us foreign policy after 1945

“The First Cold War”

HiroshimaNagasaki

“a continuing state of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the powers of the Western world, led by the United States and its NATO allies, and the communist world, led by the Soviet Union, its satellite states and allies”

The USSR (and especially Stalin) is not to be trusted USSR is aggressive – look at Eastern Europe!

Don’t try and appease Russia – the same tactic was tried with Hitler and failed.

US Ambassador George Kennan supported this view, as did Winston Churchill

As Stalin and Russia continued to extend their influence in Eastern Europe, setting up “Puppet” Governments , it seemed Truman was correct.

Why would Stalin (and Russia) behave like this?

After WW2 the US was divided on this point – should America avoid getting involved in others problems?

Or tackle them before they become a crisis?

After two world wars, it was decided that America should act to avoid a third – that meant an Internationalist approach

What was it?

Who came up with the term?

What did the creation of the Iron Curtain say about Communism in Europe?

Were there any possible positives from a US point of view about the creation of the Iron Curtain?

What were “reparations”?

Why did the US, Britain and France want to rebuild their fallen enemy?

What happened in June 1948?

Berlin, early 1949.

What is happening here?

When and how did it end?

This was a victory for who?

Why is this a problem for the USSR and its communist allies?

Maintained policy of Containment of Communism

Stalin’s death in 1953 led to hopes of a “new beginning” with Russia (led by Khrushchev)

Development of Sputnik and U2 spy plane incident ended the new beginning

Actively interfered in middle east politics (esp Iran) which had negative consequences in years ahead

Why was it built? As a defense against attack from West Germany or something else?

Followed policy of Containment

Would he have been happy or unhappy with the building of a wall?

“Why would Khrushchev put up a Wall if he really intended to seize West Berlin?” he said privately to his aides. “There wouldn’t be any need of a Wall if he occupied the whole city. This is his way out of his predicament. It’s not a very nice solution, but a Wall is a hell of a lot better than a war.”

Why the change of tone from his previous comment?

Was Kennedy being dishonest?

Who is this man?

Second use (after Berlin) of the Policy of Containment

In military terms, the US settled for a Draw in this war

Led to disagreements between Truman and his military leader, General McArthur

US began looking for more alliances – ended up working with undemocratic countries which caused resentment

Still not resolved today – just a ceasefire, not a peace treaty

Was it accurate?Could they have seen it at the time?

Before 1960 – US Supports French Empire/South Vietnamese (Capitalist) against Communist Vietnamese (supported by USSR)

Throughout 1960s – US involvement gradually increases, US moves from supporting the South Vietnamese to active participation in fighting

1968 – Tet Offensive – major escalation of Communist attacks – Johnson replaced by Nixon

1968 – 1975 – Nixon slowly withdraws US forces from Vietnam “Vietnamisation of the conflict”

1975 – Communist forces enter Saigon, winning the Vietman War.

“The US will Pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend…to assure the survival and success of liberty ”

What would Kennedy’s comment mean for his approach to the Vietnam problem?

In the early 1950s Diem was relatively popular with many Vietnamese

His crackdowns on Communist opponents (killing 12,000 suspected communists and jailing 40,000 more by 1958) led many Vietnamese to oppose him.

His opposition to Communism led Eisenhower and Kennedy to support him

The Strategic Hamlet Programme

Problem: the NLF (North Vietnamese Communist Guerrilla forces) had deep roots in the countryside and rural villages.

Solution: Move the villagers out of their houses into secure compounds with the essentials of life – isolating them from the Viet Cong.

What could go wrong?

“This forcible moving of peasants into secure compounds was supported by Diem and did a great deal to further the opposition to him in the South. American television reporters relayed to the US public that ‘Strategic Hamlet’ destroyed decades, if not hundreds, of years of village life in the South and that the process might only take half-a-day. Here was a super-power effectively orchestrating the forced removal of peasants by the South Vietnamese Army who were not asked if they wanted to move. To those who knew about US involvement in Vietnam and were opposed to it, ‘Strategic Hamlet’ provided them with an excellent propaganda opportunity”.

Strategic Hamlet◦ Aim: to reduce National Liberation Front – Peasant links

◦ Result: 300% increase in peasants joining the NLF

What effect would this have had on US policy towards Diem (South Vietnamese anti-communist leader)?

Diem is assassinated in November 1963 in an internal Vietnamese coup.

US Officials had previously told the plotters that they would not intervene

Do I have the right temperament for dealing with Vietnam?

What options do I have?

Did Kennedy hand me a poisoned chalice in Vietnam, or is that an excuse?

Withdrawal from Vietnam Escalation of the war

The Gulf of Tonkin incident as it was reported in a US Paper.

Johnson a year later (1965) – “for all I know, our navy were shooting at whales out there”

This provided justification for Johnson’s choice

I believe we can continue the Great Society while we fight in Vietnam.

President Johnson

If you let a bully come in your front yard, he'll be on your porch the next day and the day after that he'll rape your wife in your own bed.

- President Johnson

The bombing of North Vietnam was unsuccessful as the country was predominantly rural and presented few high value targets to bomb

This was a massive attack by communist forces across South Vietnam (where American forces were strongest).

Beforehand, Johnson had assured the American people that the end of the war was in sight.

Tet opened up a credibility gap as Americans began distrusting their Government

The My Lai Massacre

US Soldiers killed over 100 vietnamesecivilians, believing them to be Communists

The Stars and Stripes (the US Military’s Newspaper) reported that: “U.S. infantrymen had killed 128 Communists in a bloody day-long battle”

It has been said that the United States was deceived into entering and expanding the Vietnam War by its own overoptimistic propaganda. The record suggests, however, that the policy-makers stayed in Vietnam not so much because of overly optimistic hopes of winning ... as because of overly pessimistic assessments of the consequences of losing.

JONATHAN SCHELL, The Real War

Johnson Leader of Viet Minh

Tet Offensive US Troop Scandal

Domino Theory Weapon used by the US

Operation Rolling Thunder Nixon Policy

Gulf Of Tonkin Shaped Johnson’s approach

My Lai Massacre Vietnamese Communists

Napalm Site of attack on US Ships?

Viet Minh US President

Ho Chi Minh Escalation of Conflict by communists

Vietnamisation Name of Johnson’s escalation of war

Who is shown in images here?

What quotes can you find about each one of these people?

What impact did they have on US Foreign Policy?

Can you find some past exam questions that deal with these factors?

Public Opinion – as measured by elections or opinion polls. NOTE: Unlike Ireland, there are no referendums in America

Military Industrial Complex – the armed forces, supportive politicians and companies involved in the production of weaponry