Us foreign policy in terms of Berlin,Korea and Cuba 1945-1989

Question 1

introduction
(Conflicting political ideologies)

Answer 1

⚫Events crucial in shaping US foreign policy
⚫After WW2- 2 superpowers emerged-USSR+US
⚫Tensions developed due to conflicting political ideologies
USSR=communist regime, while US=capitalist regime
⚫Truman established policy of containment:US would have to help any nation under potential threat of communism-to limit spread of communism
⚫Policy of containment=2 main factors=Truman doctrine+Marshall plan
Truman Doctrine aimed to provide political help to any countries fighting communism
⚫Furthermore US promised they ‘’WOULD SUPPORT FREE PPL WHO ARE RESTRICTING SUBJECTION BY ARMED MINORITIES’
⚫Marshall plan aimed to assist Europe’s economic recovery
US FP centred around containment
⚫Berlin blockade prominent example of start of Cold war as well as US FP

Question 2

Berlin 1

Answer 2

-Events of blockade prime example -one of 1st times policy of containment was evaluated
-After WW2 Germany divided+split into 4 zones amongst each allies:France,Britain,US,USSR
West Ger.
-Adopted new currency- Deutschmark (rebuild economy)
-Stalin strongly opposed
-27 june 1948,stalin shut off all road,rail,water ties between west berlin+west ger.
-2 million ppl only had enough food for 1 month
-General Clay against this +believed domino theory- ‘WHEN WEST BERLIN FALLS,WESTERN GERMANY WILL BE NEXT’
-Policy of containment-western allies airlifted food,water,medicine
-Stalin surrendered -11 months in airlift
-Humanitarian efforts by US allowed them to take moral high ground
-soviets+US never again square off as directly as they did during airlift
-Blockade huge victory for US FP as it demonstrated success of a passive approach to opposing communist aggression

Question 3

Berlin 2

Answer 3

-US achieved 1st cold war win-influenced future FP policy decisions
-After blockade USseen as defenders of west berlin,while soviets seen as the aggressor for starving 2 mill. Ppl
-NATO(national atlantic treaty organisation) founded 1949 to defend members at time including US+11 western countries,against potential soviet attacks
-NATO-agreements ‘an attack on one means an attack on all’
-Stalin responded w. Warsaw pact
-SU tested atomic bomb August 1949
-US countered by creating hydrogen bomb more powerful
-Speech in Missouri by Churchill described an ‘iron curtain’ descending across Europe.
-Rising tensions resulted in growth of both superpowers after the arms race during the development of their bombs
-This race encouraged US to stand up for what they believe in
-However they didn’t wait to use containment in another country

Question 4

Korea 1

Answer 4

-As events settled,an incident in Korea emerged.
-The previous French toJapanese colony was divided along the 38th parallel
-SK was allocated to US and NK gIven USSR
-A demilitarised zone was established between NK+SK
-Military action 1950 rose when NK led under KIM 11 SUNG invaded SK whilst armed w. Soviet weapons
-NK quickly colonised SK
-Truman responded +gave aid to SK
-Truman increased is presidential power by committing arms+troops however he refused to send bombs to SK
-US+ 12 troops (diff. Countries in UN) were led by General MacArthur
-UN Forces invaded lnchon behind NK lines+invasion collapsed
-1953 agreement formed mainly due to new leadership eisenhower ,both US+USSR wanted end war

Question 5

Korea 2

Answer 5

-US was willing to follow cold war towards asia to show that containment wasn’t confined to Europe
-1952 eisenhower elected
-New eisenhower administration gave strong sungals that helped US military
-He was hoping to gain Asian allies
-Korean war cost US 120 billion dollars
-US become made involved in Asia due to developing domino theory
-Eisenhower followed policy of containment
-He set up SEATO(Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) 1954 to build up alliances
-This exacerbated east-west tensions
-Death Stalin crucial factor of the pressure to end war
-Policy of containment caused negative effects in NK

Question 6

cuba 1

Answer 6

-Events Brought cold war threats to US doorstep
-Caused US to take an aggressive approach to FP
-1959 cuban dictator Bastista was overthrown by Fidel Castro who wanted a communist regime
-1961 Kennedy approved plan created by eisenhower to help overthrow castro
-A CIA force of 1500 men landed at bay of pigs-forces outnumbered 300 -1
-Trade embargo of sugar placed on cuba
-Summer 1962 USSR built missile base in cuba despite large manufacturing area +dense populations areas
-A US U2 spy plane photographed the building process
-JFK set up national security
-These photos made soviets public image suffer as there was ‘ALARMING BUT CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE’ against them
-Cuban quarantine placed for 13 days created the brink of what would have been a world altering nuclear conflict

Question 7

cuba 2

Answer 7

-Period of détente arose due to thawing relations US+USSR
-Phone line was set up in case of emergency
-1963 US+USSR both signed a test ban treaty prohibiting the trail of nuclear bombs
-US quietly dismantled missiles in turkey
-Outcome of Cuba crisis was personal triumph for JFK as his approval rating rose over 70%
-Cuba terrified JFK +Krushchev both realised how close world came to nuc war
-JFK wanted reduce role of nuc weapons in US FP
-Show US willing to increased tensions but not willing to involve themselves in war
-US had aggressive approach to FP but with their limitations

Question 8

conclusion

Answer 8

-These 3 diff. Events collectively helped to mould US FP during cold war highlighting the success+setbacks that US faced
-From studying the cold war-it’s evident that cuba was the profound incident tat dominated US FP creating a ‘FIRM,VIGILANT,CONTAINMENT’
-The cold war has left an enduring legacy that created dynamics of US FP.