week 11 the cold war

Roy Acuff's Song: "Advice to Joe (Stalin)"

• Themes:

  • Communism and atomic warfare are presented as a threat.

  • The song questions Stalin's safety amidst potential atomic bombings.

• Key Messages:

  • Emphasizes the dangers of the USSR's ambitions against the US.

  • Reflection on historical alliances during WWII.

  • Suggestion that consequences await aggressors when nuclear war occurs.

Effects of World War II

• Overview:

  • The war had significant effects on both American and global history.

  • Shift in gender roles and societal structures.

  • The US emerged as a dominant global power.

  • Human costs illustrated through the use of atomic bombs.

  • Fears of nuclear annihilation in the ensuing decades.

The Cold War (Mid-1940s to 1990s)

• Characteristics:

  • Ideological, political, and economic conflicts between the US and USSR.

  • Major themes are Capitalism vs. Communism.

• Fighting Methods:

  • Proxy wars, propaganda, economic competition, and technological races.

Roots of the Cold War

• Factors Contributing to Conflict:

  • Disputes over postwar reconstruction of Europe, particularly at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.

  • Differing goals:

    • US: Free elections and democracy.

    • USSR: Establishing a buffer zone of communist states.

The United Nations and Cold War Dynamics

• Creation of the UN (1945):

  • Purpose: To avoid a Third World War and maintain international peace and security.

• Post-War Relations:

  • Following FDR's death, US and USSR relations became increasingly tense, marking the beginning of the Cold War.

“Rivals, Not Partners” - The Long Telegram

• Context: 1946 - George Kennan's communication to the US State Department.

  • Portrays Soviet expansionism as a key threat despite past alliances.

  • Established the foundation of US containment policies.

The Iron Curtain

• Winston Churchill's Speech (1946):

  • Introduced the concept of an Iron Curtain, dividing Europe.

  • Positioned the Soviet Union as an existential threat to Western nations.

US Counteractions to Soviet Influence

• Truman Doctrine (1947):

  • Commitment to support nations resisting communism, specifically Greece and Turkey.

• Marshall Plan (1948):

  • $13 billion in aid aimed at rebuilding Western European economies.

• Formation of NATO (1949):

  • A military alliance among Western democracies to counteract Soviet aggression.

Soviet Actions in Eastern Europe

• Installations of Communist Governments:

  • Soviet influence established in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and East Germany.

  • Creation of the Warsaw Pact in 1955, aligning communist nations against NATO.

The Korean War (1950-1953)

• Division: Post-WWII, Korea split at the 38th Parallel.

  • North Korea (Communist) led by Kim Il-sung vs. South Korea (Capitalist) led by Syngman Rhee.

  • Resulted in a stalemate with significant casualties.

The Arms Race

• Nuclear Developments:

  • 1949: USSR’s successful atomic bomb test.

  • 1952: US’s development of the Hydrogen Bomb.

  • Concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) emerged.

The Space Race

• Technological Competition:

  • The US and USSR competed in space exploration, starting with the launch of Sputnik in 1957.

  • 1969: US lands on the moon, marking a major achievement in the Cold War.

The Red Scare & McCarthyism

• Overview:

  • Fear of communist infiltration in the US government and society.

  • McCarthyism led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, targeting supposed communists and leading to widespread paranoia.

• Effects:

  • Suppression of free speech and expansion of government surveillance.

Decolonization and Cold War Instability in Cuba

• Cuban Revolution (1959):

  • Fidel Castro overthrew the US-backed Batista regime, aligning with the USSR.

• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962):

  • US attempts to overthrow Castro culminate in a major standoff, nearly triggering nuclear war.

Conclusion

• Legacy of the Cold War:

  • The period defined by ideological confrontations between capitalism and communism, shaping international relations for decades to come.