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(1) History: Cold War (To The Brink Of Nuclear War: International Relations 1945-1963) > Widening of the Cold War (1949-55) > Flashcards

Widening of the Cold War (1949-55) Flashcards

1
Q

What happened to China from 1949? Which party became the leader?

  • Why was this a threat to the USA’s foreign policy?
  • What made communist China a big threat to the West?
A
  • communist revolution; People’s Republic of China (PRC)
  • influence of communism was beginning to spread in Asia
  • Threats:
    • Military alliance with USSR in Feb. 1950
    • communist North Korea invaded South Korea - Korean War begins
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2
Q

What did Japan accept following the Potsdam Declaration in Aug. 1945?

  • What were the USA aims carried out in Japan?
  • How could the USA achieve these aims?
A
  • full occupation by the USA and its allies
  • Aims:
    • demilitarisation and democratisation of Japan to neutralise them as an aggressor/imperial power
    • prevent USSR from expanding - policy of containment in Asia
  • economic and political reform in Japan
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3
Q
  • What methods did the USA use to ensure political and economical reform in Japan?
  • What peace treaty was signed? When? Why was it significant?
  • What were the main terms within the treaty? (claims, sovereignty)
A
  • Political:
    • new Liberal constitution
    • rehabilitation of Japanese right-wing politicians
      Economical:
    • Taxation, regulation of trade, wages
    • Membership in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT): multinational agreement in 1947 - minimise tariffs and maximise international trade
  • San Francisco Treaty; September 1951; significant = US can contain communism
  • Terms:
    • Japan renounced claims on Korea and Taiwan
    • Allies recognised the full sovereignty of Japanese people
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4
Q
  • In return of the San Francisco Treaty, what treaty was Japan required to sign? When?
  • What did this give the USA? (military control?)
  • From 1954, how many self defence forces were dispatched into Japan following its rearmament? Why?
A
  • US-Japan Security Treaty Act; 1951
  • gave the USA:
    • unrestricted use of military bases in Japan
    • can veto Japanese offers of military bases to other countries
    • use of military force to intervene in internal affairs in Japan
  • 140,000; Japanese military feared communist expansion that had already happened in North Korea - containment was crucial
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5
Q
  • Following the Chinese Civil War, who fled to Taiwan? Which leader did the USA support? Who was he the leader of?
  • Why did the USA support them in secret?
A
  • Guomindang (nationalists); USA supported Jiang Jieshi - who was leader of Guomindang (nationalists)
  • to prevent the communist Sino-Soviet alliance from expanding
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6
Q
  • What was announced in Jan. 1950? Led by who?
  • What was it? What was the significance of it?
  • Why was it criticised?
A
  • Defensive Perimeter Speech; Acheson (Secretary of State)
  • a military defence for Japan from the Aleutian Islands to the Philippines; built a wall against communism
  • omitted Korea
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7
Q
  • What was NSC-68?

What were its main objectives?

