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Stalin learned of the Manhattan Project through espionage
When GB told the US that they could no longer finance Greece or Turkey in their civil wars against communist guerillas,
the US came across
with the money
US mistakenly assumed USSR influence in Greece
Truman asks for $400 million to fund the struggle Greece and Turkey
Phrases the “Truman Doctrine”, an informal declaration of cold war
Communist minorities gained strength in the polls in Italy and France
Acheson thought US economic power was the answer for W Europe
George C Marshall outlined the plan at the Harvard commencement speech
Extensive economic aid to be offered to European countries that agreed to plan for “the revival of a working
economy in the world so as to
permit the emergence of political and social conditions in which few institutions can exist” June 5, 1947
The USSR and Eastern satellites refused to take part
Other W European countries requested a total of $17 billion
Congress approved the spending after the Czech coup of 1948
A broad, self-sustaining economic revival resulted
Europe prospered and the “threat of communist domination faded”
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949
NATO was signed by 10 European nations plus the US and Canada
Had two main features
A US commitment to the defense of Europe
A US promise to honor this commitment
Truman appointed Eisenhower as NATO supreme commander
1947 National Security Act passed created a Department of Defense
Air Force emerges as dominant branch during the era
Greater defense and strike capabilities
USSR detonates atomic weapon in 1949
US research on Hydrogen bomb approved quickly by Truman
Seen as the next step for nuclear supremacy
The Soviet Union was a mortal challenge to the US
The USSR planned for world domination
US needed a massive military expansion to meet this threat
Stated that the US could afford to spend 50% of GNP on defense
A sign that the Truman administration would win the Cold War at any cost
MacArthur and US prevented any Soviet role in Japanese reconstruction
New Japanese govt was a constitutional democracy
Banned communist participation
Renounced war and relied on US military protection
MacArthur declared Pacific “an Anglo-Saxon lake”
US conducted atomic bomb tests in the region
China was in between the US and Soviet spheres
A civil war was brewing
Chiang Kai-shek led the nationalists in the South
Mao Tse-tung led the communists in the North
Mao forced Chiang out of Manchuria in late 1948
China “fell” to communism in December 1949
N (industrial) has been occupied by USSR, S (agrarian) by US
Both countries removed occupation troops by 1949
N headed by Kim Il-Sung (communist)
S headed by Syngman Rhee (conservative nationalist)
N Korea crosses the 38th parallel on June 25, 1950
Ends in a stalemate near the 38th parallel
No treaty—just a cease fire
A repentant communist accuses Alger Hiss of spying
Hiss convicted of perjury only, but the red scare was on!
11 Communists tried and convicted of subversion in 1948
The “China Hands” were blamed for the fall of China in ‘49
Klaus Fuchs gave A-Bomb info to the USSR
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were convicted and executed
Truman Loses credibility in the Army-McCarthy hearings
Joseph McCarthy was censured (1954) and died (1957)
A promise to go to Korea and bring an honorable end to the conflict
Republican party does not fare as well as Eisenhower in the elections
Stalin’s death hastens an end to the Korean conflict in 1953
Eisenhower deals with McCarthy with “The Hidden Hand”
US had aided France v Ho Chi Minh
Feared getting involved in a lengthy ground conflict
Dien Bien Phu falls to Minh in May 1954
US began to sponsor nationalist Catholic Ngo Dinh Diem
Egypt and Nasser seized the Suez Canal in July 1956
England and France launched an assault against Egypt in November
Eisenhower strongly objected
US sponsored a UN resolution condemning British and French action
The USSR supports the resolution and threatens France and GB
The US threatens the USSR if they intervene
GB and France back down
1958 brings a US return to the Middle East
Chamoun of Lebanon asks for US help
US gives support after Muslim groups threaten a rebellion
Also after pro-Western Iraqi government falls
Marines secure Beirut in July 1958
Containment and other US policies increased US/USSR tensions
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