American Foreign Policy 1949-50 Flashcards
What was the shift in US foreign policy by 1949-50?
The US foreign policy shifted from isolationism to being the guard dog of democracy and capitalism due to British and French economic stagnation.
What event in 1949 shocked the U.S. and influenced its foreign policy?
The fall of China to communism shocked the U.S., ending hopes for a non-communist China and prompting a stronger global containment policy.
What was the significance of the Soviet Union’s first atomic bomb test in 1949?
It ended the U.S. nuclear monopoly, leading to the development of the hydrogen bomb and escalation of the arms race.
What was the first major military test of the expanded containment policy?
The Korean War (1950–1953) became the first major military test, with the U.S. leading UN forces against North Korean aggression.
What did the creation of NATO signify for U.S. foreign policy?
NATO institutionalized U.S. commitment to European defense and collective security.
How did U.S. foreign policy affect its relations with the Soviet Union?
The policy hardened U.S.-Soviet relations, intensifying the Cold War and globalizing the ideological conflict.
What was a consequence of the U.S. commitment to defending non-communist regimes?
It sometimes led to support for authoritarian governments, prioritizing anti-communism over democracy.
How did the USSR respond to U.S. foreign policy actions during this period?
The USSR consolidated control over Eastern Europe and strengthened military alliances, culminating in the Warsaw Pact (1955).
What was the Soviet perspective on NSC-68 and U.S. military expansion?
Soviet leaders viewed NSC-68 and U.S. military expansion as aggressive provocations, justifying their own arms buildup and global interventions.
