The Cold War

Containment and Korea

How do you “fight” a Cold War?

• Any ideas?????

Truman’s Policy of Containment

• Foreign Policy at the start of the Cold War 1945-1950– Truman and George F. Kennan’s Policy of

“Containment”• Truman Doctrine• Marshall plan• NATO• The Korean War

– Why are these considered containment?

The Korean War• Why did the Korean War start?

– How did Truman respond?

Korean War

• An example/test of containment– June 25, 1950 - North Korea (supported by

China and Soviets) invade South Korea• Truman orders military buildup under NSC-68

– This maintains a permanent war time build up of the American Military

• UN uses absence of Soviets to order troops to defend South Korea

– Police action aimed only at preserving 38° parallel

Mapping Korea

• Use different colors for– North Korea

• Arrows for their advance and retreats and lines for their furthest advancements

– United Nations Troops• Arrows for their advance and retreats and lines for

their furthest advancements

– Chinese Troops• Arrows for their advance and retreats and lines for

their furthest advancements– Be sure to use dates next to all major movements!

Korean War

• The Korean War– Macarthur Leads drastic

raid on North Korea• Pushes the north Koreans

all towards China

• This leads China to enter war

– Chinese troops push UN troops back over 38th parallel

• Truce signed 1953– Keeping the two nations

divided at the 38°

MacArthur Tests Truman’s Containment

– Macarthur eyes China• Macarthur suggests invading China, and dropping

Atomic bombs on China– Truman not willing to expand the war– Macarthur criticizes Truman publicly, Truman fires

Macarthur

Truman vs. Macarthur• Why did Truman fire Douglas Macarthur?

– Did he make the right decision?

The effects of the Korean War and the firing of Macarthur

• Truman becomes very unpopular– 22% approval rating during the Korean War

• It was 65% after the end of WWII

• The Second Red Scare– Fear of Communism becomes a winning political

issue for the Republicans• Democrats had dominated Congress and the White House

since 1932– Republicans accuse Democrats of being soft on communism

» Gain more power in Congress and win the Presidency with Eisenhower in 1952

Truman’s Record Against Communism at Home

• Truman’s Loyalty Programs– Loyalty Review Board (1947)

• Investigated federal employees and other “disloyal” organizations

• 3 million federal employees investigated, 3,000 resigned

– 11 communists Tried and convicted (1949)• Violated the Smith Act (1940)

– Convicted for advocating the overthrow of the American government

Committee of Un-American Activities (HUAC)

• Who?– Members of the House of

Representatives• Most notably Richard Nixon

• What?– Investigated “subversion” in

America• Led to the accusation of

members of government, Hollywood, labor unions, etc.

– Most famous “catch” was Alger Hiss (Former New Dealer)

» Convicted of perjury in 1950

» Never convicted of being a Communist

Joseph McCarthy

• What?– Wisconsin Republican Senator– Accused Secretary of State Dean Acheson of

employing 205 Communist party members (1950)• Most accusations were directed towards Democrats

– He even directed accusations at George Marshall

– Ruined the careers of countless officials, writers, and actors

• Very little evidence was ever provided at these trials• Many people would be accused unless they agreed to “name

names”

Joseph McCarthy

• What? (cont.)– Eisenhower hated McCarthy, but stayed

out of his way• Eisenhower does not stand up against McCarthy

– In return U.S. government loses some of the top Asian experts in the U.S. State department due to accusations

Joseph McCarthy

– McCarthy self destructs (1954)

• McCarthy attacks the military for employing Communists

– Televised hearings led to McCarthy self destructing in front of America

– Congress condemns him at the end of hearings

Red Scare

• Results of Red Scare– Very few communists rooted out

• Although later evidence showed a presence of communists within our government

– State Department lost some of its key Asian advisors

• Would have been helpful as Vietnam wears on

– Destruction of Free Speech• People were condemned and black balled from

industries for merely being accused