Cold+War+InNo.+1+-+Ho+Yun+Cheon+April+18th,+2011

1. The Bolsheviks · In 1917, Russia went through two revolutions. · Nicholas II was overthrown by the Anti-Tsar groups. · They created the Provisional Government, soon led by the socialist **Alexander Kerensky**. · However, soon enough, Kerensky and the Provisional Government was overthrown by Lenin’s Communist party. · Lenin’s followers were known as the **Bolsheviks**. · The U.S., disliked the Bolsheviks. · Bolsheviks new regime was totalitarian, which became clear as Stalin took over right after Lenin’s death. · The U.S., particularly disliked them because when their troops united with the French to join the Allied side of the World War I, the Bolsheviks signed the **Treaty of Brest-Litovsk** with Germany, therefore did not contribute to the Allied side. · The other reason why Bolsheviks were disliked was because they wanted to take out the capitalism in the world and replace it with communism. · They established a Communist International, to unite countries under communist regime. · When the Russian civil-war started, the U.S., decided to send in troops (among with many other Western powers) for the anti-Bolsheviks. · However, Bolsheviks still defeated the anti-Bolsheviks (whites), and Bolsheviks created the **Union of Soviet Socialist Republics**. · Immediate antagonism was felt by the U.S., government towards the Bolsheviks regime. 2. The Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact · During the new economic changes in Russia, the Soviets owned all the railways, factories, mines, etc… · There were few small, private companies that were allowed to run. · With Stalin’s **Five-Year Plan**, the Soviets grabbed even more control of Russia’s economy. · The plan involved trying to forcibly organize peasantry, and increase heavy industry. · Stalin believed that they were severely behind, and that they needed to catch up to all the other advanced countries. · **Franklin Roosevelt** in 1933, decided that non-recognition of Soviets were useless, as it wasn’t restraining communism. · F.D.R invited the Soviet foreign minister to the white house, and the U.S., & Soviets made diplomatic ties. · When WWII was on its way, Stalin considered which road he should take. · He was worried that Britain and France would not have Russia’s back if it came to war with Germany. · He decided to sign a peace treaty with Germany, with Soviet neutrality. · This was called the **Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact**. · The pact was only a delay, as Germany knew it would attack Russia soon, and Russia knew Germany would attack soon. 3. A marriage of Convenience · In March 1941, Roosevelt requested that the Congress make a **Lend-Lease Act**. · This act would permit the U.S., to give military aid to any country that was fighting Germany or Japan. · This was a tactic for F.D.R., to help Britain, China, and other countries afloat, while he persuaded America to join the war. · When Russia went into war with Germany, the U.S., recognized it as an ally and sent them aids as well. · After the U.S., joined the war due to Pearl Harbor, many efforts were made to try and improve Russia’s image unto Americans. · However, the U.S., could not forget about its adversity towards Bolsheviks. · Things did not improve, when Soviets requested that U.S., send them more military aid to relieve German pressure. · **Winston Churchill**, the prime minister of Great Britain, thought that it would be foolish of the U.S., army to move prematurely. · Afterwards, Roosevelt agreed to Churchill’s ideas and plans, therefore did not invade France early. · The Soviets were deeply upset by U.S., new plan. · Churchill traveled to Moscow to try and convince the Soviets that Germany will be defeated. 