Post on 15-Dec-2015
Berlin Crisis 1948Berlin Crisis 1948
American-Soviet disagreement over Berlin American-Soviet disagreement over Berlin led Soviets to blockaded access to West led Soviets to blockaded access to West BerlinBerlin
West Berliners became hostages of the West Berliners became hostages of the SovietsSoviets
What could the US do? US had two choices:What could the US do? US had two choices: (1) Use army and possibly risk WWIII or(1) Use army and possibly risk WWIII or (2) Do nothing(2) Do nothingNeither option was acceptable Neither option was acceptable US chose airlift which lasted 11 monthsUS chose airlift which lasted 11 monthsUS & allies airlifted food, coal, everything US & allies airlifted food, coal, everything
Berliners neededBerliners needed
Impact of the Berlin Crisis Impact of the Berlin Crisis & Airlift& Airlift
World opinion turned against the USSR World opinion turned against the USSR Was propaganda victory for the US which was Was propaganda victory for the US which was
seen as rescuing starving victims from Sovietsseen as rescuing starving victims from Soviets Berlin became symbol of the US struggle Berlin became symbol of the US struggle
against Communism and leader of the Free against Communism and leader of the Free World.World.
When the blockade was lifted Germany When the blockade was lifted Germany became officially divided into West and East became officially divided into West and East GermanyGermany
Will lead to NATOWill lead to NATO
Major effect of Berlin Crisis was Major effect of Berlin Crisis was formation of the North Atlantic Treaty formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949Organization (NATO) in 1949
This was 1This was 1stst alliance the US entered into alliance the US entered into since the American Revolutionsince the American Revolution
If USSR attacked any of the 12 member If USSR attacked any of the 12 member alliance this would act as a tripwire alliance this would act as a tripwire bringing each to the defense of the bringing each to the defense of the other.other.
The Soviets responded with an alliance The Soviets responded with an alliance of their own in 1954 called the of their own in 1954 called the Warsaw Warsaw Pact.Pact.
Today there are 26 members & many are Today there are 26 members & many are from the former Warsaw Pact from the former Warsaw Pact
Cold War in ChinaCold War in China Two rival groups competed for power in China Two rival groups competed for power in China
before the war (before the war (Nationalists and CommunistsNationalists and Communists)) In 1937 they joined forces against the Japanese In 1937 they joined forces against the Japanese
who invaded country.who invaded country. The Nationalists lost much of their power during The Nationalists lost much of their power during
the war whereas the Communists expanded their the war whereas the Communists expanded their control and support by the peoplecontrol and support by the people
The US supported the Nationalists led by Jiang The US supported the Nationalists led by Jiang Jieshi (Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shekChiang Kai-shek) in the civil war that ) in the civil war that followed WWIIfollowed WWII
This was opportunity to apply This was opportunity to apply containmentcontainment & & stop what the US saw as Soviet aggressionstop what the US saw as Soviet aggression
US also wanted to maintain markets for US also wanted to maintain markets for American productsAmerican products
Truman supported Nationalists and gave Truman supported Nationalists and gave them $3 billionthem $3 billion
Told Chiang to end corruption & solve Told Chiang to end corruption & solve domestic problemsdomestic problems
Chiang continued to ignore those Chiang continued to ignore those problems while support for problems while support for Mao ZedongMao Zedong grew because he did address the grew because he did address the peasant’s problemspeasant’s problems
Eventually Chiang fled to Eventually Chiang fled to TaiwanTaiwan This represented a failure of containmentThis represented a failure of containment Truman admin was blamed for “Truman admin was blamed for “losing losing
ChinaChina””
NSC-68 & the Arms Race NSC-68 & the Arms Race
High level study of US defenses High level study of US defenses resulted in the NSC-68 reportresulted in the NSC-68 report
Conclusions were:Conclusions were:(1)(1) USSR was bent on world dominationUSSR was bent on world domination(2)(2) US as leader of the free world had duty US as leader of the free world had duty
to prevent Soviet expansionto prevent Soviet expansion(3)(3) Required Required massive defense systemmassive defense system
and buildup of armsand buildup of arms(4)(4) How did the How did the Korean WarKorean War affect NSC- affect NSC-
68?68?
Korean War 1950 - 1953Korean War 1950 - 1953
Background: Background: 3838thth parallel parallel How did the Korean War seem to validate the How did the Korean War seem to validate the
NSC-68 Report?NSC-68 Report? What policy did Truman want to apply to Korea?What policy did Truman want to apply to Korea? Did Truman act alone or with the UN?Did Truman act alone or with the UN? What exactly was the role of the UN? What exactly was the role of the UN? What prompted Chinese involvement?What prompted Chinese involvement? Over what did Over what did TrumanTruman and General and General MacArthurMacArthur
disagree?disagree? Do you agree with Truman’s decision to fire Do you agree with Truman’s decision to fire
MacArthur?MacArthur?