  • Why was NSC-68 launched? When?
A
  • document that laid out an American national security strategy
  • Objectives:
    • Higher tax to fund larger military
    • Reject isolation - so Europe and Asia weren’t left vulnerable to Soviet expansion
    • Build up of US nuclear weapons
  • September 1949; reviewed the USA’s strategic objectives following USSR testing their atomic bombs ending US nuclear monopoly and Truman’s ‘loss of China’
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8
Q
  • Why was Kennan against NSC-68?
  • When did the Korean War begin? What was it caused by?
  • What were the goals of both North and South Korea? How did they believe they could achieve this?
A
  • He believed NSC-68 was the cause of the Korean War in June 1950
  • 22nd June 1950; conflicting ideologies between North + South Korea
  • South:
    • Unite Korea under capitalist leadership
  • Achieved by:
    • Strong capitalist economy
    • support of USA + appeal to democracy
  • North:
    • United Korea under communist leadership
  • Achieved by:
    • Support from USSR and China
    • Strong North Korean military
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9
Q
  • Who was the leader in North Korea? What was the leader in South Korea?
  • What triggered the outbreak of the Korean War?
A
  • North: Kim Il Sung; South: Syngman Rhee
  • North Korea invading the South and advancing to Seoul in 22nd June 1950
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10
Q
  • What did Kim Il Sung ask for Stalin in March 1949? What was Stalin’s response?
  • What was Stalin willing to provide? What made him unprepared?
  • Why did he fear engagement with the USA?
A
  • asked Stalin for Soviet support; Stain refuses initially - 1950: provides limited materials (aircraft, artillery) but not Soviet troops
  • indirect military support; unprepared for direct military confrontation with the USA
  • worried it’d result in a nuclear war
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11
Q
  • Who was the head of the leading government in China? What were his initial views on Korea? How did this change?
  • What does he respond by providing in Nov. 1950?
  • What did Mao consider so he could act in Korea? (nuclear, establish, zone)
A
  • Mao; initially uninterested; the USA got closer to the Yalu River - Korean border with China
  • military assistance to North Korea
  • Considerations:
    • believed that the US wouldn’t risk nuclear war
    • wanted to establish China as leader of the communist world
    • interested in using neighbouring communist states as a buffer zone for anti-Communist threats
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12
Q
  • What was the USA’s main priority until 1949?
  • What triggered the USA into defending South Korea?
  • What was the main goal of the USA during the Korean War? (policy, Taiwan, South Korea)
A
  • strengthening and protecting Japan
  • North Korea’s invasion of South Korea in June 22 1950
  • Goals:
    • Stability + containment in Asia
    • Protect Taiwan from Chinese communists
    • Protect South Korea from northern military aggressors
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13
Q
  • What did the USA request after North Korea invaded the South?
  • What did the council do? What was the impact of the Soviet boycotting the UN?
  • What was the outcome of UN intervention of the Korean War?
A
  • session of the UN security council
  • UN demanded a ceasefire; Soviets weren’t present to veto
  • ceasefire passed - international troops sent to South Korea under US command
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14
Q
  • How long was Phase 1? What military movement occurred? How does the UN take action? (how many countries willing to assist)
  • How long was Phase 2? What military movement occurred? How does the USSR + China take action? (Stalin request, Mao response)
A
  • June-Sept. 1950; North Korea invaded the South after reaching Seoul; 29 countries committed to provide assistance to South Korea
  • Sept-Nov. 1950; North Korea forced back to the 38th parallel
    • USSR: Stalin requests China to send troops to assist North Korea
    • China: Mao sends 300,000 Chinese troops across the Yalu River to support North Korea
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15
Q
  • How long was Phase 3? What military movement occurred? How does the China + USA take action? (China: cross + capture, USA: demand = dismissal)
  • How long was Phase 4? What military movement occurred? How does the USSR + USA take action?
A
  • Dec. 1950 - June 1951; Chinese forces push North Korea beyond 38th parallel
    • China: cross 38th parallel and capture Seoul (Jan. 1951)
    • USA: MacArthur demands nuclear weapon usage - resulted in his dismissal in Apr. 1951
  • June 1951 - July 1953; no significant military offensives (stalemate)
    • USSR: Stalin dies in March 1953; USSR negotiated for peace
    • USA: agreed to ceasefire
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16
Q
  • When was the armistice agreed? What did it mark?
  • What was the armistice called? What were the terms included in it?
A
  • July 1953; return to pre-war status quo
  • Panmunjon Armistice Agreement; Terms:
    • military demarcation line at the 38th parallel
    • all military forces withdrew their respective territories
    • repatriation of prisoners of war
17
Q
  • What was the impact of the Korean War? (long term(s), influence, military)
