APUSH Unit 8 Notes: 1945-1980

Origins of the Cold War (1945-1980)

• The Soviet Union (SU) and the United States (US) emerged as dominant world powers after WWII.

  • The US had a strong economy and military, while the SU controlled much of Eastern Europe.

• Ideological conflict: communism (SU) vs. democratic capitalism (US).

  • Communism advocated for a classless society with state control of the economy, while democratic capitalism promoted individual rights and free markets.

• Cold War: conflict without direct warfare, mainly an ideological battle.

  • The Cold War influenced global politics, military alliances, and technological advancements.

• The Russian Revolution in 1917 alerted the US to communism.

  • The revolution led to the establishment of the Soviet Union, the first communist state.

• The Soviet Union aimed to spread communism, while the US sought to contain it.

  • The SU supported communist movements worldwide, while the US provided aid to anti-communist governments.

• Question: Would the world be remade in the image of authoritarian communism or democratic capitalism?

  • This question shaped the geopolitical landscape and defined the Cold War.

Events Sparking Distrust

• Yalta Conference: FDR (US), Stalin (SU), and Churchill (UK) agreed on democratic elections in Eastern Europe after WWII.

  • The conference aimed to establish a post-war order and prevent future conflicts.

• The Soviet Union claimed Eastern European nations as a "buffer zone."

  • The SU sought to protect itself from potential Western aggression by establishing communist states along its border.

• Division of Germany: US, SU, UK, and France divided Germany and Berlin into four occupation zones.

  • This division reflected the competing interests and ideologies of the major Allied powers.

  • Berlin was within the Soviet sector.

    • Berlin became a focal point of Cold War tensions.

  • The Soviet portion became a communist state.

  • SU wanted a weak Germany with reparations, while Western powers wanted a strong, recovering Germany for a stable Europe.

    • The Western powers believed a strong Germany was essential for European stability and economic recovery.

• Winston Churchill: "An iron curtain has descended across the continent."

  • Churchill's statement symbolized the division of Europe into communist and democratic blocs.

American Response: Containment

• Containment strategy: preventing the spread of communism.

  • This strategy guided US foreign policy throughout the Cold War.

• Truman Doctrine: supporting countries threatened by Soviet communism.

  • This doctrine committed the US to providing military and economic assistance to countries resisting communism.

  • Issued due to Soviet pressure on Turkey and Greece.

  • Congress approved $400$ million to resist Soviet influence in Turkey and Greece.

• Marshall Plan: financial aid to rebuild European countries, developed by Secretary of State Marshall, allocated $13$ billion.

  • The Marshall Plan aimed to promote economic recovery and prevent the spread of communism in Western Europe.

The Marshall Plan

• Aimed to help struggling nations choose democracy over communism.

  • By providing economic assistance, the US hoped to make democracy more appealing than communism.

• The plan succeeded, which upset Stalin.

  • Stalin viewed the Marshall Plan as a threat to Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.

Berlin Blockade and Airlift

• Berlin was divided among the US, SU, UK, and France; located within the SU zone.

  • The division of Berlin symbolized the broader division of Europe.

• Stalin's Berlin Blockade (1948): limiting Western powers' access to West Berlin via canals, roads, railways.

  • Stalin hoped to force the Western powers to abandon West Berlin.

• Goal: to absorb West Berlin as they did East Berlin into Soviet occupation.

• Berlin Airlift: US and allied airplanes supplied West Berlin. Over $200,000$ flights.

  • The airlift demonstrated the Western powers' commitment to West Berlin and the failure of Stalin's blockade.

NATO and Warsaw Pact

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): a military alliance to resist Soviet aggression.

  • NATO committed its members to mutual defense in case of attack.

• Warsaw Pact: the Soviet response, a counter-alliance for communist Eastern European nations.

  • The Warsaw Pact formalized the Soviet Union's military dominance in Eastern Europe.

Nuclear Proliferation

• Arms race between the US and the Soviets.

  • The arms race consumed vast resources and heightened the risk of nuclear war.

• The US developed the first atomic bomb in 1945.

• Soviets developed their first atomic bomb in 1949.

• Truman ordered the development of the Hydrogen Bomb, tested in 1954.

• Soviets tested their first hydrogen bomb in the following year.

• Mutually Assured Destruction: understanding that nuclear war was unwinnable.

  • This doctrine created a precarious balance of power and deterred both sides from launching a first strike.

Proxy Wars

• The Cold War was mainly ideological, but included proxy wars.

  • Proxy wars allowed the US and SU to pursue their interests without direct military confrontation.

• Examples: Vietnam War, Korean War.

Korean War

• Korea was a Japanese colony before WWII, then divided along the 38th parallel (Soviets in North, US in South).

  • The division of Korea reflected the global rivalry between the US and SU.

• North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950 with Soviet support.

• The UN, mainly American troops, supported the South, pushing near China's border.

• China then sent troops, pushing back below the 38th parallel.

• The war ended with the situation nearly identical to the start.

• Illustrates: proxy war and containment policy.

The Red Scare

• Two Red Scares: first after WWI, second after WWII.

  • The Red Scares reflected fears of communist subversion and espionage.

• Taft-Hartley Act of 1947: made it more difficult for workers to strike and union leaders had to pledge they were not part of the communist party.

  • This act reflected concerns about communist influence in labor unions.

• Federal Employee Loyalty and Security Program (1947): federal employees had to swear they were not communist or fascist, and subjected to investigations.

  • This program aimed to identify and remove suspected communists from government service.

• House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC): searched for communist influence, especially in Hollywood.

  • HUAC investigated suspected communists in the entertainment industry.

• Hollywood Ten: ten prominent Hollywood figured found to be communist, were called to testify in Congress, refused to go, and received short prison sentences and spot on Hollywood blacklist.

• Senator Joseph McCarthy: claimed to have the names of 205 communists in the State Department.

  • McCarthy's accusations fueled public paranoia and damaged many innocent lives.

• McCarthy bust became known as McCarthyism.

• Later admitted the real number was only 47 and never revealed them.

• The Rosenberg Case: couple accused of leaking atomic bomb information to Soviets; executed.