4. The Big Three at Tehran · Stalin was disappointed once more, as Britain and the U.S decided to postpone the invasion of France. · They decided to focus more on Northern Africa, successfully kicking Germany out of Tunisia. · Stalin thought that it was very suspicious, when Churchill focused on the imperial wealth of Britain (by invading Sicily, a place of interest), when Russian soldiers were dying. · In November 1943, the big three countries (Britain, the U.S., and the Soviet Union), also known as the **Big Three** met in Tehran. · F.D.R. tried to convince Stalin, and win him over. · During the talk in Tehran, Germany’s future, postwar borders of Poland and many other issues were discussed. · F.D.R came back quite annoyed, as he could not personally reach out to Stalin, while the Soviet leader was quite pleased. 5. Yalta · The Big Three met again in February 1945 at a place called **Yalta** on the Black Sea. · They discussed re-creating League of Nations, the future of Poland and other eastern European countries, Germany’s future, and Soviet’s entry into the ongoing **Pacific War**. · F.D.R., in poor health conditions, found it hard to resist Stalin’s demands. · He wanted the Communist government to continue running in Poland, and requested Germany pay ten billion dollars’ worth of equipments, as a reparations for the war. · Roosevelt could not say no, because that might mean war. · Soviets had the best military, therefore Stalin decided to use this for political gain. · Stalin got what he wanted, as the U.Sl and Great Britain signed various Yalta agreements, called the **Declaration on Liberated Europe**. 6. The Division of Germany · When the Great Britain and the U.S., army crossed the Rhine borders of Germany, the U.S. troop commander **Dwight Eisenhower** (later the president) wanted to capture the Ruhr Valley, (Germany’s industrial land) halt the Nazi withdrawal into the Bavarian Alps, and avoiding the Soviet army that was heading west. · In order to achieve the avoidance of clash with Soviets, Eisenhower sent Stalin his plans and intentions in Germany, with requests of the same from the Soviets. · Churchill was angered by this act, because it was basically giving up Berlin to the Soviets. · Britain could not do anything, and the U.S., had bigger concerns, including the Ruhr valley, and hopes to end the war with least casualty possible. · April 16, Soviets started their attack on the German capital. · Shortly after, on April 30, Hitler committed suicide. · In May 2, **Karl Donitz**, Hitler’s successor, offered a peace treaty with the U.S., so that Germany could continue fighting the Soviets. · The new president (after F.D.R’s death), **Harry Truman** decided against it, and requested for Germany’s immediate surrender. · In May 7, Germany surrendered to all enemies, and Germany was divided into four zones. · The race to Berlin began, as the U.S., Britain, and France closed in on the western side of Berlin, and U.S.S.R., on the eastern side.