A
  • Impact:
    • Long term security of North and South Korea
    • USA issue guarantee long term security of Taiwan - prevent communist Chinese invasion attempts
    • USA commit to further protect East Asia from spread of communism
    • Military resources in Western Europe strengthened - West Germany allowed to rearm
18
Q
  • Why had Cold War tensions increased by 1953?
  • Why was there ‘Red Scare’ in the USA?
  • Where was the speech McCarthy made? When was it? What was its significance?
A
  • Increased Tensions:
    • Communists won Chinese Civil War in 1949
    • Outbreak of Korean War
    • USSR test atomic bombs in 1949
  • fear of communist subversion in America
  • West Virginia; February 1950; set out the agenda of ‘McCarthyism’
19
Q
  • What McCarthy’s main claims?
  • Why did some critique McCarthy? What did this lead to in 1954?
A
  • Claims:
    • Global communist plot that threatened the USA
    • Truman administration was soft on communism
    • Communists had infiltrated US State Department + armed forces
  • McCarthy claims lacked evidence; discredited in 1954
20
Q
  • How did McCarthyism influence American foreign policy? (shift, containment - security?)
  • Who did McCarthy blame following the Korean War? Why?
  • How did McCarthyism influence Britain? (spending, destabilisation)
A
  • American’s foreign policy shifted from Europe to East Asia + McCarthy argued containment was secure in Europe but weak in Asia
  • Truman’s attempts to resolve the Chinese Civil War through diplomatic and not intervene made him vulnerable - too ‘soft on communism’
  • Britain felt they needed to increase defensive spending and establish stronger presence in Europe + McCarthy argued that Europe could be destabilised with inaction in Asia
21
Q
  • When was the UN established? How many members by 1950? What was the majority of their ideologies?
  • Why was the USA widely regarded as ‘the world’s policeman’?
  • How influential was the USA over world trade?
  • How were the USSR able to keep the USA ‘in check’? (veto power 1946-55)
A
  • Oct. 1945; 60 members by 1950; mainly pro-Western & pro-capitalist
  • military superpower - believed the US was capable of leading the ‘defence of the free world’
  • highly influencial - All Western European countries received aid through the Marshall Plan except Spain
  • USSR’s ability to veto meant USA couldn’t pass through any decisions - 1946-55: USSR veto’d 75 times
22
Q
  • How did the USA ensure Mao + China couldn’t expand communism in Asia?
  • How long did Communist China remain isolated from the West?
  • True/False: China was excluded from the UN
A
  • US had a strong military presence in Europe with occupation in Japan in tact
  • 1970s
  • True: it had only established an alliance with the USSR in 1950
23
Q
  • Who became the new President of the USA in 1953 January? What happens in March 1953?
  • What system is fully integrated for the defence of Western Europe? What happened by 1955?
  • How did the Soviets respond to this?
A
  • Eisenhower; death of Stalin
  • NATO; West Germany became a member of NATO
  • Warsaw Pact was formed under the military command led by the USSR
24
Q
  • Why was the Eisenhower’s ‘New Look Policy’ carried out? Who carried it out?
  • How was Eisenhower’s New Look Policy different to Truman’s foreign policy?
  • What were the key factors in his New Look Policy? Why were they signficant?
A
  • communist expansion could only the deterred by increase threat of force; Dulles (Secretary of State)
  • Truman wanted to contain communism whilst Eisenhower wanted to remove it completely
  • Massive retaliation:
    • responding to attacks by conventional force with nuclear weapons
  • Brinkmanship
    • willingness go to the ‘brink of war’ in confronting Soviet threats
  • Strengthening global alliances
    • involved pro US-allies in Western Europe to hold back the USSR as well as in Asia to keep China in check
25
Q
  • When was SEATO created? Who created? What was it in response to?
  • What was the purpose of SEATO?
  • True/False: SEATO protected its members from communism
A
  • September 1954; Dulles (Secretary of State); responsed to the strengthening of the Sino-Soviet alliance
  • SEATO aimed to contain communism in Asia
  • False: SEATO protected non-SEATO members in Asia - South Vietnam + Cambodia
26
Q
  • How did the ‘domino theory’ influence US policy in 1950s + 60s? (what speech was set out, when)
  • What did the speech reflect?
  • Why did this theory make Eisenhower concerned by France?
A
  • set out by Eisenhower’s April 1954 speech about Indochina
  • belief that any one state in Asia fell to communism, more would fall after another
  • He believed they were losing grip on Indochina
27
Q
  • What conference does the ‘domino theory’ lead to? When?
  • What agreements were made in the conference? (division, withdrawal, election)
  • Who refused to sign the conference, whom the USA supported? Why?
A
  • Geneva Conference; July 1954
  • Agreements:
    • temporary division of Vietnam on the 17th parallel
    • withdrawal from the North and South by French and nationalist forces respectively
    • national election in 2 years
  • Ngo Dinh Diem (South Vietnam President); he was determined to control his people rather than the USA’s influence

(1) History: Cold War (To The Brink Of Nuclear War: International Relations 1945-1963) (2 decks)

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