The Cold War Deepens

14.2

Photo of one of the checkpoints in Berlin, preventing East Berliners from escaping into the West.

What is this political cartoon suggesting about the Soviet Union?

Who is the short chubby guy?

Chubby guy is the last Soviet leader, Gorbachev. Cartoon shows him dictating “plans for a new world to the East German (communist) leader, while a guy leaning over from the west shouts, “Don’t fence me in”.

Why was Berlin a major point of contention in the Cold War?

• Berlin was divided into Zones– Was within Soviet

controlled Germany• Soviets tried to force

all Berliners to use their currency 6/18/1948

• Blockaded the city and shut off power

• 2 million East Berliners held hostage

Again, the chess metaphor: Germany was just a piece on the Cold War chessboard. The US and Soviets were the two super-powers playing the game.

How did Truman deal with the Crisis in Berlin?

His Options:• Order troops to break through

– Risk starting WWIII• Give it up to Stalin

– Risk a ‘Domino Effect’

Said to advisors, “We are going to stay- period.”

Took advantage of air corridors and started an airlift airlift of needed supplies– Flew milk, food, etc. for 11 months– Landed every 11 minutes– 2, 400 pounds a day

• Raised American status in the world• Stalin lifted the blockade after 11 months

Above: map showing two Germanys; below, loading milk onto transport planes during airlift

Berlin Airlift Capture of map showing two Germanys from clip on the Berlin airlift

What is NATO? • North Atlantic Treaty

Organization• Alliance of 12 nations

formed to stop the spread of communism

• An attack on one nation is considered an attack on all

• Soviets responded by forming the Warsaw Pact

Cartoon shows US, Britain and France, plus smaller allies, trapped in a barbed wire pen. Stalin is screaming “encirclement” at them, though they are the ones encircled. For our part, Uncle Sam is goading Stalin from inside the pen: “Warmongers!”

NATO Members in EuropeClearest map of Europe from 1950s through 1980s

The Marshall Plan

Capture from start of Marshall Plan clip, showing US flag with thirteen stars

What was the result of the civil war in China?

• US supported anticommunist named Chiang Kai Shek– Truman gave Shek $3 billion in aid– Told him to clean up corruption– Shek ignored Truman

• Mao Zedong (communist leader)– Gave peasants land and set up

police force– Peasants felt protected by Mao

• Mao won in 1949• US feared Soviets would

dominate all of Asia and that communism would spread– Domino Effect– Was containment failing?

Above: map showing Chinese civil war; below: Mao Zedong

Red China

Capture from start of clip on Red China, with soldiers and a lot of red

Aid to South KoreaSelf-explanatory

Why did North Korea invade South Korea on 6/25/1950?

• Korea was Japanese territory during WWII

• After war:– Divided between Soviets (North)

and Americans (South) along the 38th parallel

• Korean people wanted to reunite but under which kind of government?

• North Korea made its move (might we have been better off if the Soviets never declared war against Japan?

• “Hindsight is always 20-20”

Above: map of Korea; below, invading N. Koreans

Describe the Korean War.• Known at the time as the

Accordion War or Forgotten War• Truman got UN to support military

action against N. Korea• UN forces were driven back to

Southeastern coast (Pusan)• 9/15/1950 MacArthur led naval

invasion near Inchon • Drove N. Korea back across

Chinese border• 11/1950: thousands of Chinese

attacked UN forces and drove them back past 38th parallel into South Korea

• War became stalemate, not resolved until Ike was elected

Pusan

Inchon

Korean WarSelf-explanatory

Firing of MacArthur

Presentation

Photo of Gen. MacArthur with trademark shades (rare in those days)

Why did Truman fire MacArthur?• Wanted to use nuclear weapons

on China– “In war there is no substitute for

victory.”• Mac publicly criticized Truman

for fighting a limited war– Fired for Insubordination

• Very unpopular decision (to fire MacArthur)

• War with China would likely lead to war with Soviet Union also or weaken US position in Europe

Above: repeat of MacArthur wearing shades; below, Truman meets MacArthur

MacArthur and the Korean WarVideo capture of a battle in Korea

What were the results of the Korean War?

• Korea divided along the 38th parallel

• North= communist• South= democratic• Started Arms race

– US drastically increased defense spending

– Had 3.5 million men in military and no reduction after Korea

– 750 nuclear warheads

Above: map of divided Korea; below, aerial photo of nuclear test

Left: map of Korea showing its close proximity to Japan; right, Panmunjom

Satellite map, incredibly graphic, showing urban lights (sign of wealth and progress) visible from space. The South is lit up like an Xmas tree; by contrast, the only visible light from the North is from its capital of Pyongyang.