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Early Cold War. Truman & Ike From Isolation to World Superpower Most Americans want to come home and enjoy the post war boom. Post War America. 15 million soldiers, sailors, marines civilian life 1945-6 problem: finding jobs and homes Fears: depression could return
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Early Cold War Truman & Ike From Isolation to World Superpower Most Americans want to come home and enjoy the post war boom
Post War America • 15 million soldiers, sailors, marines civilian life • 1945-6 problem: finding jobs and homes • Fears: depression could return • No because war increased per capita income • Most in savings • Pent up consumer demand: • Cars, homes, gov road building projects • Fears end • By 1950s: US standard of living higher than any in history
GI Bill 4 Vets • Serviceman’s Readjustment Act 1944 • Helps pay for college • Low interest gov backed loans for homes, farms, new businesses • Better educated work force stimulates post war economic expansion
Suburban Growth • Construction boom • Led by Wm Levitt • Building + promoting Levittown • Planned community of 17,000 mass produced low priced family homes • Long Island • Low interest rates on mortgages • Gov insured + tax deductions • Huge move to suburbia • Effect on older inner cities • Increasingly poor, racially divided • Baby boom: increased marriages, births • 20 million born 1945-60 • Home making work force by 1960 (1/3) • Sun Belt: South + SW grew- due to climate, lower taxes and economic opportunity
Truman: New Deal Democrat • Favors Civil Rights, got opposition from conservative Democrats • Employment Act: 1946: Bill for Gov to commit to continued Full employment- created council of Econ. Advisors, to help promote National Econ welfare • Also got increase in min wage & national insurance plan
Inflation, Strikes • Truman wants price controls • S. Dems, Reps relax controls results in 25% inflation • 1st yr ½ of peace • 4.5 million workers go on strike 1946 • Wages must rise, too • RR & mine strikes threaten safety • Truman seized mines, kept open w/ soldiers until United Mine Workers end strike
Civil Rights • Established Committee on Civil Rights 1946 • Strengthened C.R. division of Justice Dept • To end segregation • 1948 ordered end of racial discrimination in depts of Fed Gov and ALL branches of armed forces • Urged creation of ‘Fair Employment Practices Commission’ to prevent discrim in hiring • blocked
80th Congress • Unhappy with inflation and strikes, people elected Repub majority to Congress 1946 • Tried to pass two tax cuts for wealthy • Truman vetoed • Rolled back part of New Deal w/ 22nd amend: • 2 term limit on presidency • Taft-Hartley Act 1947: passed over T’s veto (Slave Labor Bill) purpose: stop growing power of unions • Outlawed closed shops • Workers have to join union b4 being hired • Let states pass right to work laws- outlawing union shops • Outlaws secondary boycotts • Several unions supporting by joining a boycott • Gave Pres. Power to invoke 80 day cool off period b4 strike endangers National Safety could be called • Unions fight for repeal of TH act thru 50s. • No success
Election 1948 • Dem party splintered • Conserv Dems form party: Dixiecrats • Reaction to Civil Rights issue • Nominated Strom Thurmond • Lib Dems form new Progressive Party & Nominated Henry Wallace (X vp) • Reps nominated Thomas E Dewey, gov NY • Truman (man w/o a chance) toured US giving “Give ‘Em Hell” speeches • Attacking 80th Do Nothing Congress • Shocked pollsters w/ decisive victory • 2 million majority in pop election & electoral votes
Fair Deal • Reform program: • national health car insurance • Federal aid to education • Civil Rights legislation • Funds for public housing • New farm program • Most blocked • Exc min wage went up from 40 cents to 75 cents hour • & more people were included under Social Security
Origins of Cold War • 1946-91 • Did Truman over react to Russia’s historic need to secure its borders? • Was T soft on Communism? • Bolshevik Reb 1917: threat to all capitalist nations • Launched Red Scare 1919 • Non-Aggression pact 1939 (G & USSR) proves they can’t be trusted • WWII alliance- of convenience/ NOT mutual trust • Stalin complains that allies waited until 1944 to open second front in France • After Potsdam, Truman quickly becomes suspicious of Soviet intentions
Post War Cooperation • UN fall 1945- hopeful sign • Gen Assembly: to provide representation to all • Security Council- 15 members, responsible for maintaining international security and authorizing peace keeping missions • 5 allies WWII: permanent members on Sec. Council • China, US, Br, Fr, Soviets: Veto Power
Post War Coop 2 • Soviets agree to US proposal: • Atomic Energy Commission • But reject Bernard Baruch Plan to regulate Nuclear energy and eliminate Atomic Weapons • Bretton Woods Conf 1944 created World Bank to fund post war re-building • Soviets won’t participate: instrument of Capitalism • Nuremberg Trials of 22 top Nazi leaders for war crimes 1945-6 Soviets participate
Satellite States • Soviets occupied countries of Central + E Eur • Held ‘elections’ of communist candidates • Communists dictators installed in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania 46-48 • Buffer states? • Expansion?
