(The end of post-war euphoria) Anti-communism and the Cold War context Flashcards
What was the context of the 1920s regarding communism?
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People consumed by fear of it spreading after WW1.
Red Scare was direct response to creation of the world’s 1st communist govt.
Palmer raids led to arrest of 6,000 immigrants suspected of communist sympathies.
Why did the fear of communism re-emerge after WW2?
The post war division of Europe by an ‘iron curtain’.
What did President Truman do in 1947 to stop the global spread of communism?
Introduced the Truman Doctrine which pledged American support to any country under threat of a communist take-over.
What was the Marshall Plan in 1948?
$17 billion was divided across European countries to keep their economies capitalist.
What did Truman create in 1947 amid growing concerns regarding communist activity?
What did this do?
The Loyalty Review Board
Introduced loyalty & security checks on federal employees to ensure they weren’t communist sympathisers, questioned on personal beliefs & who they associated with at work & privately.
What happened as a result of the Loyalty Review Board, that introduced new loyalty and security checks on all federal employees?
1947-1951 = 3,000-6,000 federal employees resigned & 300-1,200 dismissed.
What had changed in 1949 that contributed to fear of communism?
USSR announced it also had nuclear weapons which seemed like proof US military secrets were leaked.
What happened after USSR announced it had nuclear weapons, which seemed as justification that US military secrets had been leaked?
Relationships between the two former allies deteriorated into a Cold War.
