Cold war essays Flashcards
The tensions that existed within the grand alliance by the end of 1945 were the result of conflicting ideologies. Assess the validity of this view.
Ideology
Both the USA and the USSR saw the ideology of the other as a threat.
The USSR was one party state while the USA was a multiparty state. To the USA this was seen a limiting the freedom of the people.
The USSR believed that there should be a state controlled economy, while the USA believed in private enterpirse due to thier capiltalist ideology.
Impact- This caused tensions within the grand alliance, because the USA saw the Soviet Union as a theat to the wealth and status of the USA, while the USSR saw the USA as capitalist agent with the mission of exploiting the proletariat.Evidence that both sides used to support this argument includes the nazi-soviet pact in 1939, and the USA’s support of the whites during the Russian revolution in 1917-1923
Analysis
However, this arguemnt fails to acknowlege the fact that the grand allience were working together to defeat Nazi Germany and it was only after this common enemy was defeated that tensions began to increase.
Actions of the USA
- Dropped the atomic bomb in Japan August 1945, because they wanted to end the war in Japan quickly.
-Impact- Stalin saw this as a betrayal because he was not informed that the bomb would be dropped and it also feed into his parania that the USA could not be trusted because it went aginst the agreement at Yalta, which stated that 3 months after the war in Europe was over the USSR would enter the war against Japan.
- By the end of april 1945 Truman had become president of the USA, due to the death of Roosevelt.
Analysis- This meant that tensions was bound to increase within the grand alliance because incomparison to Roosevelt, Truman was vociferously anti-communist and no longer needed to co-operate with the USSR due to now have the technological advantage.
Impact - This meant that when he was adviced by scientists to share the secrets of the atomic bomb with the USSR he refused which started the arms race, therefore increasing tensions within the grand alliance.
Actions of the USSR
- Refused to allow free elections in Poland in August 1945, this is because they had been attacked through Poland multiple times and wanted a government that was favourable to the USSR incharge.
Analysis - This went agaisnt the agreement that Yalta in feb 1945, which stated that free elections must be allowed in Poland.
Impact - This suggested to the USA that the USSR could not be trusted therefore increasing tensions within the Grand Alliance.
- The red army’s occupation of Eastern Europe was a powerful weapon in enforcing control and encouraging the latent communist parties throughout the region to rise. For instance, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria.
impact- The USA blindly saw this as a Soviet plan to expand commuism into Europe, making thier fears come true(the Soviet union and communism are inherently expanionist).
Analysis
This argument fails to acknowlege the percentages agreement in Tehran 1944. This argreemnt is what gave each country(the UK and the USSR) their sphere of influences. Most of Eastern Europe was part of the Soviet sphere of influence, therefore in actual praticality it was not a suprise to the USA and the UK that communism would be rising in these countries.
Truman shifted the focus of his containment policy from Europe to Asia after 1949 because of the establishment of communism in China.
By 1949, there was a stalemate in Europe and the arena of the cold war began to shift from Europe to Asia.
China
Fall of chian to communism
in 1949 - China was the first country outside Europe to go communist. It caused the US to review thier foreign policy in Asia. As seen by the defence perimeter speech by Dean Acheson in january 1950, highlighting that the security of Japan was of upmost importance.
Further Evidence- As a result of china the USA also continued to defend the chinease nationalist, however this was now in Tawian after they feld.
This can be seen when the US used the threat of massive retaliation against the chinease in 1955(which was able to be done because in january 1955 congress passed the formosa resolution, which gave Eisenhower total authority to defend Tawian and the off shore islands), after tensions between them and the nationalist increased to the point of an armed conflict over strategic islands in Taiwan strait.
The Korean war
This signified the end of splendid isolation, during the cold war and they finally put boots on the ground in Asia.
By 1950 the USA dominated the UN, as a result they were able to send thier troops into Korean under the banner of the UN.
- As the war started the USA also began to rehabilitate Japan once the san Francisco treaty was signed in 1951by ending the post-war occupation of Japan demonstarting a more Asian focused foreign policy.
- The korean war caused the economy to experience a rapid increase in production and marked the beginning of the economic miracle, this was due to Japan becoming the principle supply depot for UN forces.
McCarthyism
From 1947, the USA experienced a “Red Scare”. There were fears of communist subversion within American. This is evident when the House Committee of Un-American Activities resumed its investigations of people suspected of communist affiliations.
The outspoken Republican senator Joseph McCrahy was instrumental in whipping up anti-communist fears in the early 1950s. McCrathy made a widely reported speech at Wheeling, West Virginia, in February 1950 that set the agenda for “McCarthyism”.
Analysis
Although McCarthy’s claims that US States department had been infiltrated by communist lacked evidence and he was eventually discredited in 1954, his pressure on US government under both Truman and Eisenhower did have some influence on American opinion and indirectly on foreign policy. This is because it played an impact on the Eisenhower and Truman protecting the chinese nationalist after commuism took over in China because neither of them could afford to be seen as being soft of communism. This can also be seen through Truman’s involvement in the Korean war in June 1950
“The USA was responsible for the division of Germany into two separate states by 1949”
Context. At the end of the war in 1945, Germany was administered by the Four Power Allied Control Council, supervising the Soviet, American, British and French occupation Zones.
USA
The USA was initially concerned with strengthening the economy and democracy within its own zone, to make sure it could withstand any potential threat from the USSR and this aim aided in the division of Germany into to states.
Evidence
In May 1946 the USA stopped further payments of reparations to the USSR until an overall economic plan was agreed. This created the oppourtunity for the US zone to break the economic hold the Soviet zone had on it, creating the stepping stone for the division of Germany.
In May 1949, the West German consitution was approved, with Konard Adenaur as the first Chancellor of West Germany. Although Britian, France and the USA controlled foreign policy and security, internal affiairs were controlled by West Germany.
Therefore symbolising the division of Germany because the USSR and East Germany was left out of these agreements.
impact - Although it went aganist thier original plans, the Soviets responded by creating East Germany: a one-party, led state in October 1949 that was completely loyal to the USSR
USSR
The Soviets hoped thier zone would form the nucleus of a whole-German communist movement, this made them adament in keeping Geramny together.
The Soviets opposed the creation of Bizonia, demanding the establishment of a unified administration for all of Germany between march- december 1947. The West feared that a centralised administration would lead to a Soviet-controlled Germany, and refused its creation. This breakdown in relations led the Western powers to pursue the creation of a West German state.
impact - In june 1948 Britian, France and the USA agreed that West Germany should have formal constitution and its won currency, which led to the Deutsche mark being introduced, therefore dividing East and West Germany economically.
In June 1948 Stalin started the Berlin Blockade. Stalin had always seen Berlin as a single city in which Soviet control would be predominant. The blockade was an attempt to force the Western powers to concede to this.
