Chapter 27Chapter 27
The Age of Containment 1946–1954
Creating a National Security State, Creating a National Security State, 1945–19491945–1949
Onset of the Cold War Various interpretations
Traditional: Focus on Soviet Expansionism Revisionist: Focus on Soviet vulnerability Other: Focus on historical Soviet–American rivalries
Truman administration took a hard line Baruch Plan Suspended Lend-Lease Tied economic aid to pullbacks in Eastern Europe
After 1947, the administration focused on “national security”
Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)
Background Civil war in Greece Traditional sphere of influence By 1947, British could no longer afford to stay in Greece
Truman decision to step in Way to protect free world Had to resist Communist aggression Overcame domestic opposition
Idea of Containment George Kennan article in Foreign Affairs (1947) Catchphrase for global, anticommunist national security
policy Linked all leftist movements to Moscow
Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)
Loyalty review boards to ensure that government employees were not “security risks”
Attorney General’s list of subversive organizations
Based on premise that Soviets were widely conducting espionage in the United States Verona files
Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)
National Security Act Created several new bureaucracies Steps toward creation of Department of Defense National Security Council Central Intelligence Agency
Most flexible arm of national security bureaucracy
Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)
Marshall Plan Linked economic policies in Western Europe to
containment U.S. financial assistance to prevent spread of
communism Opened markets and investment opportunities for U.S. Stunning success
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Divided Germany and
the NATO Alliance
Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)
Berlin Crisis German recovery central to recovery of Western Europe British, American, French zones would merge currency,
June, 1948 First step toward merger
Soviets responded by cutting West Berlin off from outside world
Americans responded with airlift Soviets abandoned ineffectual blockade in May, 1949
Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)
Election of 1948 Truman won after major political comeback Some Democrats backed Progressive Party
Nominated Henry A. Wallace Considered containment too militant
Some Democrats backed States’ Rights Party (Dixiecrats) Nominated Strom Thurmond Opposed federal action in area of civil rights
Republicans nominated Thomas Dewey Lackluster campaigner
Truman waged aggressive, energetic campaign Eked out victory Strong national security record probably helped in
election
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Presidential Election, 1948
Era of the Korean War, 1949–1952Era of the Korean War, 1949–1952 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Pledged to be collective defense against Soviet aggression
China U.S. supported non-Communist government in civil war
with Communists Nationalist Chinese defeated late 1949 China lobby blamed administration for failing to support
enough aid
The Bomb Soviets exploded device in September 1949 Ended U.S. nuclear monopoly
Era of the Korean WarEra of the Korean War (cont)
NSC-68 Major administration review of nation’s foreign policy Urged full-scale offensive to enlarge U.S. power
Covert action Economic pressure More vigorous propaganda Massive military buildup
Labeled efforts “defensive” to guarantee public support
Era of the Korean WarEra of the Korean War (cont)
Korean War Communist North Korea attacked South Korea, June 1950 Truman administration saw Soviets as instigators
Review of background Japanese Occupation, 1905–1945 Postwar division at 38th parallel
Fighting enlarged into international conflict U.S. goals unclear
Push invasion force back above 38th parallel? Total defeat of Communists and reunification under non-
Communist leadership? Course of war up and down for U.S.- led UN forces
Resulted in dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur War at line of demarcation by end of Truman’s term
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Korean War
Era of the Korean WarEra of the Korean War (cont)
War justified recommendations of NSC-68 Administration took many steps to pursue the
nation’s interests abroad Increase in military budgets and bureaucracies
RAND
Nation came to oppose any political movement that was left-leaning
Containment framed in defensive terms
Pursuing National Security at HomePursuing National Security at Home Anticommunism and the Labor Movement
Labor Management Relations Act (Taft-Hartley), 1949 Limited gains unions had made during 1930s Forced union leaders to eschew ties to communism Truman vetoed, but Congress overrode
Communists in Unions became national security issue
House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Hearings into film industry initiated in 1947
Hollywood Ten Studios drew up blacklist of so-called subversives
Alger Hiss case
Pursuing National Security at Home Pursuing National Security at Home (cont)
Truman’s loyalty program in action List of subversives to be detained in event of national
security emergency
FBI dossiers on wide range of artists and intellectuals
Homosexuals as targets of investigations Justifiable basis for denying people government
employment
Containment at HomeContainment at Home (cont)
The Rosenberg case Cold War melodrama Remains subject for debate even today
Government pursued suspected Communists Dennis v. U.S. (1951) McCarran Internal Security Act (1950)
Special detention camps for suspected subversives Subversive Activities Control Board Vetoed by Truman, but overridden
McCarthyism Charged that Communists were at work in the State
Department Attacked those who criticized him, initially with great
success Supported by influential people in and out of
government
Truman’s Fair DealTruman’s Fair Deal
Originally called for government intervention to ensure “full” employment
Eventually scaled back to provide “maximum” employment
“Full” sounded too much like socialism Created Council of Economic Advisers
Focus on economic advice rather than formal planning
Assumption that prosperity was inevitable
Truman’s Fair Deal Truman’s Fair Deal (cont)
Extension and expansion of New Deal Some programs very popular
G.I. Bill (Serviceman’s Readjustment Act), 1944 Social Security
Others opposed vigorously National health care opposed by medical community Housing industry opposed publicly financed housing
projects Focused on programs for specific groups, such as
veterans or the elderly, rather than more extensive programs for all
Civil Rights Truman endorsed civil rights agenda in 1948 campaign Supported school and housing desegregation efforts
A Changing CultureA Changing Culture
Jackie Robinson and the baseball “color line” Robinson integrated major league baseball in 1947 By 1960, every major league team fielded black players
Postwar suburbs Government encouraged suburban home ownership
Federal Housing Authority Epitomized optimism about the future for residents
Avoid contact with minorities The suburban family and gender issues
A Changing Culture A Changing Culture (cont)
Life revolved around the automobile Daily life fell into sex-segregated spheres
Hollywood Had been supportive through Depression Audience attendance dropped after war
Television Femmes fatales Changes in cultural patterns in the United States
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The Baby Boom
From Truman to EisenhowerFrom Truman to Eisenhower
The Election of 1952 Democrats on the Defensive
Adlai Stevenson took anti-Communist stance, but it was not enough to win
Republicans ran Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon
Won significant victory
Eisenhower in office Advocated “moderate Republicanism” Ended war in Korea Wrested control of anti-Communist issue from McCarthy Considered skilled leader who increased executive
branch power
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Presidential Election, 1952Web
Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions What were the economic, political, and social
causes of the Cold War? How did the U.S. and the USSR go from being allies to enemies?
What was the Marshall Plan? What role did it play in American–Soviet relations?
Assess Truman’s administration. What were his successes and failures? Was he a good president?
What caused the Korean War? Why did the United States become involved? Was this consistent with U.S. foreign policy?