Cold War Era Overview

Page 1: Soviet Union and the Rise of Stalin

• Russian/Bolshevik Revolution
  • Ended the Russian Empire, leading to a Civil War between Bolsheviks (reds) and counterrevolutionaries (whites).
  • Bolsheviks won, creating the Communist Party and establishing the USSR in 1922.
• Lenin and Stalin
  • Lenin led from revolution until his death in 1924.
  • Stalin emerged as leader in late 1920s, aiming to industrialize the USSR by replacing peasant society.
  • Forced collectivization led to famine and millions of deaths.
  • Secret police (NKVD) eliminated opposition, leading to mass executions and gulags.
  • The Great Purge (1930s): targeted perceived threats to the Communist Party, creating a cult of personality around Stalin.
• Stalin's Regime:
  • Between 1930 and 1953, 1.1-1.2 million executions.
  • Millions sent to labor camps, rewriting history to glorify Stalin.

Page 2: The Formation of the United Nations and the Iron Curtain

• United Nations Established
  • Formed in 1945 after WWII with 50 nations, aiming for international cooperation and peace.
  • General Assembly: All member nations, meeting annually; Security Council includes 5 permanent members (US, USSR, UK, France, Republic of China) with veto power.
• Post-war Europe
  • Soviets ignored agreement for democratic elections in Eastern Europe, installing puppet governments.
  • Churchill famously noted an "iron curtain" over Europe, highlighting the division between Communist and non-Communist countries.
• US Foreign Policy
  • Stalin's threats led to fears of Soviet control in places like Greece and Turkey.
  • US considered atomic power to counter Soviet advances, increasing tensions.

Page 3: Containment Policy and the Truman Doctrine

• Containment Strategy (1946):
  • Scholars understood that Soviet ideology conflicted with capitalism, leading to global tensions.
  • Bush and Truman detailing assistance to nations resisting Communist pressure, particularly Greece and Turkey.
• Truman Doctrine
  • March 12, 1947: Truman called for $400 million aid for Greece and Turkey, claiming US must support free peoples resisting control.
  • Congress quickly approved the Greek-Turkish aid bill, marking US interventionism in global affairs.

Page 4: The Marshall Plan

• Marshall Plan (Spring 1947):
  • Proposed massive aid to rebuild European economies, reducing poverty and chaos that could lead to Communist influence.
  • Offered aid to all Europe, including USSR, to strengthen political systems.
  • Economic stability seen as crucial for political stability.
• Germany's Situation
  • Post-war, Berlin divided into four allied-controlled sections. US, UK, France unified their zones into West Berlin, angering Stalin.
• Berlin Blockade & Airlift:
  • Stalin blocked resources entering West Berlin, leading to the Berlin Airlift (June 1948 – May 1949) to supply the city.

Page 5: NATO and the Warsaw Pact

• NATO Formation (April 4, 1949):
  • Allied nations pledged mutual defense against any attack. Included US, UK, France, and more, establishing a united military front against Soviet aggression.
  • Greece and Turkey joined in 1952; West Germany in 1955.
• Warsaw Pact formed in response in 1955, strengthening Soviet control in Eastern Europe.

Page 6: The Establishment of Israel and Arab-Israeli Conflict

• Palestine to Israel:
  • British protectorate; post-WWII, pressure from Zionists grew for a Jewish homeland. UN voted for partition in 1947.
  • May 15, 1948: Declaration of independence for Israel. War ensued between Israel and surrounding Arab nations.
  • After the war, over 700,000 Palestinians became refugees, settling in Gaza Strip.

Page 7: Civil Rights Movements and Truman's Initiatives

• Civil Rights Initiatives:
  • After WWII, racial issues heightened; Truman opposed racial discrimination and set up a committee on Civil Rights.
  • Executive Order 9981 ended military segregation.
• The Fair Deal:
  • Truman's proposal for social reform, aiming for civil rights, education, health insurance, and housing improvements.
  • Faced opposition from Southern Democrats and Republicans during his presidency.

Page 8: The 1948 Election

• Election Dynamics:
  • Split Democratic Party; Southern Democrats opposed Truman's civil rights efforts, nominating Strom Thurmond.
  • Progressive Democrats supported Henry Wallace.
  • Truman campaigned aggressively, resulting in an upset victory over Dewey.

Page 9: Anti-communism and Eisenhower's Leadership

• Eisenhower's Presidency (1952):
  • Promised moderation and stability, introducing "Dynamic Republicanism."
  • Focused on balancing the federal budget and moderating social programs.
• Infrastructure Development:
  • Promoted the 1956 Highway Act, investing in the interstate system, enhancing economic growth but hurting railroads.

Page 10: Immigration and Native American Policies

• Mexican Immigration: Operation Wetback led to deportations, impacting US-Mexico relations.
• Native American Termination Policy: Focused on assimilation, ending tribal sovereignty.

Page 11: Rising Cold War Tensions

• Eisenhower & Brinkmanship: Pushed back against communism; US developed hydrogen bombs.
• Hungarian Uprising (1956): US did not intervene despite Soviet oppression of uprisings.

Page 12: Vietnam and French Indochina War

• US Involvement in Vietnam: Aid to France as it struggled against Viet Minh; Eisenhower introduced substantial military advisor presence.

Page 13: The Space Race and Cold War Politics

• Geneva Summit (1955): Eisenhower attempts peace with Khrushchev, proposals of open skies rejected.
• Launch of Sputnik (1957): Initiated US panic, establishing NASA to bolster science and technology education.

Page 14: Crisis Over Berlin and Civil Rights Developments

• U-2 Incident (1960): Tensions escalated after a US spy plane was shot down.
• Civil Rights Movement Beginnings: Cases like Brown v. Board changed public education landscape, leading to growth in activism.

Page 15: Legislative Developments in Civil Rights

• Civil Rights Act of 1957: Eisenhower aimed to protect voting rights.
• Little Rock Nine Crisis (1957): Marked federal enforcement of civil rights in the South.

Page 16: Kennedy's Election and Policies

• Election of 1960: Kennedy portrayed the New Frontier, advanced civil rights while facing opposition from Congress.

Page 17: Civil Rights Movement Expansion

• Greensboro Sit-Ins (1960): Spearheaded student activism.
• Freedom Riders (1961): Sought to desegregate transportation facilities, met violent opposition.

Page 18: Key Moments of Civil Rights Protests

• James Meredith: Enrolled at Ole Miss with federal protection, highlights federal intervention in civil rights.

Page 19: Birmingham Campaign and its Impact

• Birmingham Campaign (1963): Nonviolent protests met with violent police response; significant media coverage.
• I Have a Dream Speech: MLK's iconic speech at the March on Washington.

Page 20: Kennedy's Foreign Policy and the Cuban Missile Crisis

• Flexible Response: Shift in strategy, addressing conflicts with a range of responses.
• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Height of Cold War tensions; ultimately negotiated withdrawal of missiles.

Page 21: Vietnam Under Kennedy

• Diem's Regime: US commitment to support South Vietnam, facing internal dissent and controversy.

Page 22: Final Days of Kennedy's Presidency

• Assassination: Marked a tragic end to a significant yet brief presidency, raising questions about his legacy and impact.