Containment Of Communism

Question 1

What was McCarthyism? Was he right?

Answer 1

• thought USSR had conspiracy to get com sympathisers Kent positions in american life
• though he overstated their influence in US, overseas events did show that com getting stronger, Red China 1949.
• US worried about domino effect and thought cominform helping SE Asian countries become com

Question 2

What had happened in Korea before the war?

Answer 2

• ruled by Japan til 1945. Afterwards USSR took top and US bottom.
• north com and south not democratic but anti com. Hostility btw 2
• UN involved in establishment of SK gov

Question 3

What happened in the Korean war? (Before UN landing)

Answer 3

• NKs, lead by Kim Il Sung overran south, trying to make it com, helped by R equipment
• meeting of security council UN
• US put pressure on UN to condemn and tell NK to withdraw troops. If UN hadn’t done it, US would have. Normally USSR would veto call for action, but had walked out over China’s membership of UN, ∴ US, as main contributor for budget, could influence them
• UN told NK to withdraw to 38th parallel, as had broken world peace. They didn’t. US asked to take control, they sent in troops

Question 4

What happened in the Korean war? (after landing)

Answer 4

• Sept 1950, UN troops (but vastly American. Branded as UN for legitimacy) landed at Inchon, and helped SK troops.
• Lead by MacArthur, pushed past 38th parallel, despite warnings from Mao that china would join war
• Oct, reached Yalu river, clear wanted to wipe out com from K entirely
• China joined (Jan 1951), as M wanted to prove that com could beat cap, and liked NK as a ‘buffer’ state.
• Un position collapsed and pushed past 38th parallel

Question 5

How did the Korean war end? What was the outcome?

Answer 5

• peace talks began Jun 1951, but broke down
• US bombed north to make them negotiate
• 1952, Eisenhower became pres, and he wanted to end war
• july 1953 armistice signed
• US had managed to hold the line, but not stop com, ∴ stalemate still in place

Question 6

What was MacArthur like? What happened to him?

Answer 6

• no-nonsense approach. Wanted to remove com from K entirely
• wanted to invade into China and even use nuclear weapons, but Truman felt saving SK good enough
• april 1951 sacked by Truman as he wanted just containment

Question 7

Was containment the right policy?

Answer 7

• some felt Macarthur’s aggressive approach not enough, and wanted to take the fight to the USSR
• US gov set up series of anti com alliances, e.g SEATO (south east Asia) and CENTO (central)
• USSR felt threatened ∴ accused US of encircling them and set up Warsaw Pact 1955 btw USSR and com east European countries

Question 8

What was the coexistence in the late 50s to early 60s like?

Answer 8

• 1955 CW entered new era. Khrushchev the new leader talked about peaceful coexistence
• 1955 K met w Tito of Y to make peace saying ‘different roads to communism” West thought he’s no longer insist all com countries took orders from Russia
• met 1955 and 1960 (first in 10yrs) not much achieved, but got talking
• however not all leaders convide by K as:
➯ Hungary, put down anti com rising killing 30,000
➯ Aug 1961 built Berlin Wall

Question 9

What happened in the arms race?

Answer 9

• US 1st atomic bomb 1945 didn’t tell USSR
• after det clear that if was weapon of future
• USSR create down Aug 1949- 4yrs before US estimates
• h bomb (1000x powerful) created 1952. 1953 USSR creates their own
• U-2 Crisis 1960: US spy plane shot down in Russia. Eisenhower denied it then R produced pilot as evidence. K demanded apology, e didn’t give ∴ k let peace talks he was supposed to be attending w A
• US + USSR nuclear test ban treaty Aug 1963

Question 10

What is the background of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 10

• US owned most businesses and had large naval base. 1959, after 3yr civil war, Fidel Castro replaced pro-us dictator Bautista
• for 3yrs remained frosty relationship. Let US keep naval base. Said wanted to rule wo interference, but US knew USSR delivering arms since 1960
• jan 1961 US broke off relations, as clear they wouldn’t tolerate a soviet satellite state in their sphere of influence
• April 1961 US supplied arms to exiles trying to overthrown Castro. Bay of Pigs invasion failed badly. Cuba + USSR thought this showed US unwilling to get involved directly
➯ showed USSR they were weak but made Castro + K suspicious of US
• Ken thought US policy to blame for strength of com as backed hated Batista

Question 11

What did the USSR do in Cuba?

Answer 11

• 1962 began supplying w weapons- US seemed to tolerate
However wouldn’t tolerate missiles
• 11 spent USSR told US wouldn’t put nukes on cuba
• 14 oct US spy planes took photos of Cuba showing nukes being built there by the Russians
• 16th, Kennedy told. Formed ExComm

Question 12

What could the US have done in Cuba?

Answer 12

• nothing: US had bigger arsenal ∴ USSR wouldn’t risk using nukes but shows weaknesses had sent warning
• selective air attack: destroys missiles but mightn’t destroy all and if soldiers killed USSR could retaliate. Also, no warning ∴ immoral
• diplomacy: avoid conflict, but if forced to back down- weakness
• blockade: show US serious, bout not act of war. Could still do other stuff if failed. Burden on K to act next. Wouldn’t solve main prob- missiles still on Cuba

Question 13

What did the USA do in the cuban missile crisis?

