1. The United States and the Cold War Discussion Lecture
Chapter 23
The United States and the Cold War Discussion Lecture

2. What caused the Cold War?

3. The Cold War
Period of conflict, tension, and competition between the U.S. & Russia (USSR) from 1945 –
“Cold” because the Soviet Union and the United States never actually engaged in battle (Arms Race, Space Race…)
Series of HOTSPOTS during the 45 year period.
#lasted 45 years…USSR stands for Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
#not a physical war…there was no plan for victory just compete
#examples were Hungary and Czechoslovakia (satellite nations that wanted to break free of communism)

4. U.S. vs. U.S.S.R.
#Truman vs Stalin (democracy…self determination vs communism)
#sputnik (1957)…forced America to put more emphasis on education particular science and math…saw this as a defeat
#Space Race…to be the first to have a man on the moon….usa won Apollo 11 July 20, 1969 (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin)
#Rocky IV…Hollywood involvement
#Miracle on Ice…1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY (Feb. 22, 1980)…2-2 1st period….3-2 2nd period…4-3 major upset…us goes on to win the gold against finland

5. U.S. Aims versus Soviet Union Aims
US Wanted to…
Create a world based on self- determination (democracy)
Rebuild European governments
Reunite Germany
Soviets wanted to…
Encourage communism in other countries
Control Eastern Europe to balance Western influence
Keep Germany divided and weak
#Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
#Iron Curtain, Soviet Blockade, Berlin Wall

6. Yalta Conf Potsdam Conf
Feb, FDR, Churchill, Stalin meet in Yalta
Form United Nations
Free-elections in war-torn Europe
Split Germany into 4 zones
U.S., Great Britain, French, U.S.S.R
Aug, Truman meets with Stalin
Truman mentions successful attempt at atomic bomb
Differences emerge (Stalin rejects free elections in his zone)
#Post War Issues

7. How was the language of freedom used to justify American foreign policy in the early Cold War?
CONTAINMENT
SELF-DETERMINATION
DOMINO THEORY
United States:
Democracy, Capitalism, Individualism, Freedom
Soviet Union:
Equality, Collectivism, Socialism, Totalitarianism

8. The Truman Doctrine
"the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.”
Truman promised to help any nation in its fight against communist rebels or outside invaders.
Specifically higher risk countries (Greece and Turkey)

9. The Marshall Plan
Loaned money to any European country to help stabilize their economy.
Used to protect European countries from communism influence.
European Recovery Program,
Secretary of State, George C. Marshall

10. Containment
U.S. commitment of stopping the spread of communism anywhere in the world.
Policy was used for the next 50 years.

11. What was the core principle of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
WORLD BANK
PEACEKEEPING

12. United Nations General Assembly Security Counsel
Peacekeeping world organization.
Can use force
General Assembly
Originally 50 members
Now 192 members
Security Counsel
5 members
Put more money in for their greater role
US, UK, France, China, & Russia

13. Analyze Truman’s Fair Deal
Analyze Truman’s Fair Deal. In what way(s) was it an extension of the New Deal?
FAIR DEAL
NEW DEAL
Social Welfare program
Expand Social Security
Fair employment practices
Economic Advisors…strong economy
Domestic
Problem…socialism (Cold War)

14. How was labor affected by McCarthyism?

15. Fears of a nuclear attack and spread of communism led to a Red Scare in the late 1940s & 1950s
Americans grew worried about Communists & Soviet spies living in America
The Loyalty Review Board was created to investigate & dismiss “disloyal” government employees
The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated suspected communists in the entertainment & other industries
Appearing before HUAC committee: from left to right: Ronald Reagan, Jackie Robinson, Walt Disney, Ayn Rand
From , 3.2 million gov’t employees were investigated & 212 were dismissed as security risks (2,900 resigned rather than face investigation)

16. In 1947, numerous Hollywood writers & executives were investigated by HUAC; 500 were blacklisted from the film industry & some were sent to prison for refusing to testify (the “Hollywood Ten”)

18. Red Scare fears in America were heightened by the discovery of spies working for the USSR:
State Department employee Alger Hiss was convicted of spying for the USSR
Julius & Ethel Rosenberg were executed for passing atomic bomb secrets to the USSR

19. In 1950, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy emerged as the leader of the anti-communist Red Scare
He attacked Truman for allowing communists to infiltrate the government
He used public trials to make unsupported accusations against suspected communists in the State Department & the U.S. military
“McCarthyism” did not result in a single confirmed communist or spy in the U.S. gov’t