Increasing Cold War Tensions

Question 1

The Rosenberg’s

Answer 1

• Convicted of passing American nuclear secrets to USSR
• At this point USA under pressure as USSR created the nuke and also had an alliance with China

Question 2

Alger Hiss Affair

Answer 2

• A prominent member of Roosevelt’s pre-war and wartime government and accused by a journalist of being a communist
• When Hiss convicted Dean Acheson politically offered him support which suggested America’s leader had tints of communism in them

Question 3

The House of Un-American Activities Committee

Answer 3

• Founded in 1938 and became permanent from 1945 and purpose to investigate communist infiltration
• Those bought before the committee were innocent but served as sacrificial victims from paranoia
• Truman accused of being to soft on communism and the reason for the loss of China
  
  • Prime mover in this movement was Joseph McCarthy

Question 4

McCarthyism in USA

Answer 4

• House of Un-American Activities Committee had investigated numbers of high profile figures
• McCarthy orchestrated pressure on Truman to tighten up on communism
• Many targets not just in film industry but in State Department
• He also investigated Head of FBI Edgar Hoover
• McCarthy attacked the UN for favouring leftist and liberal causes

Question 5

Influence of McCarthyism on Britain and Europe

Answer 5

• McCarthy urged from moving from a eurocentric purpose to an ‘Asia first’ and viewed that containment had secured West’s position whereas Asia was less secure
• Prioritisation urgent especially after communist takeover in China
• McCarthy’s anti-communist rhetoric coincided with Truman’s reluctance to support Jiang Jieshi
• Britain could no longer manage its early pre-war role as the USA’s main partner in Europe
• Britain concerned as US aggressive approach to Korea might lead to USSR taking over Europe

Question 6

US Dominance in United Nations

Answer 6

• 50 original members 20 were drawn from Central and South American States, members from the Middle East were also pro-western included Iran, Iraq and Egypt
• US dominance further enhanced when they didn’t allow communist China to have a seat
• Executive side was the security council and consisted of USA, Britain, France, China and USSR

Question 7

Isolation of China

Answer 7

• Mao’s regime wasn’t recognised by the US but it was by Britain
• McCarthyism had little impact on British policy towards the far East
• China had alliance with USSR in 1950 which proved China to be a much greater power in the East
• This showed that US needed a power base in the East and this was Japan
• SIno-Soviet agreement was to benefit USSR as it was to secure them in the East and forced the US to review its policies
• US role in the east confirmed with the San Francisco peace treaty