Lecture Center B

The Cold War Overview

  • Definition: An ideological conflict between the capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union.

  • Broader Impact: Beyond foreign policy, it affected global politics, societal norms, and domestic issues.

Conformity During the Cold War

  • Social Norms: There was a strong expectation of conformity, and behaviors outside the norm were seen as subversive and threatening.

Key Events Leading Up to the Cold War Expansion

  • Suez Canal and Hungarian Crises (1956):

    • These events symbolized the decline of U.S. and Soviet monopolies on global affairs.

    • Shift in focus towards less industrialized areas like South America and Southeast Asia.

  • Kennedy Administration's Decisions:

    • Focused on expanding U.S. foreign policy towards emerging regions rather than solely transatlantic engagements.

Impact on Latin America

  • U.S. Influence:

    • The U.S. dominated South America's natural resources, leading to political instability and widespread poverty.

    • Marked by a history of over 100 illegal changes in government between 1930 and 1965.

  • Cuban Context:

    • The U.S. controlled major resources, leading to significant income disparity and dissatisfaction with the Batista regime.

    • Fidel Castro's Revolt (1953):

      • Initially a nationalist movement; evolved into a communist alignment after the U.S. refused to engage constructively with Castro.

      • Led to significant geopolitical tensions in the region.

Kennedy's Civil Rights Policy

  • Civil Rights Movement:

    • Emerged after legal milestones like Brown v. Board of Education (1954) outlawed school segregation.

    • Kennedy's Approach:

      • Initially cautious; navigated between civil rights demands and political realities, especially regarding Southern Democrats.

      • Used executive actions to promote hiring for black workers and pressured states to desegregate.

Major Civil Rights Actions

  • Freedom Rides (1961):

    • Integrated bus travels met with violent opposition, leading to federal intervention by President Kennedy.

  • Integration of the University of Mississippi (1962):

    • Kennedy dispatched federal troops to uphold James Meredith’s right to attend class amid violent protests.

Legislative Efforts in Civil Rights

  • Executive Orders and Civil Rights Bill:

    • Kennedy endorsed civil rights legislation, but early efforts were seen as inadequate by activists.

  • Birmingham Protests (1963):

    • Violent police response to peaceful demonstrations galvanized national attention and ultimately led to Kennedy’s increased support for civil rights legislation.

The March on Washington (1963)

  • Significance: Largest demonstration in U.S. history at the time, featuring Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

  • Goals: Advocated for comprehensive civil rights legislation and highlighted economic issues facing African Americans.

Cold War Military Strategy and the Vietnam War

  • Kennedy's focus remained on Cold War dynamics, believing in U.S. containment strategies in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

  • Cuban Missile Crisis (1962):

    • Brink of nuclear war stemming from Soviet missile deployment in Cuba, leading to compromises and a direct communication line established between the U.S. and USSR.

  • Involvement in Vietnam:

    • Escalated U.S. military support under the belief that Vietnam was pivotal in the Cold War context.

    • Misunderstanding of local dynamics led to increased American military involvement without recognizing the nationalist motives of Vietnamese leaders.

Assassination of President Kennedy

  • November 22, 1963: Assassination by Lee Harvey Oswald, theory-building and controversies ensued following the event.

  • Legacy: Focus on the tragedy in Dallas overshadowed the deepening conflict in Vietnam, which would lead to extensive American casualties and involvement.