Impact - An Anglo-American plan to supply West Berlin by plan was approved and began almost immediately, this was effective as Stalin would not use force to shoot down Allied aircraft flying into Berlin because this would start a war. Consequently Stalin was forced to recognise that the allies were going to continue as long as it would take,m and had to concede the continued existence of West Berlin, therefore allowing the division of Germany, because without the West having Western Berlin the country could not truely be divided.
British actions
Britian’s priroritiation of economic recovery, for which Britian relied on the USA’s help for aided in the dvision of Germany.
Britian struggled to sustain and feed the region, and feared that this would draw the working classes in its zone towards communism. Consequently leading to the American and Britiish zones being merged economically to create Bizionia in January 1947, which was one of the first steps towards the division of Germany.
To what extent were the Yalta and Potsdam conferences responsible for the growth of Cold War tensions in the years 1945 to 1946?
Yalta and Postdam
It was agreed at Yalta that there would be free elections in Poland, although Stalin agreed to this, he was more concerned with Soviet security because the USSR had been invaded through Poland 3 times. This consequently meant that in the August of 1945 Stalin refused to allow free elections in Poland violating the agreements at Yalta. This increased cold war tensions because it confirmed Truaman’s belief that the Soviet Union were not receptive to diplomacy and cooperation; force was needed instead.
Further evidence
It was agreed that Postdam that the USSR would receive reparations from its own zone and an additional 25% from the Western Zone. Due to the poor economic climite that Germany was in by the end of the war, the USA stopped further payments of reparations to the USSR until an overall economic plan was agreed in may 1946.
neither superpowers could keep the promises they made at Yalta and at Postdam, therefore increasing cold war tensions.
Western actions
Actions of the USA
- Dropped the atomic bomb in Japan August 1945, because they wanted to end the war in Japan quickly.
-Impact- Stalin saw this as a betrayal because he was not informed that the bomb would be dropped and it also feed into his parania that the USA could not be trusted because it went aginst the agreement at Yalta, which stated that 3 months after the war in Europe was over the USSR would enter the war against Japan.
by the end of april 1945 Truman had become president of the USA, due to the death of Roosevelt.
Analysis- This meant that tensions was bound to increase within the grand alliance because incomparison to Roosevelt, Truman was vociferously anti-communist and no longer needed to co-operate with the USSR due to now have the technological advantage.
Impact - This meant that when he was adviced by scientists to share the secrets of the atomic bomb with the USSR he refused which started the arms race, therefore increasing tensions within the grand alliance.
in the end of april 1945 Truman had become president of the USA, due to the death of Roosevelt.
Analysis- This meant that tensions was bound to increase within the grand alliance because incomparison to Roosevelt, Truman was vociferously anti-communist and no longer needed to co-operate with the USSR due to now have the technological advantage.
Further evidence
In March 1946, though no longer British Prime minister and lacking a role in foreign policy, Winston Churchill was invited to the USA to speak about the ideology and physical divisions of Europe in his “Iron Curtain” speech, suggesting that this was not the Europe for faught for.
Impact
Attracted worldwide attention and helped to push US policy towards containment which increased cold war tension as it impacted the introduction of the Marshall plan in 1947. It was also interpreted by Stalin as a direct attack on the Soviet Union and highlighted how the divisions between the East and West had wideneded, because Churchill was also refering to rolling back the Iron Curtain, therefore removing the Soviet Sphere’s of influence.
Soviet actions
Refused to allow free elections in Poland in August 1945, this is because they had been attacked through Poland multiple times and wanted a government that was favourable to the USSR incharge.
Analysis - This went agaisnt the agreement that Yalta in feb 1945, which stated that free elections must be allowed in Poland.
Impact - This suggested to the USA that the USSR could not be trusted therefore increasing tensions within the Grand Alliance, and by 1946 communist power in Poland was growing rapidly.
Stalins’s expanionist policies in eastern Europe were the main cause of tension between the USA and the USSR in the years 1945 - 1948.
Context - By the end of the second world war in 1945, the Soviet Union was in a position to control many of the countries it had liberated.
Stalin’s expanionist policies
Evidence - Czechoslovakia was not controlled by a communist government at the start of 1948. However, in February-March 1948, the communists purged the non-communist member of the government and the pro-American Foreign Minister, Jan Masaryk, was found dead beneath an open window. The American suspicion was that he had been diliberately pushed and killed.
Impact
The US congress showed greater acceptance of the Marshall Plan, and hostilities between the USA and the USSR became more intence.
More Evidence - Refused to allow free elections in Poland in August 1945, this is because they had been attacked through Poland multiple times and wanted a government that was favourable to the USSR incharge.
Impact- This USA saw this as an expanionist Soviet policy to control Poland.
Analysis - This went agaisnt the agreement that Yalta in feb 1945, which stated that free elections must be allowed in Poland.
Impact - This suggested to the USA that the USSR could not be trusted therefore increasing tensions within the Grand Alliance.
Counter arguement - From the percentages agreement at Tehren in 1944 both the USA and the UK knew that Poland was part of the Soviet sphere of influence, and they knew that securing Poland as a friendly government was for Russian secruity, because they have been invaded through Poland 3 times.
The USA
In may 1946, the USA stopped further payments of reparations to the USSR until an overall economic plan was agreed. This was mainly because they did not want the people in the Western Zone to suffer economically, because hunger and struggle was seen as the perfect “breeding ground” for communist uprising.
Impact - This increased tensions because the soviets viewed this as an attempt to create a German economy based on Western capitalism, which they strongly opposed.
Further Evidence - June 1947 the European Economic Recovery Plan was revealed(also known as the Marshall Plan) by US Secretary of State George Marshall. Although the plan was only implemented in 1948.
Impact - This increased tensions as the Soviets viewed it as evidence of American imperialis, and an attempt to undermine Soviet control of Eastern Europe. This is not far from the truth because the USA hoped that strengthening the European economy would weaken the attraction of communism and thus the influence of the USSR.
In response to the Marshall plan in the september of 1947 the Cominform was established to consolidate Soviet influence and push back aganist American Imperalism. Therefore demonstarting an increase in tensions.
Uk
Due to the poor economic climate the Uk was facing post war, they were not able to financially aid their zone within Germany , because they had to focus on preserving thier already dying empire and the economy of Britian. This led to the creation of Bizonia in january 1947, because the Uk asked the USA to merge the economy of thier zones.
Impact - This increased tensions because the Soviets opposed the creation of Bizionia, demanding the establishment of a unified administration for all of Germany. This feared the West that a centralised administration would lead to a Soviet controlled Germany, and refused its creation, which increased tensions further. This breakdown in relations led the Western powers to pursue the creation of a West German State, consequently leading to the creation of the Deutsche mark June 1948, which suggested that the breakdown of the wartime alliance seemed complete.
Counter - The USA were the driving force behind this because without US backing for Bizonia it would not have hapwpened.
how important was the Marshall plan to the growth of Cold War tensions by 1949?
