US Policy of Containment Flashcards
Causes of containment
China becoming communist in 1949
Soviets developing A Bomb in 1949
Domino theory
Communist control over E. Europe (iron curtain)
McCarthyism - second wave of red scare in 40s / 50s
Alliances
US:
• SEATO - south east Asia
• CENTO - Central Asia + Middle East
• NATO - Europe (1949)
USSR:
• Warsaw Pact (1955)
Cause of Korea (DUCKS)
Domino Theory - China turned communist in ‘49
Undermine Communism
Cold War - was change of fighting communism w/o fighting Russia directly
Kim Il Sung visited Stalin - ‘49, convinced Stalin he could conquer SK
Syngman Rhee - ‘50, Rhee boasted he’d attack NK, then NK invaded
US reaction of North Korean invasion
Became determined to contain communism after China became communist in ‘49
Domino theory
1950 - NSC68 recommends US begin ‘roll back’
US was able to secure UN backing for defending SK’s independence + removing communists
Events of Korean War
• June 1950 - NKPA (North Korean People’s Army) attacked + easily defeated ROKs (Reupblic of Korea’s army)
• June 1950 - US persuaded UN to support SK
• October 1950 - General MacArthur invades NK (evidence Truman wanted to rid Korea of communism)
• November 1950 - 20,000 Chinese troops attacked MacArthur, supplied by USSR
• December 1950 - 500,000 recaptured NK and advanced into SK
• March 1951 - MacArthur reached 38th parallel; went against Truman and UN but threatening attack on China; wanted to leave ‘containment’ and start ‘roll back’
• March 1951 - MacArthur sacked
• June 1951 - stalemate
• January 1953 - Eisenhower elected and threatens to use A Bomb
• July 1953 - truce signed
Korean War’s effects on US policy
Intensified Cold War
US saw Korea as evidence that communist attack on Europe was a real threat
Showed Americans that soldiers weren’t enough to contain communism —> needed allies —> NEATO, SEATO (1954)
Alliances showed US were committed to fighting communism
Arms race intensified
Consequences of Korean War
• 30,000 US troops died
• 70,000 South Korean soldiers died
• 500,000 civilians died
• 780,000 N.K and Chinese soldiers and civilians
• Led to formation of SEATO (SOUTH EAST ASIAN TREATY ORGANISATION) in 1954 —> increased tension due to US proving commitment to containing communism
• brought China closer to USSR
Tension in Cold War in early 60s
• Communist Fidel Castro became leader of Cuba in 1959 —> Cuba is 90 miles off Florida; US had lost trading partner
• U2 spy plane shot down in 1960
• Berlin Wall, 1961
• JFK elected in November 1960
• Communism in Americas violated Monroe doctrine
Bay of Pigs, April 1961
• CIA covert force of 1500
• trained Cuban exiles to overthrow Castro
• failure
• troops were killed or imprisoned
• Castro agreed on May 1962 to allow Soviet missiles in Cuba
Post - Bay of Pigs
• USSR armed Castro
• July 1962 - Cuba has best army in Latin America
• USSR hadn’t put nukes in any satellite states + Cuba was too risky
• JFK would prevent Cuba being a military base ‘by any means necessary’
The Thirteen Days
• U2 flight provides clear evidence of missiles pointed at US
• 22 October - Kennedy addresses nation, announcing establishment of quarantine zone
• 23 October - Khrushchev calls it a serious threat to peace
• 24 October - US military goes to DEFCON 2
• 25 October - stalemate reached; Kennedy blames USSR
26 October - Khrushchev offers to remove missiles in exchange of US not invading Cuba
27 October - Khrushchev wants US to remove missiles in Turkey
28 October - crisis ends
Positive outcomes of the Cuban Missile Crisis
• made both sides work together towards Détente
• missiles in Cuba were dismantled and US missiles in Turkey weren’t renewed
• hotline established in 1963 eased tensions
• Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963) outlawed nuclear testing on land
• US agreed to trade grain to USSR to ease poor harvests
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968) limited spread of nukes
• US emerged with its pride
• USSR emerged w ally in Americas
• SALT 1 - agreed to not build any ICBMs
Negative outcomes of Cuban Missile Crisis
• USSR tried to catch up w US in arms race —> 1965, equal amount of nukes
• France withdrew from NATO in ‘66 due to thought of being dragged into nuclear war
• Khrushchev forced out of office in 1964
• Castro remained a thorn in US’ side
How did US get involved with Vietnam
Backing the french (1945-1954) - $500m per year to the French against Ho Chi Minh and North Vietnam
Preventing elections (1956) - didn’t want communists to win —> domino theory
Financial support for Diem (1955-1963) - helped set up Republic of South Vietnam; unpopular leader, not Buddhist; gave Diem $1.6
Military advisors - 17,000 advisors during JFK’s administration
Rolling Thunder (1965) - 3 year bombing campaign
How involvement increased by president in Vietnam
Truman 1945-52 - USA support french financially in Vietnam
Eisenhower 1952-60 - supported Diem and Republic of South Vietnam
Kennedy 1960-63 - increased commitment (800 advisors —> 17,000)
LBJ 1963-68 - prepared to commit full scale conflict
Nixon 1969-1974 - ended it
