1) President Truman: The USA As A Superpower 1945-53 Flashcards
What were Truman’s weaknesses?
. Barely had a chance to formulate an extensive range of policies before holding office
. No experience in international relations
. Far less willing to deal with Stalin
What is a superpower?
A state with a dominant position. It must have a large population, strong economy, advanced military and technology, and access to natural resources
What and when was the Tehran conference?
A meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin in Tehran Iran between November 28 and December 1 1943
What did Roosevelt and Stalin privately discuss?
The UN which would be dominated by ‘the four policemen’ (US, Britain, china + the Soviet Union) who would have the power to immediately deal with any threat to peace
What were the positive outcomes of japan by the end of Truman’s presidency?
Turned it into a militaristic + democratic state with a stronger economy
What were the negatives of Truman’s policy of reforming japan?
Japan was able to boost its economy after the Korean War + break free from US, making japan + the US rivals in industry
Why was there tension between the US and the USSR?
. Opposing ideologies
. Secret development of the atomic bomb
. Long term disagreements
. Sovietisation of Eastern Europe
What is containment?
Policy to stop the spread of communism
What is the domino theory?
When one country falls to communism, another does
What was the Truman doctrine?
A military commitment to defend any country that was faced with a takeover by an armed minority (communist)
What were the failings of the Truman doctrine?
It failed to ask weathe a threatened state was worth supporting + weather the US were capable of supporting it
What was the Marshall plan?
Financial aid to any European country who’s economy was damaged by WWII, $17 billion was given + it lasted 4 years which rose industrial production by 35%
What was the significance of the Marshall plan?
. It sealed the division of Europe
. USSR tightened hold over Eastern Europe
. Demonstrated bipartisan approach
Why did the US fly in basic luxuries during the Berlin blockade?
. To demonstrate economic strength
. To show determination (do it for 11 months)
What did America do during the Berlin airlift?
. 1.5 mill supplies in 275,000 flights
. Record of 13,000 tonnes on Easter Sunday
. A flight every 90s
. Basic luxuries; candy bummer, ping pong balls, regimental mascot goat)
why was NATO significant?
. Completed the division of east + west Europe
. Division was political + economical, but was now military
. Soviets created the Warsaw pact in response
. Asia became the great Cold War arena
Why was Truman a hypocrite?
Because the US are meant to oppose imperialism since they had to fight for their freedom from the British, however Truman funds french imperialism in Vietnam
How was the rise of communism in Asia described?
As ‘snowballing’
What were the events of the Korean War?
. On 25th June 1950, com North Korea attacked South Korea
. UN forces sent to Korea
. North Koreans made advances due to preparation + surprise
. Casualty rate hit 30%
. Douglas MacArther assult on Inchon in September forced North Korea to retreat
. June 1951 china proposed an armistice agreed in July 1953
What did Truman’s aim in Korea change from and to?
. From: driving the North Korea communists out the south
. To: destruction of North Korea’s forces + reunification of Korea (known as rollback of communism)
What was the mistake that MacArthur made during the Korean War?
. In October 1950 the Chinese warned if American troops crossed into NK then china would Jon the war
. MacArthur assured Truman china wouldn’t intervene, but they did, moving US troops to the 38th parallel
What is bipartisan?
When parties are united on one issue
What happened in the fall of china 1949?
. US gave $2 bill to aid china + the leader Chiang Kai-Shek (nationalist)
. He lot the civil war = his forces fled t Taiwan (recognised as china)
. Mao + his communist forces defeated the nationalist ending the war
. China was declared the people republic of china + was a communist state
What affect did the fall of china have in the US?
. Truman became a victim of his own doctrine
. Many Americans thought that if communism was such a threat that Truman shouldn’t have allowed china to become communist
. The republicans blamed the democrats for the ‘loss’ of china