Occupation Zones in Germany • Temporary divisions: • Br, Fr, Soviet, American zones • Fr, Br pull out and US merges western zone • East zone becomes new communist state G Dem Repub • Soviet want a weak G for security reasons • GB & US want a revitalized G for security of Eur
Iron Curtain • Canadian Spy Ring stole secrets for Soviets • Soviets continue to occupy N.Ira n • Washington gets tough • Mar 46, Fulton, MO: former PM Churchill speech • An iron curtain has descended across the continent of Eur • New policy: Halt expansion of soviet power
Containment in Eur • Policy of Sec of State, former Gen George Marshall + undersec. Dean Acheson & George F. Kennan • Containing soviet expansion would cause Soviets to stop trying for world domination • Walter Lippmann (journalist who coined term: Cold War) argued not all areas are vital to US Security
Truman Doctrine • Communist led uprising in Greece • Soviets demand partial control over Dardanelles (Turkey) • Truman asks Congress for $400 Mill in econ & military aid to assist free people of Greece + Turkey against Totalitarian Regimes
Marshall Plan • 1945-7 Eur in ruins- food, fuel shortages / discontent rises • Communist party rises, esp in Fr, Italy • Recovery program $12 Bill in aid over 4 yrs • Rebuild, assure trading partners • Soviets & E Repubs offered aid; refused • Effects • w/ Euro recovery, communist threat ends • US exports rise
Berlin Airlift • June 48 Soviets cut off access to W Berlin thru E G • Supplies flown in + 60 bombers sent to England in case of war • No war • May 49: blockade lifted • Long Term Effect: Creation of 2 Germanies
NATO • 1949: Military Defense Pact to protect W Eur, US, 10 Euro nations & Canada • Gen Eisenhower: commander • Stationed troops in W Euro • in case • Head quarters: Belgium
Warsaw Pact 1955 • Alliance to defend Communist nations from Nato- • Eastern Bloc
National Security Act 1947 • Created Department of Defense (DOD) • Coordinated Army, Navy, Airforce • Creates National Security Council • NSC • To make cold war policy • Creates CIA to spy on foreign govs • 1948 First perm. Peacetime draft
Arms Race • Competition to develop more , better weapons • 1949: Soviets test first A bomb • Truman approves new H Bomb: 1,000 times stronger • Ready in 1952 • NSC – 68 Report • Recommends: dramatic increase in Defense spending • Ally w/ non communist countries around the world • Convince American people costly buildup is vital
Japan • Under US control • MacArthur in charge of rebuilding • 7 Generals, Premier Tojo tried, executed for war crimes • Set up Parliamentary Democ • Emperor gave up claims of divinity and allows LTD military capability
Philippines & Pacific • July 4, 1946 Philippines becomes independent • Kept air and naval bases through CW • UN Trustee Islands taken from Japan
China • Chiang Kai-shek – in power s. 1920s • used nationalists (Koumintang) to control • During WWII US gave increased aid to help Chiang fight off Japanese control • At wars’ end Civil War resumes • Chiang’s nationalists v Mao Zedong’s Communists • Chiang- corruption + inflation lost support of People • 1947 Chiang in retreat. • US decides not to mount huge invasion to save Chiang • End of 1949: 2 China’s mainland = Communist • Taiwan (Formosa) Chiang’s • US refused to recognize Beijing- People’s Republic of China until 1979 • 1950 Mao & Stalin sign Sino-Soviet Pact • Proof of world wide Conspiracy
Korean War • Divided at 38th Parallel • Soviets N of line; Amers S of line • 1949 both armies w/drew • N. in hands of Communist leader Kim Il Sung; • S. in hands of Nationalists Syngman Rhee • Invasion: June 25, 1950 N.K. army invades SK • Truman calls spec. session of UN Sec Council • Sov Boycott UN votes to defend S. K. • Gen D MacArthur + UN forces Korea “Police Action”
Counter Attack Korea • NKs pushed SKs all the way to tip of peninsula (Pusan) • MacArthur’s daring attack behind enemy lines at Inchon Bay turned tide • Paushed NKs China Border • China crossed into Korea; • Drove UN forces out • Fighting stops at 38th parallel
Truman v Mac Arthur • Mac Arthur calls for expanding war into China and bombing and invading main land China • Truman’s peace talks in danger from this • Apr 1951- Truman re-called Gen MacArthur + fired him • MacArthur: “There’s no substitute for victory” • Hero’s welcome
2nd Red Scare • 1947- under pressure, Truman set up Loyalty Review Board • Investigates 3 mill Fed employees • 4 yr probe • Thousands fired
2nd Red Scare 2 • McCarran Internal Security Act- 1950 • Unlawful to support any totalitarian Gov • Restricted employment and travel of “Communists” • Authorized creation of detention camps for subversives
Red Scare 3 • HUAC: House of Reps- Un-Am Activities committee- 39 • To find Nazis • Now looking for Communists • Government • Boy Scouts • Hollywood Industry, etc • Called people to testify • Ruined careers w/ accusations
Espionage • Hiss Case: • Whittaker Chambers confessed Comm • Testified that Alger Hiss gave him docs 4 Soviets • FDR assistant at Yalta Conf • Denies charges • 2nd trial convicted of perjury; jailed