Intro context - In June 1947, the US Secretary of State, George Marshall revealed his European economic recovery plan, as the USA felt that the economic stability of Europe would aid American economic interest.
Overall argument - In the short term it had a significant growth on Cold war tensions.
Support
Point- The Marshall plan had a significant impact on the growth of Cold war tensions by 1949
Evidence - In July 1947, the USSR rejected any participation in the Marshall Plan. This can be seen when Countries that had expressed interest in the Marshall Plan, such as Czechoslovakia and Poland, were ordered by Stalin to reverese thier decisions in August 1947.
Analysis - This aided in the growth of Cold War tensions because it accerlerated the division of Europe.
Evidence 2 - The USSR viewed the Marshall plan as evidence of American Imperialism, and an attempt to undermine Soviet Control of Eastern Europe, therefore even though theoretically the USSR could join the Marshall plan they rejected it. This can be seen when in 1947 Soviet minister Vyshinsky denouced US actions in the United Nations. As it threatened thier power. The USA expected this outcome.
Evidence 3 - In september 1947, the Cominform was established to consolidate Soviet influence and push aganist American Imperialism.
Analysis - This demonstartes how the Marshall plan aided in the growth of cold war tensions by 1949, because it shows how the relations between the USSR and the USA began to worsen as a result of its introduction.
Counter agrument - The creation of the Cominform’s although had important ramifications of cold war tensions, it was not largely significant because American reaction to it was fairly limited.
Challenge
However in the Long term its impact on cold war tensions by 1949 were limited because the expansionist policies in Germany of the USSR began to become more prominent.
Evidence - In June 1948 Stalin started the Berlin Blockade, to force the Western powers to concede to Stalin’s control of Berlin.
Impact - Although the Blockade ended by 1949 due to the west overcoming it, it had significant ramifications on the growth of Cold war tension. For instance, due to the Russian agression highlighted by the blockade in the April of 1949 NATO was created as a way to help strengthen Europe aganist Soviet aggression.
Analysis - This led to the growth of Cold war tensions as the Soviets argued that this was an aggressive organisation designed to promote Western capitalism and to pressurise European states into complying with its interests.
Factor conclusion - In comparison to the Marshall plan in 1947, the establishment of NATO due to Soviet aggression in German created the foundations for the growth of divisions and tensions between the USSR and the USA from 1949 onwards which can be seen through the Soviet creation of the Warsaw pact in May 1955.
To what extent was the Soviet Union’s expansion into Eastern Europe the main cause of the intensification of the Cold war in the years 1945 - 1956?
Context for intro - From 1945 the Cold war began to intensify.
Point - the expanionist nature of Soviet forign policy aided in the intensification of the Cold war in the years 1945 - 1956.
Evidence - Czechoslovakia was not controlled by a communist by the end of 1947 and the start of 1948. However, in February- March 1948, the communist with Soviet support purged the non-communist members of the government and the pro-American Foreign Minister, Jan Masaryk, was found dead beneath an open window, the American suspicion was that had been deliberately pushed and killed.
Analysis - This intensified the cold war because, the US congress showed greater acceptance of the Marshall plan which the Soviets saw as a American imperialism, and hostilities between the USA and the USSR became more intensified.
Evidence 2 - In October 1956 there were demonstrations and protests by student in Hungary who demanded the appointment of Imre Nagy as prime minister, freedom of speech, free press and multi-party elections. On the November of 1956 Nagy announced that Hungary had withdrawn from the Warsaw Pact, and declared neutrality.
Impact - The USSR invaded Hungary and within days the uprising was crushed, a new government led by janos Kadar was installed.
Analysis - this intensified cold war tensions because it was evidence to the west that despite Khrushchev’s secret speech suggesting that things will be different from Stalin, in reality they were similar, due to both thier expanionist natures.
Couter - This had limited impact on the cold war because the lack of western intervention confirmed that the post-war status quo had been accepted, this assured the USSR that if have any further problems erupt in Eastern Europe , it would have no interference from the west.
US actions
By the end of april 1945 Truman had become president of the USA, due to the death of Roosevelt.
Analysis- This meant that tensions was bound to increase within the grand alliance because incomparison to Roosevelt, Truman was vociferously anti-communist and no longer needed to co-operate with the USSR due to now have the technological advantage.
Impact 1 - Due to Truman’s anti-communist beliefs the cold war was intensificed.
Evidence / impact - it aided in the creation of the Truman doctrine in 1947, which declared US support for Greece,Turkey and to any people’s threatened by subjugation to another power, making a new stage in US attitudes to intervention in world affairs.
sub impact - This aided in the Marshall plan in June 1947, and in response the soviets established the comiform(international commmunist solidarity) in september 1947 and the comicon(the council for mutual economic assistance) in 1949
Impact 2 - This meant that when he was adviced by scientists to share the secrets of the atomic bomb with the USSR he refused which started the arms race, and the USSR began working on a way to develop thier own atomic weapon which they tested in the Ausgust of 1949 and then developed a powerful hydrogen bomb in 1955 therefore increasing tensions within the grand alliance and causing the intensification of the cold war as the USA was now working hard to keep up with the USSR.
MLA
Conflict over Germany
Britian and the USA wanted an economically strong Germany which was able to resist the infection of communism, which the USSR wanted an economically weak German state, to gradually lead to socialism.
Evidence - January 1947 the American and the British Zones were merged economically to become Bizonia, because due to the economic strains of the war, Britian could not financially stabalise it’s zone, which could leave it susceptible to communist expansion.
impact - The Soviets opposed the creation of Bizionia, demanding the establishment of a unified administration for all of Germany. The West feared that a centralised adminstration would lead to a Soviet-controlled Germany, and refused its creation.
This breakdown in relations led the west to pursue the creation of a West German State. This can be seen through the creation of the Deutsche mark in June 1948. This demonstates the intensification of the cold war because the breakdown of the wartime alliance seemed complete, as stalin accused the Western powers of trying to wreck the East German economy
To what extent was the ideological division between the Soviet Union and the West responsible for the development of the Cold War in the years 1945-1956?
Context for intro - From 1945 the Cold war began to intensify.
Ideology
Both the USA and the USSR saw the ideology of the other as a threat.
By 1918 the USSR was one party state while the USA was a multiparty state. To the USA this was seen a limiting the freedom of the people.
The USSR believed that there should be a state controlled economy, while the USA believed in private enterpirse due to thier capiltalist ideology and so both sides believed that inherently the otherside wished to destroy them.
Impact- This caused tensions within the grand alliance, because the USA saw the Soviet Union as a theat to the wealth and status of the USA, while the USSR saw the USA as capitalist agent with the mission of exploiting the proletariat.
Analysis
However, this arguemnt fails to acknowlege the fact that the grand allience were working together to defeat Nazi Germany and it was only after this common enemy was defeated that tensions began to increase.
