the cold war containment and korea. how do you “fight” a cold war? any ideas?????
TRANSCRIPT
The Cold War
Containment and Korea
How do you “fight” a Cold War?
• Any ideas?????
Truman’s Policy of Containment
• Foreign Policy at the start of the Cold War 1945-1950– Truman and George F. Kennan’s Policy of
“Containment”• Truman Doctrine• Marshall plan• NATO• The Korean War
– Why are these considered containment?
The Korean War• Why did the Korean War start?
– How did Truman respond?
Korean War
• An example/test of containment– June 25, 1950 - North Korea (supported by
China and Soviets) invade South Korea• Truman orders military buildup under NSC-68
– This maintains a permanent war time build up of the American Military
• UN uses absence of Soviets to order troops to defend South Korea
– Police action aimed only at preserving 38° parallel
Mapping Korea
• Use different colors for– North Korea
• Arrows for their advance and retreats and lines for their furthest advancements
– United Nations Troops• Arrows for their advance and retreats and lines for
their furthest advancements
– Chinese Troops• Arrows for their advance and retreats and lines for
their furthest advancements– Be sure to use dates next to all major movements!
Korean War
• The Korean War– Macarthur Leads drastic
raid on North Korea• Pushes the north Koreans
all towards China
• This leads China to enter war
– Chinese troops push UN troops back over 38th parallel
• Truce signed 1953– Keeping the two nations
divided at the 38°
MacArthur Tests Truman’s Containment
– Macarthur eyes China• Macarthur suggests invading China, and dropping
Atomic bombs on China– Truman not willing to expand the war– Macarthur criticizes Truman publicly, Truman fires
Macarthur
Truman vs. Macarthur• Why did Truman fire Douglas Macarthur?
– Did he make the right decision?
The effects of the Korean War and the firing of Macarthur
• Truman becomes very unpopular– 22% approval rating during the Korean War
• It was 65% after the end of WWII
• The Second Red Scare– Fear of Communism becomes a winning political
issue for the Republicans• Democrats had dominated Congress and the White House
since 1932– Republicans accuse Democrats of being soft on communism
» Gain more power in Congress and win the Presidency with Eisenhower in 1952
Truman’s Record Against Communism at Home
• Truman’s Loyalty Programs– Loyalty Review Board (1947)
• Investigated federal employees and other “disloyal” organizations
• 3 million federal employees investigated, 3,000 resigned
– 11 communists Tried and convicted (1949)• Violated the Smith Act (1940)
– Convicted for advocating the overthrow of the American government
Committee of Un-American Activities (HUAC)
• Who?– Members of the House of
Representatives• Most notably Richard Nixon
• What?– Investigated “subversion” in
America• Led to the accusation of
members of government, Hollywood, labor unions, etc.
– Most famous “catch” was Alger Hiss (Former New Dealer)
» Convicted of perjury in 1950
» Never convicted of being a Communist
Joseph McCarthy
• What?– Wisconsin Republican Senator– Accused Secretary of State Dean Acheson of
employing 205 Communist party members (1950)• Most accusations were directed towards Democrats
– He even directed accusations at George Marshall
– Ruined the careers of countless officials, writers, and actors
• Very little evidence was ever provided at these trials• Many people would be accused unless they agreed to “name
names”
Joseph McCarthy
• What? (cont.)– Eisenhower hated McCarthy, but stayed
out of his way• Eisenhower does not stand up against McCarthy
– In return U.S. government loses some of the top Asian experts in the U.S. State department due to accusations
Joseph McCarthy
– McCarthy self destructs (1954)
• McCarthy attacks the military for employing Communists
– Televised hearings led to McCarthy self destructing in front of America
– Congress condemns him at the end of hearings
Red Scare
• Results of Red Scare– Very few communists rooted out
• Although later evidence showed a presence of communists within our government
– State Department lost some of its key Asian advisors
• Would have been helpful as Vietnam wears on
– Destruction of Free Speech• People were condemned and black balled from
industries for merely being accused