Impact of the Korean WarImpact of the Korean War
Accelerated the Accelerated the arms race.arms race. Defense spending increased from Defense spending increased from
$22.3 billion in 1951 to $50.4 billion $22.3 billion in 1951 to $50.4 billion in 1953in 1953
Confirmed findings of the NSC-68 Confirmed findings of the NSC-68 report.report.
US troops remain there today.US troops remain there today.
Eisenhower’s Cold War Eisenhower’s Cold War StrategyStrategy
New LookNew Look How did this policy differ from NSC-68?How did this policy differ from NSC-68?
Massive retaliationMassive retaliation – Balance of Terror – Balance of Terror This was different from Truman’s This was different from Truman’s
willingness to engage in limited Wars willingness to engage in limited Wars BrinkmanshipBrinkmanship Did Did massive retaliation ever take place?massive retaliation ever take place?
Arms Race & Geneva TalksArms Race & Geneva Talks
Eisenhower first meets with new Eisenhower first meets with new Soviet premier Nikita Soviet premier Nikita KhrushchevKhrushchev in in 1954 Geneva.1954 Geneva.
Main purpose was to smooth Main purpose was to smooth relations and address the arms race.relations and address the arms race.
Eisenhower proposes Eisenhower proposes Open SkiesOpen Skies idea which is rejected by idea which is rejected by Khrushchev who saw it as an Khrushchev who saw it as an attempt to spy on the USSRattempt to spy on the USSR
The CIAThe CIA
National Security Act 1947National Security Act 1947 How did the CIA affect the ability of How did the CIA affect the ability of
presidents to act in foreign affairs?presidents to act in foreign affairs? Covert operationsCovert operations Congressional role and the CIA?Congressional role and the CIA? CIA involvement in CIA involvement in Latin AmericaLatin America
and and IranIran will generate resentment will generate resentment
The CIA in IranThe CIA in Iran
Importance of Importance of Anglo-Iranian Oil Anglo-Iranian Oil CompanyCompany
What were CIA objective’s in Iran?What were CIA objective’s in Iran? Why was Why was MossadeqMossadeq considered a considered a
threat to Western interests?threat to Western interests? How did the CIA intervene in Iranian How did the CIA intervene in Iranian
affairs?affairs? Analyze CIA actions in Iran. Did Iran Analyze CIA actions in Iran. Did Iran
benefit or lose from CIA activity?benefit or lose from CIA activity?
Third World NationsThird World Nations
LDCsLDCs Misperception by US that struggles for Misperception by US that struggles for
self-determination were orchestrated by self-determination were orchestrated by the USSR.the USSR.
Failure to understand need to throw off Failure to understand need to throw off the colonial pastthe colonial past
Many LDCs wanted to be Many LDCs wanted to be non-alignednon-aligned Soviets reminded LDCs of poor race Soviets reminded LDCs of poor race
relations in the USrelations in the US
The Suez Crisis 1956The Suez Crisis 1956
What were the chain of events that led What were the chain of events that led to Suez Crisisto Suez Crisis
Aswan Dam >Czech Arms Aswan Dam >Czech Arms Deal>Renege on Aswan Dam > Deal>Renege on Aswan Dam > Nationalization of the Canal >1956 Nationalization of the Canal >1956 Suez Crisis.Suez Crisis.
How did the Suez Crisis threaten US How did the Suez Crisis threaten US interests in the Middle East?interests in the Middle East?
What were American objectives behind What were American objectives behind the Eisenhower Doctrine 1957the Eisenhower Doctrine 1957
Sputnik 1957Sputnik 1957 Soviets launch the Soviets launch the
first satellite to orbit first satellite to orbit the globethe globe
Leads to “Leads to “missile missile crisiscrisis””
Americans fear they Americans fear they have lost the have lost the advantage to the advantage to the SovietsSoviets
Leads to massive R&D Leads to massive R&D in science & mathin science & math
La Brigada & the Bay of La Brigada & the Bay of PigsPigs
La BrigadaLa Brigada was formed during was formed during Eisenhower admin to overthrow Eisenhower admin to overthrow Castro regime?Castro regime?
Why did the USG object to Castro’s Why did the USG object to Castro’s government?government?
Not until JFK did the Not until JFK did the Bay of PigsBay of Pigs fiasco take place?fiasco take place?
What effect did the Bay of Pigs have What effect did the Bay of Pigs have on Cuba and the US?on Cuba and the US?
Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis
The CMC is a consequence of what The CMC is a consequence of what event?event?
Identify key issues in the CMC.Identify key issues in the CMC. What were Soviet objectives?What were Soviet objectives? What were American objectives?What were American objectives? How was it resolved?How was it resolved? Did Did brinkmanshipbrinkmanship succeed? succeed? What lessons are to be learned from this What lessons are to be learned from this
crisis?crisis?
Who are Who are these two these two people?people?
What are What are they they
doing?doing?What is What is trying to trying to get out of get out of the box?the box?