Actions of the USSR
Point - the expanionist nature of Soviet forign policy aided in the development of the Cold war in the years 1945 - 1956.
Evidence - Czechoslovakia was not controlled by a communist by the end of 1947 and the start of 1948. However, in February- March 1948, the communist with Soviet support purged the non-communist members of the government and the pro-American Foreign Minister, Jan Masaryk, was found dead beneath an open window, the American suspicion was that had been deliberately pushed and killed.
Analysis - This developed the cold war because, the US congress showed greater acceptance of the Marshall plan which the Soviets saw as a American imperialism, and hostilities between the USA and the USSR became more intensified.
Evidence 2 - In October 1956 there were demonstrations and protests by student in Hungary who demanded the appointment of Imre Nagy as prime minister, freedom of speech, free press and multi-party elections. On the November of 1956 Nagy announced that Hungary had withdrawn from the Warsaw Pact, and declared neutrality.
Impact - The USSR invaded Hungary and within days the uprising was crushed, a new government led by janos Kadar was installed.
Analysis - this developed cold war tensions because it was evidence to the west that despite Khrushchev’s secret speech suggesting that things will be different from Stalin, in reality they were similar, due to both thier expanionist natures.
Couter - This had limited impact on the cold war because the lack of western intervention confirmed that the post-war status quo had been accepted, this assured the USSR that if have any further problems erupt in Eastern Europe , it would have no interference from the west.
Actions of the USA
By the end of april 1945 Truman had become president of the USA, due to the death of Roosevelt.
Analysis- This meant that tensions was bound to increase within the grand alliance which led to the development of the cold war because incomparison to Roosevelt, Truman was vociferously anti-communist and no longer needed to co-operate with the USSR due to now have the technological advantage.
Impact 1 - Due to Truman’s anti-communist beliefs the cold war was developed.
Evidence / impact - it aided in the creation of the Truman doctrine in 1947, which declared US support for Greece,Turkey and to any people’s threatened by subjugation to another power, making a new stage in US attitudes to intervention in world affairs.
sub impact - This aided in the Marshall plan in June 1947, and in response the soviets established the comiform(international commmunist solidarity) in september 1947 and the comicon(the council for mutual economic assistance) in 1949
Impact 2 - This meant that when he was adviced by scientists to share the secrets of the atomic bomb with the USSR he refused which started the arms race, and the USSR began working on a way to develop thier own atomic weapon which they tested in the Ausgust of 1945 and then developed a powerful hydrogen bomb in 1955 therefore increasing tensions within the grand alliance and causing the development of the cold war as it began to intensify and the USA was now working hard to keep up with the USSR.
MLA
How important were the differences over Germany between the USA and the USSR in the development of the Cold war.
Although the differences over Germany between the USA and the USSR were important regarding the development of the Cold war by 1949, they were not the most important.
Differences over Germany
Point 1 - In contrast to the USSR by 1946 the USA wanted an economically strong Germany, in order to resist the so called “infection” of communism this led to the development of the Cold War because the USSR wanted an economically weak Germany.
Evidence 1- The USA stopped further payments of reparations to the USSR until an overall economic plan was agreed.
Impact 1 - This aided in the development of the Cold war because the Soviets viewed this as an attempt to create a German economy based on Western capitalism, which they strongly opposed, therefore intensifying the tensions between the USA and the USSR, and was the first step towards the creation of the Deutsche Mark in 1948.
Evidence 2 - The Soviet response to currency reform in 1948 was swift: stalin closed off all access to West Berlin by blocking road and rail links
Aim - The Blockade was an attempt to force the Western powers to concede to Berlin as a single city in which the USSR had predominant control over.
Impact - This led to the development of the cold war because although it ended in 1949, it impacted the creation of NATO in the April of 1949 which was created as a way to help strengthen Europe aganist Soviet aggression. Furthermore, this aided in the development of the Cold war because the Soviet viewed this as an aggressive organisation designed to promote Western capitalism and to pressurise European states into complying with its interests.
The actions of the USA
MLA
By the end of april 1945 Truman had become president of the USA, due to the death of Roosevelt.
Analysis- This meant that tensions was bound to increase within the grand alliance because incomparison to Roosevelt, Truman was vociferously anti-communist and no longer needed to co-operate with the USSR due to now have the technological advantage.
Impact 1 - Due to Truman’s anti-communist beliefs the cold war was intensificed.
Evidence / impact - it aided in the creation of the Truman doctrine in 1947, which declared US support for Greece,Turkey and to any people’s threatened by subjugation to another power, making a new stage in US attitudes to intervention in world affairs.
sub impact - This aided in the Marshall plan in June 1947, and in response the soviets established the comiform(international commmunist solidarity) in september 1947 and the comicon(the council for mutual economic assistance) in 1949
Impact 2 - This meant that when he was adviced by scientists to share the secrets of the atomic bomb with the USSR he refused which started the arms race, and the USSR began working on a way to develop thier own atomic weapon which they tested in the Ausgust of 1949, demonstarting the arms race that had began as a result of Truman’s actions, causing the development of the cold war.
Actions of the USSR
Point - the expanionist nature of Soviet forign policy aided in the development of the Cold war.
Evidence 1- Refused to allow free elections in Poland in August 1945, this is because they had been attacked through Poland multiple times and wanted a government that was favourable to the USSR incharge.
Analysis - This went agaisnt the agreement that Yalta in feb 1945, which stated that free elections must be allowed in Poland.
Impact - This suggested to the USA that the USSR could not be trusted therefore increasing tensions within the Grand Alliance.
Evidence 2- Czechoslovakia was not controlled by a communist by the end of 1947 and the start of 1948. However, in February- March 1948, the communist with Soviet support purged the non-communist members of the government and the pro-American Foreign Minister, Jan Masaryk, was found dead beneath an open window, the American suspicion was that had been deliberately pushed and killed.
Analysis - This developed the cold war because, the US congress showed greater acceptance of the Marshall plan which the Soviets saw as a American imperialism, and hostilities between the USA and the USSR became more intensified.
it was the USA’s commitment to a post-war democratic Europe that caused both the Yalta and Potsdam conference to end in failure.
Causation question
The USA’s commitment to a post-war democratic Europe.
Point - The USA’s commitment to a post-war democratic Europe aided in the failure of the postdam conference.
Evidence - In May 1946 the USA stopped further payments of reparations to the USSR until an overall economic plan was agreed.
- Analysis- This USA feared that due to the lack of an economic plan in the Western Zone, it could slip into communism. This demonstartes how the USA’s commitment to a post-war democratic Europe aided in the failure of the Potsdam conference. This is because it Potsdam it was agreed that the USSR would receive an additional 25% of reparations from the Western Zones in German, alongside that from its own zone.
Point 2- The USA’s commitment to a post-war democratic Europe aided in the failure of the Yalta conference.
