did the Republicans regain power in 1952?

The Republicans gained power again in 1952 because Truman was loosing popularity and decided not to run again.  Overall, the democratic opponent against the republicans was in loosing favor.