Session 6 - The Us and the World (1941-1969) Flashcards
Explain the Pearl Harbor ?
In December 7th of 1941, Japan attacked the the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor, in Honolulu. This led to the intervention of the US in the war, it became a war of five continents and seven seas. It led to a shift from US Nutrality to interventionnisme = dwarf to military giant.
How to get people enrolling for the Army ?
Trough propaganda by boosting public opinion. With the use of cinema, with the movie “Mission to Moscow” in 1943, which depicts a former enemy as an ally (USSR), need tocooperate/humanization/reinterpretation of history.
Effects on domestic policy and institutions ?
Création of new federal agencies (War production Broad = entire manufaturing system is devolved for the war effort; Joint Chief of Staff, War Manpower Commission)
Risiing suspicion of Japenese-Americans led to interment camps
What was the Yalta Conférence ?
The Yalta Conférence of Frebruary 1945, the allies divide Germany into 4 zones of Occupations and spilt Korea into two zones of influence : Am/Soviets/
What was the Potsdam Conférence ?
The Potsdam Conference in July to August, 1945: after Germany’s capitulation. Truman was elected POTUS and they finished to set up the end of the war + Germany was disarmed.
What was the Saudi-deal ?
US-Saudi deal : a long-term relationship, so the US have guarentees to have an affordable oil supplies.
What was the Hiroshima and Nagasaki ?
Regarding Japan: Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. For many historians, using the atomic bomb was not only a way to secure the victory but also to warn the Soviet Union that the US was overwhelmingly superior.
What happened at the post of the War ?
The Unrevaling of the Grand Alliance (US,UK, USSR) the war aime were acheviez and each particpant went back to defedning their interests :
-( Opposition bet socialism and capitalism resurfaces
- Property as a human right vs. Abolition of property
- Decentralized system vs. Centralized system)
Explain the Vietnam War
1964-1975 : Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing President Johnson to take any measures he believed were necessary to retaliate and to promote the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia.
If the US loses Vietnam (becomes fully communist), countries around would also turn communists.
Ho Chi Minh Trail: system of mountains in the western part of Vietnam used by Vietnamese to go to south Vietnam and this trail was discovered by the US and bombed at multiple occasions to stop soldiers and supplies from entering the country and going south. Such raids were recorded by American media and rumors of Johnson becoming too much as an emperor. Is it one of the main disasters in American history.
What is the doctrine Truman ?
The doctrine Truman is a containing poly against communism + need to support Europe once again, the US need Europe has interests there
Truman tried to scare people to gain support for interventionism.
3 main dimensions of containment:
- Economic
- Military
-Cultural
What are the 3main dimensions of continent ?
- Economic : Financial assistance to Turkey and Greece, Plan Marshall 13 billion $, in order to help Europe recovering from War, with no obligation to pay back
Insittuions for popotins capitalisme and free trade (GATT/World Bank) 3 pillars : commercial liberalism, libéral institutionalism and democratic peace - Military : Blockade Airlift Berlin and European Comman in 1952, SEATO
-Cultural : Congress for cultural freedom funded by CIA, support for Labor unions, Programs like “Foreign Leader Grants”
What is the rising Idea of the US as an empire/hegemon liberal ?
According to Ikenberry, the US is not an empire, with its many institutions (economic and political) and international systems, where négociations prevails and the system is not closed.
Explain the Korean War
From 1950 to 1953, North Korea attacked South and the newly created UN demanded that NK forces withdraw and if the request was ignored the main UN forces should intervene and troops will be sent. Truman said that because of lots of pressure he believed that communist expansion in Korea could be stopped at a pretty low cost. US military supremacy was challenged bc can’t use atomic bomb bc USSR had acquired an atomic bomb too. Idea of eminent nuclear war : development of many fallout shelter, many advertising campaigns. This is how the Truman era ended.
Explain Eisenhower Presidency
1953-1961 : Roll Back poly against communiste, went further than Truman by pushing it back. Conducted a prudent foreign policy. The death of Staline, led to Kruschchev incliné to négociations, the US and USSR agreed on transparence and exchanges.
Peaceful coexistence in the 1950 : e “Kitchen debate”, 1959 btw Nixon and Khrushchev, a séries of exchanges about the merits and flaws of their economic and public society.
Explain J.F Kennedy Presidency
The younguest and 1st catholic president. The issue was the missile gap : général belief that the soies was developing much quicker missiles/atomic weapons than the U.S.
Bay of Pigs invasion (1961) : failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro power in Cuba, this plan fell on Kennedy, chose to follow but was not a success. The soviet ended up with missiles on Cuba, very close to Florida.
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) : The soviet ended up with missiles on Cuba, very close to Florida. Near break of a nuclear war, finding an agreement the soviets will put their missiles only if the us promised to not invade the island.
