The Cold WarDomestic and International impact of the Cold War on the United States

Essential Questions1. How did the Cold War emerge after WWII?2. How did Truman attempt to deter

Communism?3. How did the Cold War change America at

home?4. What Cold War events took place during

President Kennedy’s term5. What created conflict in Vietnam & how did

the United States become involved?6. How did the Vietnam War end and how did it

affect Americans?

The Cold War•A silent war of hostility & competition

between the U.S. & Soviet Union

•Between 1946-1990

•At end of WWII Germany is divided in to 4 zones. East under communism & west is combined and democratic/capitalist. Berlin is divided, but is in eastern Germany.

Iron Curtain

• Satellite nations under Soviet control

▫ Poland Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia

• Churchill- “Iron curtain falling across Eastern Europe”

• Truman- strong anti-communist

Containment• Containment- U.S. policy

to prevent communism from spreading

• Truman Doctrine: U.S. aid to free peoples to resist communism. Did not want to appease Soviets like Allied powers with Hitler

• Marshall Plan: Give European Nations aid to help rebuild & weaken appeal of communism.

Cold War in Europe

• Berlin Airlift: Soviets blockade West Berlin from Western Germany. U.S. drops supplies to help Western Berlin. Blockade lifted.

• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) mutual defense alliance of capitalist nations

• Warsaw Pact: Soviets form own alliance

Communism spreads beyond Europe

•1949 China becomes communist & sign alliance with Soviets (1950)

•Mao Zedong leader

•People’s Republic of China

Korean War (1950-1953)

•Divided at 38th parallel. North communist & South democratic.

•North invades South•Truman sends troops

(UN pledge troops)•Gen. Douglas

MacArthur- invades behind enemy lines & push N. Korea back beyond 38th parallel.

Korean War

• MacArthur criticized Truman & was fired▫MacArthur wanted to

bomb and attack China and a very public argument ensued between MacArthur and Truman

• Truman committed to limited war- if not then could break out in Europe & result in nuclear war.

• Armistice signed in 1953

New Red Scare• Loyalty Review Board (1947)

est. by Truman to screen all federal employees.

• House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) expanded in 1947 by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover▫ Hold public hearings ▫ Purpose to expose communist &

sympathizers▫ Focused on film industry▫ Alger Hiss – accused of being spy &

convicted of perjury▫ The Rosenbergs- convicted of being

Soviet spies & espionage. Executed in 1953

• Many organizations required loyalty oaths (ex schools, unions)

https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/T1yMCqvc4GN2lg/second-red-scare

McCarthyism•Senator Joseph McCarthy used communist

fear to increase own power•Began making charges & draws attention•1952- investigations•Sensational accusations, but people afraid to challenge him•In 1954- hearings are televised & his support fades•Later censured by Senate

American Life During Cold War

• Americans fear Soviets after 1949- atomic bomb & 1953- H-bomb

• Americans prepare for attack- Civil Defense- (fallout shelters & drills (duck & cover)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_1jkLxhh20

U.S. Competition with U.S.S.R.• 1957 Soviets Launch Sputnik-

1st satellite

• Tension increases between Khrushchev (Soviets) and Eisenhower (U.S)▫ Eisenhower orders new

rockets, bombers, & nuclear subs

▫ CIA used to covertly contain communism

▫ 1960- American U-2 Spy Plane is shot down

Practice Question• Use the information below to answer the question.

▫ “One of the primary objectives of the foreign policy of the United States is the creation of conditions in which we and other nations will be able to work out a way of life free from coercion…”

• In what way did the Truman Doctrine direct the policy of containment?

▫ A- It tried to spread democracy through military & economic aid

▫ B- It sought to limit trade with Japan and China▫ C- It provided military control of the islands in the

Caribbean▫ D- It encouraged a military buildup in the Pacific Ocean

Practice Question• Use the information below to answer the question.

▫ “One of the primary objectives of the foreign policy of the United States is the creation of conditions in which we and other nations will be able to work out a way of life free from coercion…”

• In what way did the Truman Doctrine direct the policy of containment?

▫ A- It tried to spread democracy through military & economic aid

▫ B- It sought to limit trade with Japan and China▫ C- It provided military control of the islands in the

Caribbean▫ D- It encouraged a military buildup in the Pacific Ocean

Practice Question

•What did the Communist takeover in China and the Korean War give rise to in America?

▫A- the space age▫B- communism▫C- McCarthyism▫D- the Marshall Plan

Practice Question

•What did the Communist takeover in China and the Korean War give rise to in America?

▫A- the space age▫B- communism▫C- McCarthyism▫D- the Marshall Plan

In Blue EOC book read Eisenhower and Communism pgs 206 - 2071. What is the domino theory?2. What is the Eisenhower Doctrine and

when was it put to use?3. What hurt Eisenhower’s and

Khrushchev’s relations?

President Kennedy & Cold War

• Build up of military

• Funds to help Latin America & creation of Peace Corps

• Space Race: ▫ Soviets: 1957- Sputnik &

1960 orbit earth▫ Kennedy wants man on moon

by end of decade▫ 1962- John Glenn- 1st

American to orbit earth▫ 1969- Apollo 11- Land on

Moon Neil Armstrong▫ U.S. superiority over Soviets

Cold War Crises Under Kennedy• Cuban Revolution (1959): Fidel Castro becomes leader &

makes alliance with Soviets. (Only 90 miles from U.S.)

• Bay of Pigs (1961): Armed Cuban exiles attempt to overthrown Castro. Operation failed & made JFK look weak.

Cold War Crisis Under Kennedy•Berlin Wall (1961): Khrushchev builds wall after

Kennedy refuses to pull out of West Berlin & to keep people from flooding out of E. Berlin.

•Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Soviets place long range missiles in Cuba. Kennedy ordered naval blockade & removal.

• Secret negotiations- U.S. agreed to remove missiles in Turkey & not invade Cuba. Soviets agree to remove missiles in Cuba. Both sides do not wantnuclear war.

Practice Question

•What prompted the Cuban Missile Crisis?

▫A - The Tet Offensive▫B- the Cuban Revolution▫C- the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba▫D- the interest in overthrowing Fidel Castro

Practice Question

•What prompted the Cuban Missile Crisis?

▫A - The Tet Offensive▫B- the Cuban Revolution▫C- the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba▫D- the interest in overthrowing Fidel Castro

Practice Question•On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union

announced it had successfully launched Sputnik I, the world’s first artificial satellite in space. After an embarrassing failure, the United States successfully launched its own satellite, Explorer I, in 1958. What Cold War event had began?

▫A- the space race▫B- Armed conflict in space▫C- the beginning of the arms race▫D- the sharing of space technology

Practice Question•On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union

announced it had successfully launched Sputnik I, the world’s first artificial satellite in space. After an embarrassing failure, the United States successfully launched its own satellite, Explorer I, in 1958. What Cold War event had began?

▫A- the space race▫B- Armed conflict in space▫C- the beginning of the arms race▫D- the sharing of space technology

Vietnam (1954-1975)•How it all starts:

▫Begins w/ French control of Vietnam & Ho Chi Minh wants independence & communism.

▫French pull out of Vietnam & it is divided at the 17th parallel. North- communist & South capitalist.

•How U.S. gets involved:▫N. Vietnam allies with Soviets & China. North

sends guerrillas south (Vietcong)▫U.S. worried about “Domino Effect” & fall of

Southeast Asia. Eisenhower sends advisers to help South.

▫Kennedy increases military aid to S. Vietnam in 1961

Involvement in Vietnam Increases Under Johnson• In 1965, Johnson escalated the war, commencing air

strikes on North Vietnam and committing ground forces

• American Difficulties in Vietnam▫ Although U.S. military was stronger, Vietnamese used

ambushes, booby traps, & guerrilla tactics, also blended in with S. Vietnamese.

▫ U.S. uses Napalm & Agent Orange to destroy jungle, but misjudged stamina of Vietcong.

▫ Ho Chi Minh Trail: network to send arms & supplies south (countries not involved in war)

▫ Johnson did not want to go into N. Vietnam because of Soviets & China.

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Americans Begin to Question Vietnam War• Increasing casualties

• 1st televised war- war in living room & made difficult to believe Johnson.

• The 1968 Tet Offensive (New Year)▫ Vietcong & N. Vietnamese launch massive surprise

attack.▫ Americans repelled attack, but Americans at home

surprised an enemy at verge of defeat could launch such an attack

▫ Gen. Westmoreland request more troops▫ Media begins to criticize the effort.

Americans Protest War

•Anti-war movement: ▫Draft protest (burn cards, left U.S.)▫College campuses

•1968 Democratic National Convention- ▫Clash between anti-war protesters & police

becomes violent & televised.

Vietnam War Ends• Republican Richard Nixon

becomes President. ▫ Promised to end war. ▫ Use of diplomacy under

Henry Kissinger▫ Vietnamization (1969):

Reduce number of troops & let South Vietnamese take over.

• Turmoil Continues at Home▫ My Lai Massacre: American

platoon kills unarmed civilians

Vietnam War Ends•Invasion of Cambodia: to destroy Vietcong

bases

•Kent State (1970): Protest over Cambodia▫National Guard fires on demonstrators▫4 students killed

•1973 Peace Agreement signed & U.S. withdraws troops

•1975: North Vietnamese capture Saigon (S. Vietnam capital).

Legacy of Vietnam•Loss of 58,000 Americans & cost $170

Billion

•Sacrifice of veterans often unrecognized▫1982 Vietnam memorial built in D.C.

•War Powers Act▫President in all cases must consult Congress

before sending troops & within 48 hrs.▫President must withdraw troops 60-90 days

unless Congress approves.

Practice Questions

•Eisenhower cited the _____________ as the reason why the United States had to support South Vietnam.▫A- Credibility gap▫B- self-determination theory▫C- domino theory▫D- Communist way

Practice Questions

•Eisenhower cited the _____________ as the reason why the United States had to support South Vietnam.▫A- Credibility gap▫B- self-determination theory▫C- domino theory▫D- Communist way

Practice Question

•Which of the following events was significant in turning American public opinion against the war in Vietnam?▫A- War Powers Act▫B- the 1968 Democratic National

Convention▫C – the Tet Offensive▫D- Vietnamization

Practice Question

•Which of the following events was significant in turning American public opinion against the war in Vietnam?▫A- War Powers Act▫B- the 1968 Democratic National

Convention▫C – the Tet Offensive▫D- Vietnamization

Practice Question

•The gradual removal of U.S. troops from Vietnam was known as▫A- Agent Orange▫B- the Tet Offensive▫C- containment▫D- Vietnamization

Practice Question

•The gradual removal of U.S. troops from Vietnam was known as▫A- Agent Orange▫B- the Tet Offensive▫C- containment▫D- Vietnamization

National Politics & Foreign Policy since 1968

Richard Nixon’s Foreign Policy•Nixon had been outspoken anti-communist,

but believed U.S. needed to adjust.

•Détente: Nixon’s policy to relax tensions between 2 communist rivals (Soviets & China)▫1972- Nixon visits China & opens U.S. trade/travel

restrictions▫U.S. begins talks with Soviets- open trade▫Explained to Americans that this policy was in the

interest of world peace.