Chapter 24

Chapter 24 Notes

American Portrait: John Turchinetz

  • Served in the Navy in WWII

  • Son of eastern European immigrants

  • Postwar normality did not last long

  • Cold War Era

  • Role of nuclear weapons

Origins of the Cold War

Ideological Competition

  • Two powerful nations with differing ambitions:

    • USSR: socialist economy, limited individual rights, autarkic economy

    • US: capitalism, traditions of individualism

Uneasy Allies

  • American leaders feared autarkic trade blocs, Great Depression, and war, and had faith in free trade.

  • Soviet leaders feared repeat invasions of Russia and Eastern Europe, trusting a closed economic system.

  • Yalta Conference: discussions on spheres of influence.

From Allies to Enemies

  • Bretton Woods economic system disadvantaged closed economies.

  • US air and naval bases around the world were seen as threatening by the Soviets.

  • Disagreements emerged over Germany and Poland.

National Security

The Truman Doctrine

  • Concept of the Iron Curtain.

  • George Kennan’s Long Telegram stated that communism is expansionistic.

  • Civil war in Greece highlighted the necessity for US support of free peoples resisting subjugation.

Containment

  • Policy led to conflicts across the globe.

  • Soviet atomic capabilities prompted increased military spending and an arms race.

  • Marshall Plan (1947) & NATO (1949) established.

  • National Security Act (1947) established CIA, NSC, Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Taking Risks

  • Reunification of American, British, and French sectors of Berlin.

  • Soviet blockade led to the Berlin Airlift.

Cold War in Europe

Global Revolutions

  • Civil War in China between Mao Zedong’s communists and Jiang Jieshi’s nationalists resulted in the ‘loss’ of China to communism.

  • Formation of the Rio Pact and Organization of American States (1948).

  • US tolerated dictators and others opposed to communism.

The Korean War

  • Joint US/USSR occupation of Korea, leading to the division at the 38th parallel.

  • North Korea's invasion of South Korea in 1950 led to a US/UN intervention termed as “police action.”

  • Conflict resulted in a stalemate, intensified by China's involvement.

NSC-68

  • Called for tripling defense spending, order in postcolonial areas, and development of powerful weapons funded through deficit spending.

  • Government-generated jobs and growth.

The Postwar Economy

  • GI Bill transitioned veterans to education rather than work.

  • Continued government spending; US dominated the world economy.

The Challenges of Organized Labor

  • Unions aimed to expand influence and increase member wages.

  • 1946 saw a wave of strikes and accusations of communism.

  • The Taft-Hartley Act was passed by Republicans and conservative Democrats.

  • Treaty of Detroit initiated.

Opportunities for Women

  • Women increasingly remained in the workforce post-1945, with more married women employed.

  • Became a permanent part of the armed forces despite discrimination in hiring and pay.

Civil Rights for African Americans

  • Southern industrial growth undermined segregation.

  • UN Declaration on Human Rights and Supreme Court decisions addressed racial discrimination.

  • African American veterans played a role along with NAACP citizenship schools and CORE initiatives.

  • Executive Order 9981 promoted equality in the armed forces.

  • Notable figures included Jackie Robinson.

The Frustrations of Liberalism

  • Truman aimed to expand government functions through initiatives like a full employment bill and national health insurance.

  • However, there was a public sentiment favoring less government intervention.

Truman's Comeback

  • Responses to the Taft-Hartley Act indicated divided party sentiments; figures like Henry Wallace and Strom Thurmond emerged.

  • Although Americans did not favor rolling back the New Deal, Fair Deal legislation stalled.

Fighting the Cold War at Home

Doubts and Fears in the Atomic Age

  • Concerns about fascism and wartime atrocities raised questions about future progress (e.g., UFO sightings).

  • Hollywood and atomic fears affected public sentiment.

  • The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 was enacted amid these tensions.

The Anti-Communist Crusade

  • Fear of internal communist threats spurred actions like the House Un-American Activities Committee.

  • The Hollywood Ten faced discrimination; federal employee loyalty programs enforced limited rights.

Struggles for Democracy

  • The Hollywood Ten were scrutinized for alleged communist influence, faced pressure to testify, with some naming colleagues.

  • Studios discriminated against suspected communists, impacting free speech.

The Hunt for Spies

  • The Alger Hiss trial revolved around accusations of espionage.

  • The Rosenberg couple was executed in 1953 for passing nuclear secrets to the USSR.

The Rise of McCarthyism

  • Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed to have evidence of communism within the State Department, leading to widespread paranoia and the Internal Security Act of 1950.

  • The Army-McCarthy hearings illustrated the fear and distrust, impacting various sectors, including labor unions and civil rights activists.