Evidence - At the Yalta conference in February 1945, the USSR wanted to establish satelite states along the Western edge of the USSR to create buffer zone. In contrast the USA wanted to support demoncracy in Eastern Europe.
Analysis - This aided in the failure of the Yalta conference because it led to an increase in tensions between the two superpowers, especially after Red Army’s occupation of most of Eastern Europe which was a powerful weapon in enforcing control and encouraging the latent communist parties throughout this region.
US actions
Evidence - By the end of april 1945 Truman had become president of the USA, due to the death of Roosevelt.
Analysis- incomparison to Roosevelt, Truman was vociferously anti-communist and no longer needed to co-operate with the USSR due to now have the technological advantage.
Impact - Therefore, this led him to violate the agreement at Yalta in 1945, by dropping an atomic bomb on Japan in the August of 1945. This led to the failure of the Yalta conference because at Yalta it was agreed that 3months afte rthe war in Europe was over the USSR would join the with Japan and gain some of the spoils, by dropping the bomb, Truman stopped this from happening and the USSR saw this as an American betrayal.
Actions of the USSR.
Point - The actions of the USSR aided in the failure of the Yalta and Potsdam conference.
Evidence - August 1945 Stalin refused to allow free elections in Poland despite its commitment at Yalta. Provoked the resignation of Polish leader Mikowajcyzk who recognised the move towards direct Soviet control.
Analysis - This aided in the failure of the Yalta conference, because it was agreed at Yalta that free elections would be allowed in Poland.
The policy of containment was pursued by the USA with the sole purpose of protecting democracy. With reference to the years 1945 to 1949.
The USA failed to contain communism in Asia in the years 1949 to 1955’ Assess the validity.
Agree
Evidence 1 – Loss of China – US backed KMT forced to retreat to Taiwan which marked the CPP - communist party – victory in China.
Analyse 1 - Significant as first state in China to fall to communism, caused alarm and gave rise to domino theory, if China could fall, so could surrounding states. This led to the creation of new US policy such as the Perimeter Speech in January 1950 which excluded announced that the U.S. would focus its efforts on building a “perimeter of defense” around areas in Asia to protect the region from Communist aggression, but it omitted South Korea from this perimeter. This became known as the ‘green light’ for Stalin to sanction the invasion of South Korea in April 1950.
Evidence 2 – Over the course of the Chinese Civil War, the US provided over $4 billion in aid, the Chinese Nationalists lost despite this which was indicative of communist strength.
Analyse 2 – This caused fear that simply financial aid from the US wouldn’t suffice in order to contain communism.
Counter Argue - However, it could be argued that this was more of a KMT (Nationalist) failure than US failure as the CPP were simply more effective in their tactics, they achieved success through propaganda which marked the nationalists as the enemy of China and gathered support of greater groups such as farmers and peasants. Whilst the CPP bolstered their strength the nationalists antagonised the people and were pushed away because of the effective CPP propaganda.
Nevertheless – US aim to support Nationalists in defeating communists, it fell anyway, thus failure.
Evidence 3 – Vietnam 1954 – continuation of failure despite US aid, funding 75% of French conflict against Vietnamese yet still lost, significant as reinforces notion that economic support would not suffice to contain communism.
Conclusion – ultimately, not a huge failure as these were instances where US did not adopt a physical presence.
Disagree –
when US physically involved, more successful in containment policy.
Evidence 1 – Taiwan Straits Crisis 1954- following fall of China, communist forces tried to attack exiled nationalists in Taiwan to reinforce communist rule in China. Continuation of US support for nationalists, US government sanctioned the Formosa Resolution in 1955 which allowed US nuclear bomb usage.
Analyse 1 – This caused the US to employ the policy of brinksmanship, they threatened the CPP to withdraw or they will use nuclear strikes on China. This was a success as it caused the communist forces to retreat, communism was contained from Taiwan. This is also significant for it demonstrates the success of the new weapon of containment, brinksmanship, which was introduced in the 1954 ‘New Look’ policy under Dulles thus a bright future was ahead for containment in Asia.
Evidence 2 – Korean War – By 1953 the Korean Armistice was signed, this formally ended the Korean War as it resulted in a continuation of the division at the 38th parallel in 1953.
Analyse 2 – The purpose of the US intervention was to ensure that South Korea would not fall to communism, therefore, this aim was satisfied as communism stayed at the level at which it was prior to the Korean War, remained in the North and outside of the South of Korea.
Counter Argue – Cost was great, US committed 2 million conventional troops, spent $67 billion on reconstruction of South Korea, therefore it could be argued that the cost was too high for a mere continuation of communism in Korea.
Nevertheless, initial aim satisfied.
Evidence 3 – Japan 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty which gave access to military bases in Japan, the right to use military force to intervene in Japan internal disorder, the right to veto Japan offering military bases to other states.
Analyse 3 – Large success for USA as Japan served as a critical base of operations for the United States military in Asia, therefore, this allowed them to maintain their presence in the region to combat communism
Khrushchev’s policies in the years 1955 to 1961 ensured that there was no Cold War confrontation in Europe’
Agree
Evidence / Counter Argue 1 – Whilst it could be argued that Khrushchev’s November 1958 Ultimatum which gave the Western Powers six months to agree to withdraw from Berlin and make it a free, demilitarized city was a cause of great confrontation, this was only in the short term. In February 1959 he withdrew it.
Analyse 1 – This is significant as it showed that Khrushchev was not prepared to risk confrontation over Berlin and backed down from implementing his ultimatum that the West should leave. - It could be argued the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 ended any possible military confrontation over Berlin as the Soviet Union was able to establish a physical barrier that prevented direct contact between the two sides and reduced the possibility of escalation. The wall effectively froze the conflict over Berlin, as neither side was willing to risk a direct military confrontation over the city hence it was reluctantly accepted.
Evidence 2 – Austrian State Treaty 1955 - Austria was a country with valuable natural resources which the USSR was using for economic aid for post-war reconstruction, similar to Germany, this was split in occupation zones between the powers. Despite Khrushchev wanting it in Soviet sphere of influence, he embarked in negotiations in May 1955 which led to all powers agreeing to withdraw leaving Austria as a neutral state.
Analyse 2 – Significant as they had successfully averted confrontation, showed serious intent towards mutual cooperation but also avoided potential major conflict. Furthermore, it showed some hope for Germany, as it too could perhaps be resolved in a similar nature.
Evidence 3 – Geneva Summit July 1955– Came under Khrushchev’s new policy of ‘Peaceful Coexistence’ to engage in greater diplomacy. The two sides were also unable to reach agreements on disarmament and nuclear weapons testing but it opened the way for exchange of some scientific information, as well as cultural and trade exchanges.
Analyse 3 – More significantly, this represented an important attempt by the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union to engage in dialogue and find ways to reduce tensions between the two superpowers which was a step in the direction of less confrontation.
