The Cold WarBy Paul Szczombrowski

ThesisFollowing the fall of the Third Reich at the end of

WWII, tensions between communism and capitalism tightened through the looming of communist control. The USSR’s Iron Curtain influence over the Western portion of Europe and Asian powers grew as sects were continually being subjected to its political growth within their own nations. As USSR powers grew, the attempts to suppress it directly attributed as the opposition of communist influence spurred through foreign and domestic policy in the US through 1940 to 1960. The ever growing conflict portrayed true influence upon these policies as they we’re all inclined to suppress and contain the infection that is communism.

What do we know about the Soviets?

• Lead by Joseph Stalin(1922-1952) and Nikita Khrushchev (1953-1971), informal “dictators” of the Soviet Union

• Followed the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx in which stated the utter triumph of socialism▫Socialism- a system of government in aim to

have the national government owns all means of production.

• Believed in the image of strength in which was amplified by militarism.▫Condemned military weakness through

proposing communist influence over them.[3 and 10]

Communism vs. CapitalismCommunism Capitalism

• Soviet Union• Marxist beliefs• Commonly only one party

system• Government controlled

business• Censorship upon said and

written material

• United States, Great Britain, France, etc.

• Multiple party system and free elections

• The individual can own a business

• Freedom of speech

A fear for each other [5]

Propaganda Against US during the Cold War

“Same Years but different weathers”

“Is this a Freedom?”

[11]

Propaganda Against USSR during the Cold War

Captain AMERICA

A Commie Comic

[11]

Foreign Policy1940-1960

Harry S. Truman (1945-1953)

•Born : May 8th, 1884•Died : December 26th, 1972•33rd President of the United States •Political Views : Democratic•When replacing Roosevelt, he ensured to

be as informed as possible by Roosevelt’s cabinet.

•“I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.”

[9and 11]

The Long TelegramThis document outlined by George Kennan, 2nd ranking officer in the

U.S. embassy in Moscow, states the overall standpoint of soviet powers within the nation itself as well as organized points in which suggests a liable position on expanding communist powers. Kennan suggests that capitalist powers should not advocate direct confrontation with the Soviet Union, however, to indirectly assert its actions upon the nations around it to suppress the efforts of its regime. Kennan also states the USSR’s stability as a nation, claiming its population lives in an “antagonistic ‘capitalist encirclement’ where in the long run can be no permanent peaceful coexistence.” Throughout the document, his points help to establish the first looks upon the issue of containment where the disease of Communism must be stopped from spreading over the entire world.• Part 1: Section d), “Intervention against USSR, while it would be

disastrous to those who undertook it, would cause renewed delay in progress of Soviet socialism and must therefore be forestalled at all costs.” –George Kennan

• As stated by Winston Churchill in his speech of March, 1946, the Iron Curtain influence by Soviets must be blocked in order to restrain the influence of the USSR. [1

and4]

The Truman Doctrine (1947)• In initial attempts to suppress Soviet spread, the

Truman Doctrine was issued to the United States Congress on March 12, 1947.

• Not only did Truman’s speech influence the aid towards Greece and Turkey, it also initiated foreign aid for the free who are battling off subjugation and the thought upon the policy of containment as a useful technique to suppress rising Soviet powers.▫These points were further expanded by the Marshall

Plan in 1948 by George Marshall where it was a major influence in erecting new capitalist and democratic governments throughout post-war Western Europe. Established to repair the damages of war and to further

prevent Soviet influence upon Western Europe. [9]

Soviet Influence around the Globe• As Containment was being introduced as a sedimentary offensive

against communist immigration into neighboring countries, political supporters were already visible around the world, able to affect the stability of that nation. ▫ Depicted in this map are the average count of communist party

supporters around 1947 by a United Press survey

[10]

Truman’s Inauguration (1949)

•http://www.history.com/videos/inaugural-address-harry-truman#inaugural-address-harry-truman

[8]

NSC-68 (1950)• The NSC-68 was a policy in which provoked a firmer and

more aggressive turn to the containment policy, veering away from the original suggestion in the Truman Doctrine and Long Telegram to create a fierce policy against communism in which shaped U.S. foreign policy for the following 20 years. ▫ This was implemented following the fall of China to a

communist rule under Mao Zedong in August, 1949 over Nationalist Jiang Jieshi.

