ch. 18 Flashcards
What caused tension between the United States and the Soviet Union?
The tension between the United States and the Soviet Union was caused by opposing political ideologies, Stalin’s alliance with Hitler, the Allies’ delayed attack on Germany, and the secret development of the atomic bomb.
How did Stalin and the Soviets dominate Eastern Europe and what was the U.S. response?
Stalin and the Soviets dominated Eastern Europe by installing communist governments in the satellite nations.
Under the Truman Doctrine, what was the reason we were helping Greece and Turkey?
The United States’ reason for helping Greece and Turkey under the Truman Doctrine was that “it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.”
What factors led to the Communist takeover in China?
The Communist takeover in China was caused by weak leadership and corrupt, abusive practices of Nationalists.
What caused the Korean War and what was its outcome?
The Korean War was caused by the division of Korea into north and south territories and the United States cutting back on armed forces in the south. As a result, the Soviets concluded that the U.S. would not fight to defend South Korea, and they prepared to back North Korea with tanks, airplanes, and money in an attempt to take over the entire peninsula. 16 nations in total sent 520,000 troops to aid South Korea under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur launched a counterattack in the form of a surprise amphibious landing behind enemy lines at Inchon, and chased the retreating North Korean troops into North Korea. In return, the Chinese drove UN troops southward by sheer force of numbers, capturing the South Korean capital, Seoul. For two years, the two sides fought bitterly and neither side was able to make important advancements. Finally, in July 1953, the two sides signed an armistice ending the war.
Why did Truman fire MacArthur?
Truman fired MacArthur because MacArthur called for the use of nuclear weapons against Chinese cities, continued to urge the waging of a full-scale war against China, tried to go over the president’s head, and spoke and wrote privately to publishers and Republican leaders.
Explain how the Loyalty Review Board, HUAC, and the McCarran Act deprived people of their basic rights in this country.
The Loyalty Review Board did not allow individuals under investigation to see the evidence against them and violated constitutional rights. The HUAC, or House Un-American Activities Committee, sent film industry members to prison for refusing to testify at the hearings and blacklisted people who were condemned for having a Communist background. The McCarran Act punished and incarcerated people for opinions they held about Communism.
Why did the cases of Alger Hiss and the Rosenbergs heighten the anti-Communist mood of Americans?
The cases of Alger Hiss and the Rosenbergs heightened the anti-Communist mood in America because all three people were spies for the Soviet Union who were at least partly responsible for the deadly clashes of the Cold War. Alger Hiss, a former State Department official, was convicted of perjury of government documents for the Soviet Union and the Rosenbergs were executed for espionage by distributing secret information about the United States’ atomic bombs to the Soviet Union.
What is the cartoon on page 620 implying about McCarthyism?
The cartoon implied that the fear of the spread of Communism affected the entire society and caused people to become so suspicious that almost any unusual opinion was labeled “un-American.”
How did McCarthyism and the actions of our government during the late ‘40s, early ‘50s affect the behavior of individual Americans?
McCarthyism and government actions caused Americans to forcibly take loyalty oaths and undergo loyalty investigations, declined activism in labor unions, fear of speaking out on public issues, and continued U.S. foreign policy.
How was the arms race elevated in 1952-53?
The arms race was elevated in 1952-53 when scientists who developed the atomic bomb believed that it was possible to create an even more destructive thermonuclear weapon-the hydrogen bomb. The bomb would have the force of 1 million tons of TnT and 67 times the power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The U.S. and the Soviet Union entered a race to see which country would produce the first H-bomb, and the United States won the race on November 1, 1952.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization founded after WWII that is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, and working towards better living standards and human rights. The United Nations, or UN, was the most visible symbol of hope for world peace at the end of World War II.
satellite nations
Satellite nations were countries dominated by the Soviet Union. The satellite nations were Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland.
containment
Containment meant taking measures to prevent any extension of communist rule to other countries. George F. Kennan’s proposal of a policy of containment guided the Truman administration’s foreign policy.
“iron curtain”
The “iron curtain” was a phrase that came to stand for the division of Europe. The phrase represents the Soviet Union’s efforts to block itself and its satellite nations from coming into contact with the Allied powers and neutral states.