Disagree
Evidence 1- Soviet lie about nuclear capability at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1956 he asserted that the Soviet Union had successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the United States, this was a lie as it was only until August 1957 when they got the ICBM.
Analyse 1 – This is significant in causing confrontation as not only was it a looming threat over USA, but this threat also caused increased U2 plane surveillance which culminated in one being shot down on, 1 May 1960, by the Soviet Air Defence Forces while conducting photographic aerial reconnaissance deep inside Soviet territory which caused Paris Summit to end day after it started thus heightening tension.
Evidence 2 – Hungarian Uprising 1956- communist regime under risk of being undermined by demonstrators, by 3rd November 4000 Soviet tanks surrounded Budapest, 4000 citizens killed, 200,000 in exile. USSR control reestablished.
Analyse 2- Significant in causing confrontation as the USSR had intervened with force despite dangers that the West might intervene causing a war.
Counter Argue – However, the lack of intervention by the West confirmed that they had accepted this as a defensive measure as it was in USSR’s sphere of influence, Eastern Europe, furthermore the rising was merely a debated issue for the United Nations. Therefore, this could be argued to have been an approach measured by Khrushchev knowing it wouldn’t have caused confrontation.
Developments in Hungary and Berlin made no difference to superpower relations in the years 1956 to 1961’ Assess the validity of this view.
Agree
Evidence 1 – Hungarian Uprising 1956- communist regime under risk of being undermined by demonstrators, by 3rd November 4000 Soviet tanks surrounded Budapest, 4000 citizens killed, 200,000 in exile. USSR control reestablished.
Analyse 2- Significant in causing confrontation as the USSR had intervened with force despite dangers that the West might intervene causing a war.
Counter Argue – However, the lack of intervention by the West confirmed that they had accepted this as a defensive measure as it was in USSR’s sphere of influence, Eastern Europe, furthermore the rising was merely a debated issue for the United Nations. Therefore, this could be argued to have been an approach measured by Khrushchev knowing it wouldn’t have caused confrontation.
Evidence2 – Hungarian Uprising 1956 –* there was no significant change to the direction of US/USSR relations following the Hungarian uprising; although relations cooled for the next few months and discussions on arms control were put on hold, by 1957 plans were in place for a new summit so peaceful coexistence not derailed by these events.
Evidence 3 - there was no direct conflict over Berlin. Despite the Wall, tensions that had developed after 1958
continued due to events in Cuba and the arms race.
Disagree
Evidence 1 - Evidence / Counter Argue 1 – Whilst it could be argued that Khrushchev’s November 1958 Ultimatum which gave the Western Powers six months to agree to withdraw from Berlin and make it a free, demilitarized city was a cause of great confrontation, this was only in the short term. In February 1959 he withdrew it.
Analyse 1 – This is significant as it showed that Khrushchev was not prepared to risk confrontation over Berlin and backed down from implementing his ultimatum that the West should leave.
Evidence 2- Berlin Wall built in 1961 which was a physical barrier that divided the city of Berlin and prevented its citizens from defecting to the West.
Analyse 2– Significant as it ultimately changed superpower tensions from Europe as it ended any possible military confrontation over Berlin as the Soviet Union was able to establish a physical barrier that prevented direct contact between the two sides and reduced the possibility of escalation. The wall effectively froze the conflict over Berlin, as neither side was willing to risk a direct military confrontation over the city hence it was reluctantly accepted. So the Cold War tensions shifted to Asia and Cuba.
Evidence 3 - in fact the clarity regarding US actions towards the Soviet sphere of influence – that it now accepted the post-war status quo – was significant, it highlighted the limits of US-USSR confrontation due to nuclear weapons. The risk of nuclear war was too great and the concept of MAD would come to influence superpower relations.
How effective was the nuclear arms race in restraining the aggression of the superpowers in the years 1955 to 1963?’
Effective
Point 1 – Head to head confrontations were avoided because of the threat of nuclear war
Evidence 1 - Whilst it could be argued that Khrushchev’s November 1958 Ultimatum which gave the Western Powers six months to agree to withdraw from Berlin and make it a free, demilitarized city was a cause of great confrontation, this was only in the short term. In February 1959 he withdrew it.
Analyse 1 - highlighted the limits of US-USSR confrontation due to nuclear weapons. The risk of nuclear war was too great and the concept of MAD would come to influence superpower relations.
Evidence 2 – Similarly, Cuba was de-escalated as evidenced by the diplomatic message sent by Khrushchev on the 26th October 1962, where he proposed a non-invasion pledge to USA in return for Soviet Union removing its military presence on Cuba. This led to the de-escalation of the conflict and the creation of a ‘hot line’ to facilitate communication in such an event in the future.
Analyse 2 – Nuclear arms significant as Khrushchev was motivated by a desire to avoid a catastrophic war, both powers recognised their capability to destroy each other completely, thus they were eager to seek a diplomatic end as opposed to continued combat.
Point 2 – both sides remained out of each other’s spheres of influence to avoid nuclear conflict
Evidence 2 - Hungarian Uprising 1956- communist regime under risk of being undermined by demonstrators, by 3rd November 4000 Soviet tanks surrounded Budapest, within eastern Europe Soviet sphere, west didn’t respond
Analyse 2 - However, the lack of intervention by the West confirmed that they had accepted this as a defensive measure as it was in USSR’s sphere of influence, Eastern Europe, furthermore the rising was merely a debated issue for the United Nations. Therefore, as Soviets had nukes since August 1949, this could be argued to have been an approach to avoid nuclear confrontation as they were aware of the consequences.
Evidence 3 - following the Cuban Missile Crisis, there was an understanding that MAD meant that nuclear weapons could not be used and there was increased cooperation in reducing dangers of nuclear war, e.g. establishment of the hotline and Moscow test ban treaty 1963
Ineffective
Evidence 1 – Vienna Conference 1961 – characterized by lack of agreement on key issues, nuclear testing being one of them. Kennedy felt that Khrushchev was trying to intimidate him, it was their first time meeting and they were already at odds. Furthermore, Khrushchev threatened to sign a peace treaty with GDR.
Analyse 1 – This threat is significant as the USA didn’t recognise the GDR as an independent state, they feared that a separate peace treaty between the Soviet Union and East Germany would further cement the division of Germany and weaken the position of the US and its allies in Europe + give East greater international recognition and legitimacy. Thus this was an aggressive threat.
Evidence 2- Whilst it did avert Cuba catastrophe in the long term, it did not slow the reckless actions throughout its course. ; Khrushchev was prepared to threaten war over Cuba by placing missiles close to the US in 1962.
