Intro to Communism Terms: Bourgeoisie, Proletariat, Marx Marxs View on Capitalism
Communism was a theory by Karl Marx as a way to organize society fairly and value peoples labour. The Industrial Revolution reduced peoples value to simply a part of the machinery of factory. No creativity or attachment to work. Boring, repetitive tasks. Views on Capitalism Marx saw that capitalism created classes in society. Bourgeoisie are the owners of capital. Proletariat are the workers. These two classes will continually be in conflict. Marxs View on Capitalism
Bourgeoisie own all the capital (factories, tools etc) They also get all the profits. They can reinvest the profits in the company or remove it and pay themselves. They control the economy. Socialism v. Capitalism
Usually 1 party state Industry and agriculture owned by the state.People encouraged to work for the common good. Classless society with no profit making Elections and more than one political party. Most industry and agriculture owned by individuals. They employ workers and keep all profits made. Profits create classes of people. Marxs View on Capitalism
Proletariat These are the workers and get paid a wage. They get no share in company profits. At the mercy of the Bourgeoisies. The goal of the Bourgeoisie is to reduce the costs of production and pay as little as possible to maximize profits. Term Dictatorship of the Proletariat
A dictatorship of the proletariat will be created to organize the country. They will ensure that the gains of the revolt is secured from the capitalist. Most Communist regimes have only achieved this. Person Vladimir Lenin Lenin was leader of the Communist Bolshevik party. Aided by Germany because he wanted Russia to get out of the war. Party increased from to 2 million Created a military group called the red Guards November 1917 Lenin and the Bolsheviks seize power in a revolution.
Lenin gives all land to the peasants Factories are given to the workers who elect a committee to run them. Term: Dictatorship of the Proletariat
Lenin sets up a Dictatorship of the Proletariat Kills all political opponents including the tsar Education increased Religion banned in schools, priests prosecuted Labour laws include 8 hour days, health benefits, Holidays, pension mandatory Term: Truman Doctrine U.S. President Harry Truman believed that is was the responsibility of the U.S. to prevent the spread of Communism in the world. Change in foreign policy from isolationism which was practiced throughout the two world wars. UN Involvement Term: Domino Theory
Truman was afraid that if Korea fell to Communism than so would Japan and other Capitalists countries. (Domino Theory). 16 countries supported the UN invasion of Korea including Canada. Truman chose General Macarthur to lead the force. Marshall Plan Truman believed Communism grew in countries in poverty.
Many governments were struggling to rebuild after the war. They realised that if they built up Europe now, they could have a trading partner for life and keep it from falling to communism. Created by General George Marshall Marshall Plan The USA offered money, equipment and goods to states willing to work together to create recovery. Included cash machinery, food and technology. In return, they would agree to buy American goods and allow American to invest capital in their in their industries. Results 16 nations set up the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation. In 1953 US gave 17 billion Increased tensions and divide between East and West. Stalin prevented Soviet countries from engaging in the plan. Results Stalin accused the USA of using the plan for their own selfish interests Plan to dominate Europe and help the American Economy. Berlin Blockade Term: Potsdam Potsdam Conference Occupation zones decided.
Nazi party banned and were to be tried as war criminals. For reparations each power was to collect industrial equipment from its zone.USSR zone was mostly agriculture. Germans living in Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia were to return to Germany. Berlin Blockade Political Divisions
After Potsdam Berlin was divided between West (allied controlled and East USSR controlled. West was capitalist democracy and East was Socialist. Berlin Blockade Reconstruction Differences
Allies wanted to rebuild Germany to be a strong country. Wouldnt fall to Communism Create a trading partner Act as a shield against the spread of communism in Europe Berlin Blockade Reconstruction Differences
USSR wanted a weak Germany that would be incapable of an attack. USSR refused to let their zone trade with the Western allied zone (West Berlin) Berlin Blockade Conflict
Since Berlin was in Soviet zone, they controlled all access to city. Believed the Allies had no business in Berlin since it was in the Soviet zone. U.S put up a military base. Capitalist way of life was on show as the U.S tried to make their zone better. Berlin Blockade In protest, Stalin decided to restrict access to Berlin by the Allies. Hoped to get the allies to pull out of Berlin by starving the people. Abandon plans to develop Germany Eventually the people would turn to him and switch to Communism and create one city. Berlin Blockade Western Options
Ignore and drive through Blockade. Advantages: 1)Show the Russians the U.S could not be blackmailed. 2)They were the only ones with an A bomb. Disadvantages: 1)High risk of War 2)Russian forces outnumbered U.S forces in Europe. Berlin Blockade Option 2: Pull Out of Berlin
Advantages: 1) Avoid any risk of War Disadvantages: 1)Loss of prestige (positive reputation) for the Western powers. 2) No one trust the Americans in the future to stand against Communism. Berlin Blockade Option 3: Supply West Berlin by Air
Advantages: 1)Less risk of War than option 1 Disadvantages: 1) Risky Operation 4000 tons of supplies required daily. 2) Costly to supply by two million people by air. Korean War Background 1945 after Truman dropped the bomb Japan surrendered to the allies. Russia was fighting Japan on the Asian continent as well. Korea was a colony of Japan. USSR invaded Korea in the North USA invaded from the south. Background They meet at the 38th parallel (latitude) and divide the country in two. United Nations In 1945 the UN is formed.
