Trumans Foreign Policy Flashcards
summary
Unprecedented prosperity, growing fears and tensions, growing intervention to stop communism, domestic tensions over race and industry
when did Truman become President
April 12th 1945
Yalta Conference
Feb 1945
agrees to split
Germany into 4 sections
have free elections in Eastern Europe and for USSR to join war against Japan.
Atomic Bomb
Truman learns of the Atomic Bomb and has the power to use it on Japan
Potsdam
-Truman, Atlee and Stalin.
-July-Aug 1945
-Confirmed split of Germany into 4 and Berlin into 4.
-Truman didn’t tell Stalin he had the atomic bomb.
-USSR had spread communism to Poland against America’s wishes.
Kennan’s Long Telegram
George Kennan is deputy ambassador to USSR—sends telegram on 22nd February 1946 explaining why USSR wouldn’t join world bank
—Describes how USSR cannot coexist with the USA, and must be contained to stop Communism spreading.
—Recommends USA do this through economic and diplomatic means
—Kennan is appointed as Chief of the Policy Planning Unit by SofS George Marshall, and is integral in design of Marshall Plan
Truman Doctrine
-Announced on 12th March 1947.
-In response to Greek Civil War and Communist threat in Turkey, Truman asks Congress to approve
$400 million in aid to both countries, they accept.
-Sets precedent of US help to threatened states through economic means.
Marshall Plan
-Designed by Marshall and Kennan—fulfilled economic containment recommended by Kennan
-Began in April 1948 and continued for four years
-Provided 17 billion dollars to European countries helping them rebuild after WWII
-Led to huge growth, with average increase of 35% growth in European countries
Berlin Blockade
-Germany split into 4 in 1945.
-June 1948 GB, Fr and the USA united their countries as Trizonia, introduced new currency.
-Stalin felt left out so he decided to block trade and access to his section of East Berlin.
-The Blockade lasted 318 days.
-USA responded by sending 275,000 planes transporting 1.5 million tons of supplies over the 318 days.
-A plane landed every three minutes at Berlin’s airport.
-Stalin eventually gives up in 12 May 1949
NATO
-Established in April 1949- influenced by Berlin Blockade
-National Atlantic Treaty organisation- ensured European countries knew they were protected due to establishment of system of Collective Security
-Member states: USA, UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland
-Effectively meant that the USSR could not invade any of the above countries without US involvement
NSC 68
-Dean Acheson becomes SofS in Jan 1949, was much more militaristic than Marshall
-USSR get A-Bomb in August 1949, in reaction Kennan’s theories had to be readdressed
China Becoming Communist
-October 1st 1949- Mao proclaims the People’s Republic of China, a new communist state
-Chiang Kai-Shek and defeated nationalists escape to Taiwan.
-Truman had spent $2 Billion supporting them.
-Truman is tarnished for having ‘lost China’. Many say he should have done more.
Involvement in Indochina
-After shock of China- Truman decides to support France over the Vietnamese Freedom Fighters of Ho Chi Minh.
-He was worried Chi Minh would be Stalin’s puppet.
-Begins funding in May 1950.
-He eventually agrees to cover 78% of French fees for fighting and controlling the area.
-He sends MAAG (Military Advisory Assistance Group) to assist the French in their fight.
-This all increases in wake of Korean War.
Korean War
-N. Korea became communist.
-S. Korea was capitalist.
-On 25th June, 1950 N. Korea invaded S.Korea with great success.
-In response to this USA got the UN to support S.Korea.
-Led by Douglas Macarthur and pushed N.Korea back over the 38th parallel- nearly defeating her.
-This decision to go beyond was known as ‘rollback’
-China then pushed the S.Korean’s back with military force.
-They recaptured N.Korea and went into S.Korea.
-The Americans landed more troops and drove the Chinese back to the 38th parallel.
-The war ended in 1953, with a return to the status quo
-36,914 americans died
-initial aim of saving korea successful but communism was not rolled back
domestic problems
demobilisation
labour unions
