COLD WAR
ROOTS OF THE COLD WAR
IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
The Soviet Union was Communist; the U.S. was a Democracy
based on the free enterprise system.
SOVIET OCCUPATION OF EASTERN EUROPE
The Soviet army occupied Eastern Europe at the end of WWII
and set up local Communist governments
IRON CURTAIN
The Soviets cut-off Eastern Europe from Western Europe.
*Division of Germany (into West and East)
*Berlin Airlift. Soviets blockaded Berlin; U.S. sent in supplies;
Soviets end blockade
ATTEMPTS AT CONTAINMENT IN THE COLD WAR
TRUMAN DOCTRINE, 1947:
Sought to help Greece and Turkey; doctrine promised U.S. assistance to
all free peoples resisting Communism
MARSHALL PLAN, 1948:
U.S. gave economic aid to reduce the appeal of Communism
CREATION OF NATO:
Alliance of U.S., Canada, and Western Europe. Members pledged a
common defense against aggression
WARSAW PACT
Pact of Soviet satellites created to counter the threat of NATO
KOREAN WAR (1950-1953)
CAUSE
Communist North Korea invaded South Korea to reunify the
country.
HIGHLIGHTS:
U.S. enters war under U.N. resolution to defend South Korea
*MacArthur’s landing at Inchon in North Korea turned tide;
fearing invasion, China entered the war.
*War ended in a stalemate, as borders remained the same as
before the war
*Truman-MacArthur Controversy
Truman dismissed General MacArthur for wanting to
use atomic weapons against Communist China and for
openly criticizing the President.
ARMS AND SPACE RACE
MASSIVE RETALIATION. U.S. tries to rely mainly on nuclear weapons
for defense
* DETERRENT. Destructiveness of nuclear arms to act as
deterrent to attack
SPUTNIK (1957) Soviet launch of satellite sets off space race
COLD WAR AND AMERICAN SECURITY
HOUSE UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMISSION (HUAC)
looking for Soviet spies and Communists in America
JULIUS AND ETHEL ROSENBERG (executed as Soviet spies)
VERNONA PAPERS. Confirm the existence of some spies in American
govenment
McCARTHY HEARINGS: “McCarthyism”—accuses U.S. Army
TRUMAN AND EISENHOWER (1945-1960)
TRUMAN PRESIDENCY
Executive order to desegregate armed forces and end unfair
hiring practices for federal jobs (1948)
DOMESTIC POLICY DEVELOPMENTS
*HOUSING BOOM, GI BILL
provided loans to help returning veterans buy new
homes and attend college
*Period of economic prosperity
*Move to suburbs by many Americans
FOREIGN POLICY DEVELOPMENTS
*EISENHOWER DOCTRINE
Extended U.S. containment policy into the Middle East
KENNEDY AND JOHNSON PRESIDENCIES
JOHN F. KENNEDY (1961-1963)
*SPACE RACE: sent John Glenn into space
* Peace Corps
*Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)
*Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
LYNDON B. JOHNSON (1963-1968)
*Great Society programs
-Civil Right Act of 1964
-Medicare Act of 1965
-War on Poverty and aid to the cities
*Change in immigration policy (Immigration Act of 1965) fair
quota system
*Vietnam War
SPACE RACE. Armstrong and Aldrin Land on Moon (1969)
VIETNAM WAR
CAUSES
*We enter to help France so that they will join NATO.
*Fighting North Vietnamese who have help from Vietcong
*We stay after French leave because of Domino Theory
one nation falling to Communism will cause more…
HIGHLIGHTS
*GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION (1964)— ground troops
*TET Offensive (1968)—Psychological turning point
*U.S. Withdraw(1973)
*Fall of Saigon (1975)
IMPACT
*Large number of U.S. casualties
*Distrust of American leaders (Pentagon Papers show
Americans were misled)
*War Protest
*Led to passing War Powers Act
RICHARD NIXON, 1969-1974
IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY Growth in Presidential powers
DOMESTIC POLICY
*Created ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
*Endangered Species Act (1973)
*Equal Rights Amendment fails—Phyllis Schlafly =critic of ERA
*Vice President Agnew resigns—Ford appointed
FOREIGN POLICY
*reopened relations with Red China (1972)
*Followed détente (easing tensions) with Soviet Union
WATERGATE CRISIS (1972)
*Bugging of Democratic National Headquarters
*Nixon claimed executive privilege
*WATERGATE TAPES revealed the President’s role
*Resigned rather than go through impeachment
GERALD FORD, 1974-1977
Only President appointed, not elected
Pardoned Nixon (unpopular decision)
OPEC Oil Boycott (1973) over policy with Israel
HELSINKI Accords (1975) recognized post-WWII borders/respect for
human rights
JIMMY CARTER, 1977-1981
STAGFLATION = Inflation and unemployment
Created Department of Energy
COMMUNITY Reinvestment Act (1973) money to poor inner city
Seeks morality in foreign policy
PANAMA CANAL TREATY—return zone to Panama
CAMP DAVID ACCORDS— Israel and Egypt treaty
IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS (1979)—Americans held 444 days
RONALD REAGAN, 1981-1989
REAGANOMICS
*Reversed trend of large government
*Supply-side economics to end stagflation
*Deregulation of many industries
*Tax cuts and cuts in domestic spending
SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR
first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court (1981)
PEOPLE FLEE THE RUST BELT FOR THE SUN BELT
TOLD SOVIETS TO “TAKE DOWN THIS WALL”--BERLIN
IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR
Negotiated with Iran to free hostages in Lebanon. Sold arms
to Contras (fighting Communism)
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, 1989-1993
DOMESTIC POLICY
*Faced a growing budget deficit
*Civil unrest after Rodney King beating trial—LA riots
*AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 1990
FOREIGN POLCIY
*COLD WAR ENDS—Soviet Union dissolves
*Invasion of PANAMA—ousting Manuel Noriega
*BERLIN WALL TAKEN DOWN (1989)
*PERSIAN GULF WAR : U.S. Forces sent to stop invasion of
Kuwait by Iraq
*Somalia: Humanitarian airlift of food/supplies; troops sent to
insure delivery