Answer 13

• 16 oct formed ExComm to advise him
• 22 oct ken announces Blockade. K refuses to observe it and doesn’t mention missiles, accusing US of piracy
• 24- blockade begins. Soviet ships w missiles turn around, but R still building the bases
• 26- ken gets personal letter from K saying missiles purely defensive, and saying would dismantle sites if Ken lifted blockade and didn’t invade
• 27- K sends another letter, this time demanding that his condition is that US remove missiles from turkey
• Ken accepts terms from first letter, but secretly removes turkey missiles
• 28 oct K agreed
• 20 nov russian bombers leave C, and ken lifted blockade

Question 14

Why did the USSR put missiles on Cuba?

Answer 14

• must’ve known would cause crisis. Didn’t camouflage sites
1- test US. Would they back off or face up?
2- wanted upper hand in arms race. So concerned they’d seize any opp. Knew US unlikely to first strike
3- depend Cuba
4- Trap US, wanted to draw them into a nuclear war
5- bargain w them. If nukes on Cuba could agree to remove them for US concessions

Question 15

What was the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 15

• missiles withdraw, but Cuba stayed com and highly armed
• increased co-cop. Hotline btw K+K set up, and 1963 signed Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Start of the end of the Cold War
• Ken improved rep and K seemed like moe of a peacemaker
• US removed Jupiter missiles from Turkey
• cuba left alone by US

Question 16

What were the origins of the Vietnam war?

Answer 16

• rules by f until fell to J during WWII. Anti-J movement (Viet Minh) emerged under Ho Chi Minh and had N. V by end of WWII
• F wanted V back ∴ 1946 war broke out btw F + VM
➯ Guerilla. French raids against peasants ∴ support for VM
• HCM kept quiet about being com to get US support as anti empires
• 1949 Coms take over in China + help VM ∴ to US puppets of Mao ∴ gave $ to F to set up gov
• 1954 Dien Bien Phu. Large group of trench paratroopers easily defeated by peasants, despite rich cap state. F pulled out
• 1954 geneva peace conference- split N + S V. US worried Domino effect

Question 17

Why did the US become involved in Vietnam?

Answer 17

• believed in domino theory for wanted to contain Com
• US blocked election happening as worried com. (V would be 1st domino)1955 helped Ngo Din Diem get to power. Anti-com, but v corrupt and treated peasants and buddhists badly
• helped Diem ∵ knew no-one better. Overthrown by army 63, US helped them.
• these bad govs increased support for VC. Peasants who didn’t support faced intimidation

Question 18

When and why did US start sending in troops?

Answer 18

• VC started a guerilla war atatcking S vietnamese officials/gov forces and US bases
• 62 Ken sent in advisers to help train S V forces(ARVN). Also send $ and modern weapons. These troops increased 1963-4, but didn’t want war
• successor LBJ was ready for war.
• HCM started sending in NVA(the NV army) ∴ LBJ wanted to escalate involvement
• aug 1964, Vietnamese patrol boats fired on US ships in gulf of Tonkin. Congrats passed GoT resolution, letting US full scale war
• ordered bombing of NV in 1965
• 8 mar 1965 3,500 marines land at Da Nang, w general Westmoreland

Question 19

What was the Tet offensive?

Answer 19

• 1968 VC launched big attack at Tet new year. Even took US embassy in saigon
• in some ways bad for VC as thought people would rise up w them + 10,000 died. 42% killed VC and 24% NVA. Agreed to peace talks and from now on NVA did most fighting as VC never recovered
• turning point for US. Had 500,000 troops + lotta $ ∴ how com launched major offensive? Though they retook towns used lots of power and many civs died. Was this right? Americans thought had been deceived by Army, as War wouldn’t be won for ages ∴ wanted to end it quickly. Gen WML refused more troops, and Nixon the republican candidate promised to end the war

Question 20

Who has the advantage re: soldiers?

Answer 20

VC!: volunteers- fighting for national independence + often vengeful for treated badly in war. Not trained, but didn’t go home after 1yr ∴ became experienced at jungle warfare. Jungles ∴ hard for US, and no big battles. Prepared to accept big casualties, as its their homland and didn’t need to worry about public opinion like LBJ
US: mostly young + Raw average age 19. Most died in 1st moth and if you got a bit experienced, sent home after 1 yr ∴ inexperienced. Conscripts, fighting com but didn’t directly affect lives. Marines better trained. Soldiers well armed and equipped

Question 21

Who had the advantage re: support from the population?

Answer 21

VC!: told to be courteous and respectful, ad helped in fields but killed those who opposed, or worked in gov. Failed during Tet offensive
US: didn’t have their support. Civ casualties v high in search and destroy missions ∴ made some support VC. My Lai massacre, 300-400 cigs killed but no VC found. What US wanted different from what civs wanted ∴ somehow had to persuade the French, and the corrupt gov right

Question 22

Who had the advantage re: effective tactics?

Answer 22

VC!: guerilla wafare. Worked in small units and couldn’t tell apart from peasants. Retreated into tunnels/jungle when US attacked but then attacked when US retreated ∴ US fearful
US: Good in open warfare, e.g. LA Preng valley 2000 VC dead for 300 US, but search and destroy worked poorly, killed many civilians. Op rolling thunder- bomb supply lines + N V cities. Effective, but could only slow down not stop.14,000 planes shot down. Cost $100,000 to kill 1 VC (inc 75 bombs, 400 shells). Wanted ‘war of attrition’, but NV willing to accept massive losses and wear down US for as long as possible

Question 23

Who had the advantage re: equipment and technology?

Answer 23

US!: overwhelmed gainers superiority. Air dominance, op RT, toxic Napalm and Agent Orange as defoliants, helicopters to move around. Lots of troops + planes.(>1400 shot down 65-68) However, lots of this not much use in jungle warfare. Put too much faith in tech
VC: lots of arms from USSR e.g. Surface-to air missile, tanks ∴ could fight back, but more difficult to as had to be via Ho Chi Minh trail

Question 24

What was the peace movement doing in America?

Answer 24

• war unpopular as ppl saw horrifying images in media- Tet offensive
made even more so
• also heavy casualties, 58,000 troops killed
• many thought war immoral, US didn’t have right to impose its views on Vietnam
• ppl annoyed that well off young men could avoid draft whilst poorer ppl, mostly black, did most of fighting
• demonstrations, e.g. kent State University, 4 students killed by national guard 1970
• people began to draft dodge, e.g going to uni, moving to another country
• movement grew bigger after bombing of Cambodia 1970
• some veterans opposed it, e.g. Washington Veteran’s March 1971, some veterans threw away bravery medals

Question 25

What happened in the My Lai massacre?

Answer 25

• mar 1968, US soldiers killed 300-400 ppl in my Lai, had been told all would be VC as peasants would have gone to market ∴ thought had to kill all left. But in reality all civs and no VC found
• army treated as success, and said only 20 killed
• yr later Ronald Ridenhour sent letter to US politicians saying what had actually happened + life mag published photos
• investigation started. 10 charged but only William Calley found guilty of 22 murders
• revelations shocked US and 700,000 ppl demonstrated 1969 nov

Question 26

How did the war end?

Answer 26

• after Tet offensive LBJ realised couldn’t win militarily ∴ reduced moving on north and mar 1969 started peace talks
• 1968 nixon elected, worked w kissinger to end involvement but didn’t want to look like giving up ∴ 1- from 69 peace negotiations w s V and Le Duc Tho, 2- ‘vietnamisation’ of war effort, building up their troops, taking out US ones, 3- bombed N V and VC in cam to show not weak, 4-as war possible btw China + USSR they became friends w US and US asked them to put pressure on N V to end war
• Nixon invaded Cambodia and Laos in 1970 and 71 to disrupt HCM trail and stops bases there- lead to protests, seemed like escalation, not ending
• jan 1973, N + S V + Nixon signed peace agreement. Nixon pleased SV pres furious as seemed like leaving country at mercy of NV. ARVN left to fight by themself

Question 27

What happened in the fall of South Vietnam?

Answer 27

• apr 1975 S V fell to coms. Many civs tried to get onto US helicopters
• Nix had promised US military and $ but congress hadn’t allowed as waste of $ and S V gov corrupt and unpopular. Thieu angry
• Nix resigned bc watergate and Ford also couldn’t get congress support

Question 28

Did the US manage to contain the spread of Communism?

Answer 28

• fundamentally not very good.
• Though they managed to ‘hold the line’ at Cuba and N korea, these placed remained com
• failed even more so in Vietnam
• US got fed up of intervening overseas

Question 29

What were the causes of the Korean War?(CJD-KimS)

Answer 29

• Cold War: T realised USSR was competing for world domination w A. Comms getting powerful in east, e.g. China
• Japan: T worried that comms would take Japan
• Domino theory: if K fell so would other countries
• Kim Il Sung: visited S 1949. Persuaded him he could conquer the south. S worried about A but agreed. Kim also saw Mao, who agreed
• (trigger) 1950 Syngman Rhee boasted he’d attack N Korea. Good excuse for S koreans

Question 30

What were the causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

Answer 30

• Superpower tensions: tensions btw US and USSR, e.g. Nuclear testing, space race, arms race, Berlin Wall
• Fidel castro took power. Threatening as nearby, and he did a trade agreement to send sugar to russia in return for oil, machines + money. US stopped trading w C ∴ C nationalised all US owned comps
• Bay of Pigs. Meant Castro could ask for weapons to defend C from A

Question 31

What were the consequences of US failure in Vietnam?

Answer 31

• SV fell
• com spread to Laos and Cambodia but not thailand
• Nixon announced end of Truman Doctrine. Became more hostile to military involvement abroad
• blow to US pride. Seen as humiliating defeat of superpower
• effect on veterans