• “The purpose of the NSC-68 was to so bludgeon the mass mind of “top government” that not only could the President make a decision but that the decision could be carried out.” -Sec. of State Dean Acheson▫ This quote by Acheson signifies that public officials would be

forgotten in the attempts to restore peace to those suppressed by communism and corruption alike. [10]

The Korean War (1950-1953)•Following communist influence over North

Korea, it set its sights upon the South, hoping to regain communist control as a whole. These infringements by Soviet powers once again created tensions with US diplomats as the aim to contain Soviet uprising was tested.

•Once again were the tensions between the US and USSR increased as the capitalist versus communist conflict was reopened through war.

[10]

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)

•Born : October 14th, 1890•Died : March 28th, 1969•34th President of the United States•Political Views : Republican•Followed the concept of “Good vs. Evil” to

emphasize “Capitalism vs. Communism”•"No people can live to itself alone. The

unity of all who dwell in freedom is their own sure.“

•Served in WWII as General[2, 6, and 11]

The Domino Theory

•In the presence of conflict in the Southeast Asian sector, Eisenhower believed in the concept of the domino theory in which if one nation falls to communism then the rest will fall with it subsequently, issuing a chain of events that cannot be controlled. Eisenhower utilized this theory as the justification upon communist infection over its neighboring nations. [1 and

10]

The Geneva Conference (1954)

• After the fall of French power over Dien Bien Phu to communist leader Ho Chi Minh, the 17th parallel was established by Soviet, Chinese, and US powers.

• However, as a result from the conference the US quickly embarked upon a nation-building exercise in which attempted to create a free nation in Southern Vietnam. It was expected that this implementation of a democratic region would be a barrier between communist support from the North to the South to cumulatively cease further Soviet encroachment. [7 and 12]

Domestic Policy1940-1960

Taft-Hartley Act (1947)• Passed over Harry Truman’s Veto, the Taft-

Hartley Act was labeled as a slave-labor law where all union shops were outlawed as well as made unions liable for damages in jurisdictional disputes among themselves. Most importantly the Taft-Hartley Act required for all union leaders to take a non-communist oath which pledged the allegiance to capitalist prosperity.▫With this act, Congress would then be satisfied in

a lesser influence of organized labor both upon politics and the economy of the United States.

[12]

Fair Deal (1949)

•The Fair Deal was a policy in which was implemented into the United States to greater benefit the population as it called for improved housing, increase minimum wage, new TVA’s, and extensions to social security. However, with a Republican majority in office, its major successes were diminished to raising minimum wage, providing public housing, and extending social security benefits. [12]

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)

•At home, “subversion” was becoming a greater worry in Americans where the thought of having communist supporters throughout the nation grew. The committee created a surge in which was aimed to expose communist influence in American government and society.▫The trial of Alger Hiss, an ex-New Dealer, was

accused under false pretenses of being a communist. After he obtained his right to defend himself and plead innocent, he was convicted of perjury and sentenced 5 years in prison.

[10 and 12]

Joseph R. McCarthy (1950-1954)•The Hectic HUAC•Although McCarthy was a complete

failure and drunk, his accusations towards stable political leaders and military officers showed a strict communist offensive. McCarthy’s utter failure can be seen more of as a policy in which had affected the domestic sector as he even purged important Asian experts in the States Department. [10]

The Space Race (1957)• As the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I and II, it

had utterly surprised Americans as it led them to believe that the Soviets were ultimately more superior than they were. Only to be demoralized further, the US’s lack of being able to send out a proper spacecraft brought forth the concerns if US technology and education was less advanced than that of their Soviet counterparts.▫As a result, the National Defense and Education

Act (NDEA) gave $887 million dollars in loans to needy college students and the improvement of schools. [12]

Overall…During the 1940-1960 time period, foreign

and domestic policy was rampant with direct connections to the Soviet offensive as it was to both contain and contest the USSR in attempts to put an end to their tyranny to their people and others. Due to the Cold War’s influence, it had helped to shape the United States into its image today, where strict foreign and domestic policies are aimed to remain one of the World’s leading superpowers all to ensure the efforts of maintaining peace.

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