Had a general assembly that met every year. A security council that met more regularly on current issues. Security Council = Britain, USA, USSR and elected representatives from other countries. U.N. UN decided that Korea was to have elections to choose a national government for the whole country and reunify. The US set up a parliament in the South based on Capitalism with the capital in Seoul. (Republic of Korea) The USSR set up a communist regime in the North with the capital of Pyongyang (Peoples Democratic Republic of Korea). The US and USSR withdraw troops but continue to fund and supply the Korean Militaries.
1949 a civil war in Koreas Neighbour, China, results in the formation of Communist government under Mao. Start of War 1950 Both sides believed their government should rule the whole country. With the encouragement of USSR and China, North Korea, under Kim Il Sung, invaded the South. UN Involvement China was represented at the UN by the former Capitalist regime. UN would not recognize the Mao Communist government. USSR was absent from Security Council in protest. Since USSR was not there to veto, a resolution was passed saying the North broke peace and had to withdraw to the 38th parallel again. North refused. UN called on its members to us force and the US was to lead the attack. UN Involvement Truman was afraid that if Korea fell to Communism than so would Japan and other Capitalists countries. (Domino Theory). 16 countries supported the UN invasion of Korea including Canada. Truman chose General Macarthur to lead the force. Events of the War 1st phase June Sept. North Korea pushes the South all the way back to a small corner of the country called Pusan. 2nd phase Macarthur organised a landing at Inchon.
Effectively surrounds N Korean troops. Despite Chinas warnings they cross the 38th parallel. 3rd phase US ignore China and push all the way to the Yalu River.
This borders with China. Macarthur ignored Trumans orders and began to approach the Yalu. China enters the war. Pushes the force back past the 38th parallel. Un counter Attack drives them back to the 38th parallel. Armistice signed in 1953. Cuban Missile Crisis Person Fulgencio Batista
In 1950, Cuba was ruled by a ruthless dictator Fulgencio Batista. He killed all opponents and used the military to support his rule. Batista Government Capitalist government.
Military supported by the U.S He and members of his government were very rich while the rest of Cubans were poor. Disliked Communists. Batista Government The capital, Havana, was treated as a playground for rich Americans. It was controlled by American Italian Mafia Leader Lucky Luciano. Lucky set up a cocaine operation and ran casinos. Batista Government Was also used to hide money from illegal activities in the U.S. Many Americans set up factories in Cuba to take advantage of local resources like sugar cane and tobacco.Ex. Palmolive Colgate. This resulted in many rich Americans and very poor citizens of Cuba Cuban Revolution Person: Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro was a lawyer and was appalled at the corruption for the Batista government. Received support through educating the poor on the corruption of the government. He joined forces with Che Guevara and organised an army which overthrew the Batista government. Castro Regime Castros first business was to execute all the corrupt government officials that abused the poor. Then he nationalised all the foreign American assets. Wealth was to be invested in Cuba. With this money he set up free health care. Term: Bay of Pigs Invasion
Cuba has fell to Communism and Castro is allied with the USSR because of the trade embargo. Kennedy could not have a communist ally 50 miles off the coast of Florida. Many people who did not agree with Castro and Communism fled the country and became exiles. Bay of Pigs 1961 Kennedy decided to get the CIA to train the exiles and plan an invasion of Cuba. Exiles taking country back sounds a lot better than a US invasion. The invasion was a great failure and Castro captured and jailed many of the exiles. Results of Bay of Pigs 1961 Because of this Castro felt threatened and allied closure with the USSR. He needed them for protection. Allowed Russia to install military bases. Russia began shipping weapons into Cuba. Cuban Missile Crisis Kennedys Options Cuban Missile Crisis Option 1 Do Nothing
He could do nothing and ignore the missiles. This would have been political suicide and if the Russians had seen this as weakness on his part, they could have taken advantage of it. Lose public support and be seen as a weak president. Option 2 Invasion He could order a full scale military invasion of Cuba. This would escalate the problem as there were Soviet troops there. Heavy casualties would look bad on the presidency. Did not know where all the sites were or if any were operational and would be fired before they were captured. Option 3 - Air Strike He could order an air strike against the missile bases only. The problem again would be Russian casualties. Air Force was not sure it could deliver pin-point bombing raids on what were relatively small targets. Option 4 - Diplomacy He could call on the Russians to remove the missiles explaining the damage their presence was doing to Russian/American relations. However, the Russians were highly unlikely to listen to a polite request especially as they even refused to recognise the existence of the missiles at the United Nations emergency meeting on the matter. Option 5 - Blockade He could put a naval blockade around the island - quarantine it - and not allow any more Russian ships to enter Cuba. This would still leave missiles on Cuba but the negotiations would continue in the background while publically Kennedy would be seen to be doing something specific. Stalins USSR Purges Stalin was always fearful of losing power.
