Cold War (1945-80)

Question 1

Discuss the social and cultural impact of the Cold War on the US until 1953.

Answer 1

Social:
• House of Un-American Activities Committee investigations into communist sympathizers increased red scare
• 1953 Execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg
• McCarthyism created mass hysteria over events such as 1949 PRC fall to communism and USSR atomic bomb

Cultural:
• HUAC and Hollywood 10
• Sensationalist journalism and careers ruined from communist hunts
• Creation of works such as Arthur Miller’s The Crucible in reflection of ‘witch hunts’

Question 2

Truman in Latin America

Answer 2

Lacking economic aid:
• $13 billion in Marshall Plan aid to Western Europe, but only $79 million in aid to 20 Latin American republics

Political alignment due to economic factors:
• eg. Chile (copper industry) and Cuba (sugar exports) were reliant on US market
• 1947 Rio Treaty (reciprocal assistance) and 1948 ban of communist parties (Cuba, Chile, Brazil)

Question 3

Truman containment policies (Truman Doctrine)

Answer 3

1947 Truman doctrine:
• 1948 Marshall Plan - $17 billion approved
• Historian Melvyn Leffler: Marshall Plan was geopolitical tool and economic recovery plan
• Revisionist William Appleman Williams: US was responsible for the development of the Cold War by attempting to force economic and ideological conformity

Question 4

Truman containment policies (Korean war reasons for involvement and results)

Answer 4

Reasons for involvement:
• Domestic political pressure:
—Red Scare and Republican pressure
—NSC-68 recommendations and resolve to contain communism everywhere
• Ideological Cold War conflict:
—Truman’s belief that Stalin was behind attack
—1949 context (PRC and USSR bomb)
—Korea’s position as the ‘Greece of Asia’

Results:
• Increased military defense:
—Commitment to NSC-68 (tripling defense budget)
—Commitment to Taiwan
—Involvement in Vietnam and Philippines
• Increased alliance strengthening:
—1955 Western Germany admitted to NATO
—1954 SEATO

Question 5

Two Cold War crises and impact

Answer 5

Berlin Crisis 1948
• Historian William Taubman: Berlin Blockade was a turning point to a more confrontational phase
• West set up Federal Republic of Germany and East set German Democratic Republic

Cuban Missile Crisis 1962