7. The Manhattan Project · Truman, as the new president after F.D.R.’s death, discovered what he has been up to in New Mexico. · He was not included in the **Manhattan Project**, the U.S mission to create an atomic bomb. · When he was briefed as the president, his Secretary of War, Henry Stimson stated that it was the most horrible weapon ever made in the history of humanity. · These projects started, when **Albert Einstein** wrote to the president about the current situation in Germany, about new develops in nuclear physics. · He added that the first country to develop such weapon will have ‘unsurpassable’ advantage over the other countries. · With physicist Dr. Oppenheimer and Major Groves, the first big step to the atomic bomb was made in December 1942, when they were able to create a first controlled nuclear chain reaction. · Bomb dropping tests were done in New Mexico, in a private boys’ school. 8. Knowledge of the Bomb · Truman, along with finding out about the bomb, also discovered that the British knew about the Manhattan Project, however the Soviets had yet to discover. · The U.S., and Britain considered telling Stalin about the atomic bomb, because Soviet’s cooperation was essential to controlling the **nuclear warfare**. · They decided against it, however if Soviet was told, then the nuclear arms race could have improved. · Harry Truman also considered informing the Soviets. · Beforehand, **Hiroshima** and **Nagasaki** was not damaged by bombs, so that the power of the new atomic bomb could be tested accurately. · There was a bigger purpose of the use of the bombs than defeating Japan; the U.S., wanted to demonstrate what would happen if anyone wanted to try and start a war again. 9. Potsdam · In July, 1945 (after the war), Truman decided to visit Churchill and Stalin, for a meeting in the suburb of **Potsdam**, Berlin. · German occupation was one of the main topics, however, they also discussed invasion of Japan, and the loss of American lives, and the Manhattan Project. · Stalin was very enthusiastic on entering the Pacific War, even deciding the date that they would invade the Japanese. · Truman decided that he wanted to finish the war before August 15, before Soviets could enter on the Pacific War. · He decided to use the Manhattan Project, sure that Japanese would give up after the big atomic bombs hit the cities. · When he received the information that the atomic tests were even more successful than anticipated, on **July 18** he saw the chance to finish off the Pacific War without **Soviet involvement**. · Truman casually mentioned it to Soviets a week later, so that Russian leader Stalin would show no real interest. · By this time, Soviets had a secret atomic program underway, and he had knowledge of the Manhattan Project (from the Soviet spies). · Because of the mistrust between the U.S., and Britain, Stalin was very worried that the bomb was for Moscow next. 10. Containment · Right after the U.S., used the atomic bomb and Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the diplomatic relation between Soviets and America shattered completely. · USSR took control of the Baltic states, including Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, and Hungary Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania. · **George Kennan**, an official at the US embassy of Moscow, sent letter to Secretary of State in Russia, on the topic of diplomatic relations. · Kennan described the containment strategy, later to become US foreign policy. · Later, when he returned to the U.S., claimed that the U.S., and Soviet Union must have a long-term, patient relations. · In his opinion, USSR had two **postwar goals**; to establish security on the borders of their own land, and export communism to other countries. · The USSR did not regard the second as important as the first, as securing their borders was most important for them. · As long as the U.S., applied **counterpressure** (i.e., giving Eastern European countries money to relieve pressure), there would be no need for military in the Cold War. 11. The Truman Doctrine · Harry S. Truman thought of Kennan’s assessment of the USSR position to be correct. · He knew that it would be most difficult to liberate regions that were already under Soviet’s control. · As Germany surrendered, Britain & France fading away, Soviets were the biggest military power in Europe. · However, **Soviet expansionism** was an entirely different matter, as the U.S., tried its best to prevent this from happening. · Greece and Turkey was under the pressure from Soviet Union, to give them a particular territory or join them. · Britain, who was expected to resolve issues in Europe, stepped down, claiming that they could do nothing to help Greece or Turkey. · Truman knew that only America could help Greece and Turkey stay out of Soviet’s group. · In a meeting to seek support for the two countries, Undersecretary of State Dean Acheson declared that this would later be a **domino effect**, if Greece and Turkey falls, other countries would follow. · The Congress decided to fund four hundred million dollars for Greece and Turkey, so that they could have a economic and military aid. · In the speech to announce the severity of this crisis of Soviet expansionism, Truman articulated on what later became known as **Truman Doctrine**. · The doctrine was that the U.S., would help any country, economically or militarily by any nation that was threatened by Soviets, and communism. 12. Disarray in Postwar Europe · Two months before the doctrine, U.S., Britain, France, and Soviet foreign ministers met in Moscow, so they could talk about the future of Germany. · Before, at Yalta and Potsdam, it was decided that Germany would have a **central government**, with free democratic elections. · France, bordering Germany was concerned that if they united, Germany would find powers to attack again. · There were other subjects in disputes, such as how much industries Germany would need in order to revive Germany, etc. · No decisions were made, and the foreign minister of the U.S., **George Marshall** was convinced that Soviets were getting more aggravated, because of the political stalemate. · In Western Europe, due to the war, many were unemployed, big factories were rubble, and food shortages were dire. · The British, who had the least damage could not even aid other countries, because they still had serious damages. · Because of the starvation and poverty, the governments of Europe was being undermined. · The U.S began investigating the economic situations of Europe, so that the Soviets could be contained within their borders, by aiding Europe by pouring money on them.