Analysis 2 – Khrushchev did this to close the missile gap: the Soviet leader, Khrushchev, knew the USA had medium and long-range nuclear missiles aimed at the USSR from bases in Turkey, just on the USSR’s ‘doorstep’. In return, he places missiles in the US’ ‘back yard’. Furthermore, Khrushchev wanted to demonstrate support for the communist ally of Cuba which was the immediate cause of placing missiles to maintain its security, this could’ve been done by deploying a protective force of conventional forces thus despite risk of MAD Khrushchev still was aggressive in policymaking.
Evidence 3 – both sides used aggression directly during this period; the USA intervened in Cuba in the
Bay of Pigs, for example, and Khrushchev used force to put down the Hungarian uprising.
Analyse 3 - the superpowers pursued aggressive policies regardless of the dangers of a nuclear showdown.
Relations between Khrushchev and Kennedy were marked more by co-operation than by confrontation’
Agree
Evidence 2 – October 1962, Kennedy agreed to remove missiles in Turkey in return for Khrushchev removal of missiles in Cuba. Significant as it demonstrates co-operation through diplomacy, instead of escalation of the CMC they sought a compromise…’
Evidence 3 – Furthermore, following the Cuban Missile Crisis the Moscow Test Ban Treaty (October 1963) was released which banned the testing of nuclear weapons everywhere other than underground. Whilst there was no obligation to sign up, and weapons could still be tested underground, it showed an element of cooperation and a growing awareness of the need to create some control over the nuclear arms.
Evidence 4 - Khrushchev had already shown himself to be interested in ‘peaceful co-existence’ – for example in negotiating the Austrian State Treaty agreement of 1955. Right up to 1963 he was regularly criticised from within the Soviet regime for being too ‘soft’ towards the West
Disagree
Evidence 1 – Vienna Conference 1961 - First time meeting between Kennedy and Khrushchev, Khrushchev viewed him as an immature politician, Kennedy felt as if Khrushchev was trying to bully him. Significant as it shows how at their first meeting they were already at odds, confrontational.
Evidence 2 – Bay of Pigs fiasco, inflamed East-West tensions, l
- April 1961
Evidence 3 –1961 Construction of Berlin wall caused tension, US denounced it as an illegal act on the 17th August 1961 in a diplomatic note to Soviet government, Soviets responded by stating that it was a defensive measure to limit subversive activity against GDR. October 1961 Checkpoint Charlie incident
Counter argue - (analyse – little West response, thus acceptance of wall, and Kennedy saw this as a better alternative to war (explain how it reduced chance of waR)
US policies in Asia, in the years 1953 to 1959, were successful’ Assess the validity of this view.
Agree
Evidence 1 – Brinksmanship policy – Taiwan Straits Crisis 1954- following fall of China, communist forces tried to attack exiled nationalists in Taiwan to reinforce communist rule in China. Continuation of US support for nationalists, US government sanctioned the Formosa Resolution in 1955 which allowed US nuclear bomb usage.
Analyse 1 – This caused the US to employ the policy of brinksmanship, they threatened the CPP to withdraw or they will use nuclear strikes on China. This was a success as it caused the communist forces to retreat, communism was contained from Taiwan. This is also significant for it demonstrates the success of the new weapon of containment, brinksmanship, which was introduced in the 1954 ‘New Look’ policy under Dulles thus a bright future was ahead for containment in Asia.
Evidence 2 – Containment Policy - Korean Armistice 1953, served as the military ceasefire necessary to afford negotiating space for a final, diplomatic peace agreement - kept South Korea as an independent country.
Counter argument - However this did cost the USA $ 20 million and 33,651 conventional forces
Nevertheless - As the US aim was to contain communism in Korea outside of the South, they were successful.
Evidence 3 - In response to closer Sino-Soviet relations, Dulles established SEATO (1954) which strengthened the means for collective defence in Asia.
Analysis 3 - Significant as SEATO became a deterrent to communist aggression in the region because of collective defence, and it provided a platform for the United States to establish closer diplomatic ties with Southeast Asian nations, paving the way for increased economic and cooperation between the United States and the region.
Evidence if needed - After the French were defeated in 1954, the USA stopped South Vietnam from falling into communism through the Geneva conference in 1954. Therefore, containing the spread of communism in Asia.
ultimately the Domino Theory was upheld – no Asian state fell to communism
Disagree
Evidence 1- French defeat in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu – despite the USA policy of providing economic aid to combat communism – they were funding 75% of the conflict between French and Vietnamese communist nationalists, despite this they couldn’t defeat the communist forces – failure.
Analyse 1 - This caused the April 1954 Geneva Conference, Vietnam would be temporarily divided at the 17th parallel. Great failure for US as it allowed communism to survive in the Northern half, and entangled the US in Vietnam which would be a humiliating affair for USA in the long term.
Evidence 2- The failure to contain communism in China in 1949. Despite the USA providing support to the nationalist led by Chaing in China, it still fell to communism in 1949.
Counter argument - China was not the USA’s to lose and they provided as much support as they could without getting involved conventionally, it was due to chaing’s inability to listen to the USA’s military advice that led to the communist victory.
The failure to contain communism in South Vietnam by 1963 was the result of Kennedy’s policies’
Agree – Kennedy
Evidence 1 – Strategic Hamlet Policy 1962 - Vietnamese peasants were removed from their villages and made to live in defended strategic hamlets in loyal areas.
Analyse 1 – Ineffective as similar to the French activity in the region, this turned the people against USA thus prompting them to join the NLF, despite the hamlets NLF grew to over 17,000 members which was a 300% increase over two years, therefore this strategy failed thus as communism continued to spread.
Counter Argue – However, it should be noted that this US policy was an urgent attempt to mitigate damages caused by Diem’s unpopularity, therefore it could be argued that Diem was the root of this issue.
Evidence 2 – Kennedy administration authorised the November 1963 coup to remove Diem, this was a success resulting in Diem fleeing and later being assassinated.
Analyse 2 – This was aimed that a new government would take his place which would be more effective in fighting the communist insurgency in the country, however, this coup undermined the US aim, causing political instability which actually weakened the string of South Vietnamese government’s that would come in combatting communism. Thus US removal of Diem contributed towards failure to contain communism under Kennedy.
Disagree - Diem
Evidence 1- Diem persecution of Buddhists, gave Catholics tax concessions, land, and arms, whilst Buddhists were rejected these things unless they culminated. This mistreatment culminated in the Buddhist Crisis May-November 1963, this was characterised by repressive acts, Buddhists shot to death, crowds fired at, Buddhists self-immolating in protest.
Analyse 1 - This was a complete failure on Diem’s part as South Vietnam was a Buddhist majority, c80% Buddhist, but Diem alienated that which was a great mistake as they turned to the NLF out of resentment. This made the containment of communism an exceptionally difficult task as in order to secure this the support of the people was required, thus he undermined the prospect of containment.
Evidence 2- December 1961, Kennedy formally announces that the United States will increase aid to South Vietnam, in return for this Kennedy expected Diem to liberalize his regime and institute land reform and other measures to win the support of his people. Diem took the money, but spent very little on his people, instead pocketing a lot for himself and his government.