Used terror in the form of Purges to get rid of any opposition. This also helped with labour in mines Purges Managers and workers that did not meet the five year plans or talked bad about them Kulaks that opposed collectivisation 1934 Opposition party members 1935 senior communists that may support Other leaders (Trotsky) Purges Ordinary citizens if someone suspected a neighbour of not supporting the government they could be arrested. Children were encouraged to tell on their parents. People tortured to confession 1 million people in Moscow killed Purges and Results 1937 the Red Army Most senior officers and officials were killed or sent to Gulags. Left the army unprepared against Hitlers invasion. Executed = 1 million Died in Camps = 2 million In prison = 1 million Gulags = 8 million These are figures form one year. Results Continued Most of the advantages of Communism wasnullified after this. Expert scientists, administrators and Engineers were usually sent to Gulags or killed. People would tell on each other for self interest. Stalin even killed members of his own family. The Later Cold War Vietnam
Vietnam War Before the war France controlled Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
Called the area Indo-china People hated the oppressive French rule. WW2 Japan invades Indo-China.
Group called the Vietminh was set up to resist the Japanese. Led by Ho Chi Minh who was a communist. Allies worked with the Vietminh to get rid of Japanese. WW2 Two weeks after the end of ww2 the French turn on the Vietminh and tried to regain control. China and the USSR help the Vietminh French are defeated 8 years later at Dien Bien Phu and pull out of Northern Vietnam. 1954 Geneva Conference Ended war in Vietnam
Independence granted to Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia Vietnam divided between Northern communist Vietminh and Southern Vietnam backed by France and U.S. South ruled by unpopular dictator Diem who was opposed by a communist group, the Vietcong Vietcong was supplied by the USSR and China through the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Popular with the rural people and the force grew to 100,000 troops occupying 40% of the land. Communism was on the verge of spreading throughout South East Asia. Ho Chi Minh Trail 1964 North Vietnam torpedoes US ships in the gulf of Tonkin.
President Johnson starts bombing the North and sends in US troops to the South. Believes it will be a quick war. Timeline 1964 Operation Rolling thunder
Aims to destroy bases, ports and supply lines through bombing. More bombs dropped here then in all previous wars combined. Troops fight the Vietcong in the South. 1968 Tet offensive Vietcong conducts surprise attacks on U.S bases. Shows the Vietcong can strike in American held territory. Hurts American morale believe war cannot be won. Johnson stops bombing and negotiates peace. 1969 Vietnamization Nixon hand over fighting to the South Vietnamese army and pulls out troops. 1970 US invades Cambodia to sneak attack North Vietnamese bases.Failed 1971 South Vietnam fails to destroy Ho Chi Minh Trail 1972 North attacks the South, Nixon reorders bombing of North. 1973 US agrees to ceasefire with the Two Vietnams and Vietcong.
Pulls out remaining troops. North invades South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos form Communist governments. Unpopular War 1. High level of casualties 50.000 300 dying per week
2. economic cost of or half a billion a year in todays terms. 3. Use of horrific weapons like Napalm and Agent Orange. 4. Stories of drug addiction among US troops.
5. US atrocities My Lai US soldiers attack an undefended village raping and killing 300 villagers, mainly women and children. 6. Protests at Kent State University turns violent when Nixon calls in National Guard and they shoot on protesters.4 Killed. Why was US defeated? Failed to respond to guerilla warfare tactics by Vietcong. US troops were inexperienced, low morale, avg age of 19. The South army was weak. US failed to win support of peasants who then helped Vietcong. US support lost at home. Why Was the Vietcong Successful?
High morale, believed they were helping their people against invaders. Effective guerilla tactics. Backed by China and the USSR using Ho Chi Minh Trail. Hide bases underground away from bombing (300 kms worth)