13. The Marshall Plan · June 5, 1947, the Secretary of State Marshall, in a speech to the graduating class of Harvard, told the students about the United States plans for Europe. · Europe was in desperate turmoil, that they could not easily get out of. · He had a proposal, for European nations to unite, share resources, and help Germany get on its feet, as the U.S., funded it. · His offer was greatly appreciated by the British and French, who invited 22 other European nations to begin the self-help program, also known as the **Marshall Plan**. · 16 out of the 22 European nations took part in the plan, excluding Soviet Union, and the other five of its controlled areas. · This plan of Secretary Marshall’s the European plan, was later the basis of the **European Recovery Program**. · The money to fund the project was seventeen billion dollars, and however much U.S., wasn’t damaged, it was still a lot of money. · There were a lot of controversy, however after the Soviets helped the rebels in Czechoslovakia destroy their democratic government, the U.S., started to spend 5 – 10 % of its annual budget on Europe. 14. The Berlin Airlift · When the U.S., and British realized that the Soviets wanted Germany to keep apart, and unorganized, they decided to team up together. · They united their own units, known as Bizonia, in addition, the French also decided to add in their sector, being called **Trizonia**, later known as western Germany. · They created a new currency, as the Nazi currency that was only circulating Germany was basically useless. · With these new currency, shopkeepers began accepting cash, instead of the barter system that was going on post-war. · The day after the new currency was established in West Berlin, Soviets decided to cut off any road, rail, food supply, and water to the city. · After the Soviets refused to listen to the protests of the French, British, and the U.S., government, they decided to take the matters into their own hands. · Using planes, they airlifted tones and tones of shipments, including food, water, and other vital supplies needed in West Berlin. · After May 12, Soviets lifted their blockade, proving that the U.S., was trying to solve issues without direct confrontation. 15. Nato and the Warsaw Pact · The U.S., ex-ambassador of Moscow, **George Kennan**, believed that militarizing the Cold War was a bad idea, and also an unnecessary one. · There wasn’t a big chance that the Soviets would dare cross any borders, therefore the U.S., did not need to militarize. · Kennan believed that if the U.S., started militarizing, it would only just provoke Soviets to do the exact same. · However, because of the fact that Soviet Union after WWII retained a huge number of armies, the U.S., felt a need to keep their own. · In order to prevent the giant Soviets from attacking small western European countries, the U.S., signed into **North Atlantic Treaty Organization**, including Canada, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Portugal. · After the U.S., included West Germany into the NATO, Soviets decided to create a rival military alliance, called the **Warsaw Treaty Organization** (also known as Warsaw Pact), including Soviet Union, and the countries controlled by it. 16. The Hiss Case · In a witch hunt against Communists in America, led by **House Un-American Activities Committee**, //Times// magazine editor Whittaker Chambers testified that he was part of the Communists movement in America, and also a member was **Alger Hiss**. · Alger hiss was the former State Department official who worked alongside FDR during the Yalta talks, and helped create the United Nations. · When Hiss was on trial, he seemed very cool, calm, and calculated, therefore the committee backed off of him. · However, when **Richad M. Nixon**, the president of the United States (then a Freshman in Republican office), questioned Whittaker, he decided he was telling the truth. · After another hearing, Hiss was very angry, and decided to sue Whittaker for slander. · This was a bad move for Hiss, as Whittaker produced documents of evidence of Hiss’s part in **espionage**, for his defense. · Hiss was sentenced to prison for perjury, as he could not be charged for espionage, the statute of limitations had run out. · This discomforted many Americans, worrying that if someone as important as Alger Hiss was a Soviet spy, then who else could be? 17. McCarthyism · Due to his fame gained by the Hiss case, Richard Nixon was able to get into a Senate seat. · Nixon’s stance on Communism was that it could not be tolerated one bit. · He became famous for handing out “pink sheets”. · When he became a Senate, he also took part in the Permanent Investigations Subcommittee, led by **Senator Joseph McCarthy**. · He was an aggressive anti-communist, and used it to rise to power. · During a speech, he held up a sheet of paper (un-documented), and claimed that he was holding a list of communists who were undermining the U.S., government by working as an official in the State Department. · This drove America crazy for the next decade, this period was named **McCarthyism**, when there were ferocious campaigns against alleged communists in the U.S. · Although McCarthy never gave a correct accusations, due to the Hiss Case, Soviet Union’s success in atomic bombs, and China turning into a communist state, the U.S., did what McCarthy told them to do. 18. NSC-68 · After the WWII, because of the Soviet threat, the Congress decided to pass **National Security Act of 1947**, uniting all units of military into a one single Department of Defense. · This act also created the famed Central Intelligence Agency, as a secret police for national security, and also the National Security Council. · January of 1950, Truman wanted the NSC to re-evaluate the national security, due to the fact that Soviets themselves created an atomic bomb, and won over china. · After evaluation, the report was filed on fifty-eight pages, called NSC-68. · After what happened with the Soviet takeover, NSC-68 declared that the only way the U.S., would stay afloat was a massive military buildup. · Kennan believed that this military buildup by both America, and Soviet Union was mainly political, and that the buildup would only lead to an arms race. · However, due to the fact that South Korea was attacked by North Korea, by Communists, the U.S., firmly started believing that they were way too soft with communists. (Truman, in response, tripled the defense funding.)