Analyse 2 – When compared to Kennedy, this is significant as it demonstrates a difference in intentions, Kennedy to improve conditions of South to facilitate containment of communism whilst Diem was focused primarily on himself as opposed to his state. Therefore, it was Diem’s corruption and lack of care for South Vietnam that led to the failure to contain communism by 1963.
ANOTEHR FACTOR NEEDED
The main reason Kennedy increased US involvement in Vietnam was due to his desire to prove himself to the American public
Desire to Prove Himself:
Evidence 1- Bay of Pigs 1961 fiasco, prompted US public hysteria, this heightened opposition against Kennedy as he was the President behind it, hence Vietnam was an opportunity to prove himself to the public.
Evidence 2 – In Kennedy’s 1960 Presidential Campaign, Kennedy marketed himself as a Democrat who was tougher on communism than the Republicans were, promised to be tough on communism and for the US to take a more active role in the world in promoting stability I.e ousting communism.
Analysis 2 – Kennedy therefore was duty bound to uphold this promise, Vietnam was a war over the containment of communism from South Vietnam therefore this fueled his desire. Furthermore, prior to becoming president he already had fixed ideas on Vietnam, his catholic family loathed Communism which reinforced his determination to uphold this promise.
Communist Expansion:
Evidence 1- NLF in South presence resulted in Kennedy increasing military advisors, 2000 in 1961 to 16,000 in 1963.
Analyse 1 – This was significant because it was the fear of communist activity in the South that led to Kennedy making a greater commitment to Vietnam. Similarly, in 1962 the Strategic Hamlet Scheme was released which forced peasants in fortified villages that were meant to be sheltered from communist infiltration. This ironically led to an influx of support for communism, as the people were alienated and resented US for forcibly moving them. This caused greater instability in the South and thus greater US involvement.
Domino Theory:
Evidence 1 – There was a continuation of Eisenhower’s policy as by 1962 Kennedy was a strong believer in the domino theory, the idea that communist control of South Viernam would expose the states of Indonesia and Malaysia to communist influence. This would cause South-East Asia to fall to communism and the US would have to forfeit overseas bases.
Analyse 1- The geographical importance of Vietnam was never questioned by Kennedy, therefore, this reason was a driver behind his motive for getting involved in Vietnam so he could ensure its security.
The USA was more responsible than the USSR for the crisis over Cuba in the years 1961 to 1962’ Assess the validity of this view.
- Kennedy announced the “quarantine” on the 20th of October 1962. This increased tensions because Khrushchev show this as an act of war, however, he did not react abruptly to it.
Agree
The Bay of Pigs fiasco in April 1961, this highlighted to the Cubans and the USSR that the USA was plotting to get rid of Castro, which increased the paranoia of Castro.
- In November 1961, Kennedy initiated operation mongoose to overthrow Castro. The USA began military manoeuvres in the Caribbean, suggesting that an invasion of Cuba was near.
Impact - This feared the USSR and caused them to place the nuclear missiles in Cuba for their protection in 1962, therefore starting the crisis.
Disagree
- Jan 1962, the Soviets began to secretly install nuclear weapons into Cuba.
The USA found out about this on the 14th of October 1962, as a spy plan provided evidence of the missiles in Cuba.
By doing it secretly to the Americans this was seen as a Russian plot to attack the USA using nuclear weapons from their “backyard”.
Evidence 2 – Despite the “quarantine” coming into effect on the 21st of october 1962, the Soviets ships were still bound for Cuba. In the short term this nearly caused the eruption of war because if the ships kept going the American navy would have to choice put to fire. However, this was only a short-term increase in tensions because the ships received a message ordering it to turn around.
The main reason why the United States entered the Korean War was in order to defend South Korea’ Assess the validity of this view.
Defend South Korea:
Evidence 1 – USA wanted to protect South Korea as it had been supported by the United States since 1945, therefore, Truman called for the United Nations’ help which was a crucial test of the UN’s ability to respond to aggression and maintain international peace and security which North Korea were held to have violated. After this authorisation, US troops were deployed in Korea June 27, 1950.
Analysis 1 – This removed the possibility of the USA appearing to be unilaterally implementing containment on a global scale. Intervention under the guise of UN action removed US responsibility and enabled a coordinated international response to help protect South Korea who USA had promised to protect. Truman also saw this as a perfect opportunity to practice collective security since it failed against Hitler. Therefore, the US aim of bringing UN into South Korean conflict was aimed at the protection of South Korea.
Evidence 2 – the US wanted to protect the South from Communism which they considered to be an unacceptable ideology and against the ideals and freedoms of democracy which they had wanted to establish in South Korea. Kim Il Sung was a communist leader who had spent time in USSR where he could’ve been potentially groomed as a leader of post-war Korea, he wanted to unite Korea under communism and in March 1949 he asked Stalin to support him in an invasion of South Korea.
Counter Argue- Whilst this clearly threatened the US aims for a democratic south, South Korea ultimately failed to come under the January 12th 1950 ‘Perimeter Speech’. This outlined the exclusion of South Korea from a U.S.“defense perimeter” that runs from Japan to the Philippines, those within the perimeter were guaranteed US military protection. This indicates that despite US’ commitment to South Korea, this was more in honor than practice as they didn’t consider South Korea alone as a complete necessity to US interest at this time.
Protect Rest of Asia
Evidence 1 – belief that fall of Korea = Fall of Japan – June 1950 several of Truman’s leading advisors emphasised that communist control of South Korean airbases would jeopardise Japan’s security as it was only 100 miles away, ‘a dagger pointed at the heart of Japan’. Furthermore, May 1951 Dean Acheson took the view that North Korea’s purpose was to destabilise Japan and South East Asia.
Analyse 1 – Japan was considered the most important Asian country in regard to US national security, it was the key to the balance of power in the region and enabled the US to establish a foothold through military bases in Japan which could be used to deploy troops to fight for the containment of communism. Therefore, this fear certainly contributed to the US
Evidence 2 - the US’s main concern was to stop the expansion of Communism in Asia; they believed that if South Korea fell to Communism, that the rest of Asia would also fall to Communism (articulated by Eisenhower as the domino theory in 1954)
Domestic Pressure:
Evidence 1- McCarthyism – helped promote a shift of US policy away from a Eurocentric focus and towards the ‘Asia first’ standpoint following the loss of China in 1949. He contended that containment had already consolidated the West’s position in Europe, but Asia was less secure.
Evidence 2 - the USA was already worried about China having gone Communist in 1949; the Democrats were accused by Republicans of having ‘lost China’ and so Truman had to take action in Korea so that he would not be seen as ‘soft on Communism’. The USA was already changing its policy with regard to Japan to ensure that it acted as a bulwark to spread of communism such as the 1951 bilateral security treaty.