Rosenberg Case • Klaus Fuchs, Br Sci, • Gave Russia A Bomb secrets from Los Alamos • Traced to spy ring in US • Julius & Ethyl Rosenberg • Convicted; executed 1953 • Mostly due to hysteria
Joseph McCarthy • Repub Senator, WI • 1950 re-election bid • Waved papers • Claimed to be list of 205 avowed Communists in State Dept • Steady stream of unsupported accusations to keep media attention • To discredit Truman Admin • Turned shrill.. . Popular while attacking Dems • After 1952, attacks George Marshall • Ike afraid to stand up for his friend • Army –McCarthy Hearings • Charged army w/ Comm infiltration • Hearings televised McCarthy exposed as bully, thug • Discredited • Censured by Senate Dec 1954 • Dies 57
Eisenhower years • Ike: former General/Commander of allied forces in Europe, WWII • “I Like Ike” Rep slogan • Promise: to go to Korea and end the conflict • Richard Nixon- conserv Rep, CA balanced ticket • Tough on Communists • Adlai Stevenson- Dem, pop Gov IL • Witty, courageous, eloquent, liberal
Campaign 52 • Rep for integrity tarnished by allegations of Nixon’s slush fund • Campaign funds used for personal matters • Nixon used TV: Checkers Speech • Landslide victory
Domestic policies • Ike delegates authority • Cabinet: successful corporate execs • Charles Wilson- head of G.M. • Went golfing, fishing • Modern Republicanism: • Bland leading the bland • Priority #1: balance budget • Accepted most ND programs • Extended social security to 10 mill more people • Raised min wage • Built more public housing • Created Health Edu Welfare Dept • Oveta Culp Hobby- 1st woman in Rep cabinet • Opposed $ to aid education or Fed Health Care Insurance
Interstate Highway System • 1956- Highway Act • Authorized construction of 42,000 miles of Highway • Wide area every 5 mi • National defense • Also created jobs, • Increased growth of suburbs • Hurt RRs
Prosperity • Steady growth of economy • Low inflation • Fed budget (tiny surplus) 3x in 8 yrs • Deficits fell • 1945-60 per capita disposable income more than tripled • Highest standard of living in the world
Election 1956 • 1955- heart attack • 1956- major surgery • Ike + Nixon v. Stevenson • Easy victory
Ike & Cold War • Sec St Dulles shapes most policies • Dulles Diplomacy • Critical of Truman’s containment – too passive • New Look: of foreign policy: • More bang for the buck… build up nukes; reduce conventional • Challenges USSR, China, spoke of liberating captive peoples of E Europe • Pushing Comms to brink of war to preserve peace • Brinksmanship • Hard liner: prevented from being extreme by Ike
Dulles • Brilliant international lawyer • Ideologist, moralist, conflict w/ China, USSR • Saw things in absolute rights, wrongs • Containment substituted reluctantly for Roll Back • Righteous crusade against atheistic Marxism • Looked like a dangerous man but was very cautious and reported to Ike daily, even on foreign assignments • Ike seen by press, academics, pundits: • Laid back, well meaning, intellectually ignorant, inarticulate, weak,lazy, left nation on auto pilot • By mid 70s, records opened that show he was very hard working, used Dulles and others as lightening rod • Used military gobbledy gook to press to avoid giving answers in plain English • Excellent command of English, kept it hidden
Ike’s guiding principles • Avoid war: seen it up close; hated it • No limited wars: object to destroy your enemy with all at disposal (can’t apply to small brush fire conflicts) • Security and freedom of world depends on health and strength of US economy
Massive Retaliation • More reliance on nukes & air power • Less on conventional ground forces • More bang for the buck • 53: Russia had the H bomb • M.A.D.: to deter each other from using the bomb
Unrest in 3rd World • Post WWII: Colonial empires collapsed • 1947-62 dozens in Asia, Africa bcm indep • 1947- India, Pakistan • 1949- Indonesia (Dutch E. Indies) • 1957- Ghana & more follow • All lack stable political + econ institutions • All need foreign aid • All look to US + USSR
Covert Action • Part of New Look philosophy • 1953 CIA helped overthrow gov (Mossadeq) Iran • Re-estab’d Reza Pahlavi as Shah • Would protect foreign oil interests • Shah purchased many weapons from US • 1954 CIA overthrew leftist Gov in Guatemala • Arbenz- in support of pro US corrupt dictator • Anti American feeling grew in L.A. • 1958: Nixon Tour • Crowds in Venezuela attack motorcade
Asia • Korean Armistice • Ike visited UN forces • Diplomacy- threat of nuclear war + sudden death of Stalin moved China, NK to agree to armistice • Prisoner exchange- 53 • Still divided at 38th parallel
Asia 2 • IndoChina • French tried to retake after WWII • Vietnamese, Cambodians resist • Support nationalist communist: Ho Chi Minh • 1950 anti colonial war is part of Cold War • Truman aids Fr + China + Soviets aid Ho + Viet Minh guerrillas • 1954 Dien Bien Phu- • French army trapped + forced to surrender • Geneva Conf 1954 France gives up IndoChina • Divided into indep nations: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam