Korean War and the United States and the Americas (review but skip it in the Exam) Flashcards
Discuss the diplomatic and political outcomes of the Korean War (NZUS agreement (1951)
While the USSR did not become directly involved in the Korean war, the conflict signaled the ‘need’ for increased militarization in both the USA and USSR.
- USA signed several defense treaties in the Pacific, including the ANZUS agreement (1951) (Australia, NZ, USA) and increased military aid to Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines
- The involvement of China as a belligerent force caused them to be viewed as less of a maverick force and more of a combined threat with the USSR to the USA.
Policies marked significant move away from outlined points in Kennan’s Long Telegram which focused on political and economic methods for containment in Europe
Korean events caused the US public to view China and the USSR as a potentially combined communist force intent on world domination.
Historian Derrick Murphy: The Truman Doctrine was applied to the eastern hemisphere in a similar respect to the way it was applied in Europe.
Peaceful coexistence
From 1953 - greater compromise with the USSR than the New Look policy might suggest
Eisenhower was skilled in personal diplomacy and Khruschev believed in flexibility.
Khruschev spoke of having ‘peaceful coexistence’ with the West. Suggested making Austria a neutral state. Removed all troops (Austria like Germany was divided into 4 occupation zones). Eisenhower agreed- May 1955: Austrian State Treaty signed
Wst also removed troops, some remained to help France who was scared of german revival.
May 1955- West Germany accepted NATO. Khruschev announced Warsaw Pact formation in retaliation (united Soviet Union with the whole eastern european bloc except Yugoslavia).