There are many factors to consider when deciding how the Cold War came to be. It all started from when the World War II was just happening, as Soviet’s diplomatic relations with Germany caused U.S., to dislike the Russians. In addition, as Russia was going through the changes known as the Russian Revolution, in which the Bolsheviks took power, U.S., disliked them even more, as it was very opposed to communism. At the end of World War II, disputes of what to do with the land taken from Germany further added to the conflict. In the Pacific War, U.S. gained Russia’s mistrust by keeping the Manhattan Project a secret, whilst Russia knew all about it. One of the biggest factors why Cold War in fact became a war was because of the infamous Hiss case, where important government official Alger Hiss was charged with espionage for Russia, causing unrest among Americans. Senator Joseph McCarthy, (along with Richard Nixon), declared that there were a lot of communist spies working with the U.S., government. This period of time, anti-Russian feelings were high in the U.S., and the country went frenzy with trying to find the alleged communists within the country, a period called McCarthyism. Furthermore, South Korea, (protectorate of the U.S.) was invaded by North Korea, with the U.S.S.R. This is how the Cold War happened. Although no direct confrontations happened between U.S., and the Soviet Union, the two largest countries in the world, there were a lot of tension leading up to this Cold War.
 * Summary**

**Questions** 1.Why did the U.S., government despise Russians during World War II? 2.In the Yalta meetings between the Big Three, who had the biggest advantage? How? 3.How was the Truman Doctrine threat to the Soviet Union? 4.In what ways did the Manhattan Project come in between U.S., and the U.S.S.R? 5.How was the Hiss Case a way for Senator Joseph McCarthy to gain power?

**Found Awesomeness**



This is a picture of the “Big Three” (Wilson of the U.S., Churchill of Great Britain, and Stalin of U.S.S.R) in Tehran conference. This is historically important, as it is the first time that these three countries met together for a meeting. In the Tehran meeting, they discussed the future of Germany, among other things.

This is a picture of the Atomic Bomb, code named Little Boy (in the process of making). It contains Uranium 235, along with the detonator and conventional charge, it is shocking to think that this tiny thing could blow up Nagasaki, an entire city, during the Pacific War.

media type="file" key="Awesomenessrecording.mp3" width="240" height="20"
 * Self Awesomeness**

This is a recording of McCarthy's interview with a British chap. I acted out this voice recording with historical accuracy, because I thought that was important. During the cold war, Senator McCarthy was to be blamed for causing unrest in the United States.

TRANSCRIPT:

** Self-Made ** Larry King: Hello, this is Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, and here we have with us, is Senator Joseph McCarthy. Hello, Senator. McCarthy: Hello, Jonathan. Nice to meet you. Larry King: Nice to meet you senator. Tell me, you’ve been all over the newspaper, TV, and radio. You have a book coming out… McCarthyism: Fight For America. How did it all begin? McCarthy: Well, gosh darn it Jon. I guess it all started when I heard about the Hiss Case. He seemed like a nice fella’ but if a guy like that, workin’ with the president and such was a commie spy, well heck, I didn’t know who else could be… So I started an investigation. Larry: Right, right, so, you produced, this list, this list of people who work for the U.S., government, but is a communist, isn’t it true? McCarthy: Aye. Larry: But, Senator, there has been speculation, and allegations that you have made up the list with no evidence whatsoever. What is your response? McCarthy: Well howdy-do-dee. This is an outrage. You know, that all these allegations started from the devil hisself, Millard Tydings. When I announced that I have salvation for America, a lot of democrats are commies, Millard, started this Hearing, accusing me of being a fraud and a hoax. Well, they’re all damn commies themselves. Owen Lattimore, Harlow Sharpay and such. Larry: I see. McCarthy: Joseph Welch, an army boy, say, Senator, you are to give me the list, with 130 communists within our government, and I tell him, Welch, if you are worried about the commies in this country, well you just go on ahead and check your Boston office for the man named Fred Fischer. Then, Welch declares that I am cruel and reckless. Insanity, I tell you. Larry: I see. What about You and the president candidate, Eisenhower? How is your relationship? McCarthy: Senator Eisenhower is a dear friend of mine. He will become the president. He says to me, Joe boy, I agree with your beliefs, those darn Russian spies ARE in our government. But I just don’t agree with your method. Larry: Do you think your method is a bit harsh? I mean, accusing of people, and violation of constitution rights? McCarthy: I ain’t saying my method is easygoing, but gosh darn it, it gits the job done. At the end of the day, I love my country, God bless the U.S.A. Larry: Well, that’s good to hear. Unfortunately, we’ve run out of time, therefore we have to end. Thank you Senator. McCarthy: Well thank you, Jonathan. Death to the Russians!