Chapter 27: The Age of Containment, 1946-1954

Chapter 27: The Age of Containment, 1946-1954

1. What were the principle elements of the foreign policy called containment?

The global anticommunist movement national security policies that were adopted by America stop the expansion of communism. During the Korean War the US acquired several bases, opposed any left-leaning movements, restricted activity of labor unions, utilized media to oppose soviet propaganda and barred communists from entering the congress or Universities.

2. What major conflicts shaped the Cold War and what instigated these conflicts?

In order to ease tensions between the nations the NATO was established between the US, Canada and 10 European nations pledging that an attack against would be one against all. However tensions arose as China's leader, lost ground to Mao Zedong. Then the Soviets set off a brutal nuclear device causing Truman to begin development of a deadly hydrogen bomb. Paul Nimtze's NSC-68 further pressured the economy, propaganda campaigns, covert action, and a massive military buildup as a result of despairing fruitful negotiations. They further pushed containment believing that attacking Korea would send a message to the world, however this further aggressed the Soviets whom supported communist Korea.

3. How did the foreign policy of containment affect domestic policy and American life?

Americans, specifically minorities and those suspected of communist affiliation began to face conflictive times. The Taft-Hartley act negated the ability of labor unions power to conduct boycotts, conduct strikes, set up closed shops, and to sign affidavits stating they were not in any Communist party of subversive organizations. Those who refused were denied protection under national labor laws.

Terms:

Baruch Plan:

A special representative at the UN, Bernard Baruch, proposed that the US abandon its nuclear weapons if the USSR met certain conditions. Soviet would be obliged to monitoring and verification of their atomic energy programs to surrender veto power in the UN in cases regarding nuclear issues. Soviet leaders evidently reject the plan, and proposed the US destroy its atomic weapons as the first step toward any final bargain.

Truman Doctrine:

Encountering much international criticism Truman announced to Congress about the civil war in Greece, where a pro western government was being attacked by communists. His advisers claimed that a leftist victory would expose a nation critical to US strategy, Turkey, to Soviet expansionism. He also declared that it is the US's duty to aid those resisting subversion by armed forces to prevent the spread of totalitarian communism.

George Kennan:

The state departments Soviet expert, known for his article in the journal 'Foreign affairs coined the term containment. He argued that main element in any US policy “must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies". It was quickly associated with the Truman Doctrine.

Ex. Order 9835:

Essentially known as the loyalty order, put several workers under investigation of communist or subservient affiliation.

VENONA files:

In 1943 a secret army counter-intelligence agency begun intercepting transmissions between Moscow and the US revealing the USSR had aided the finance of America's communist party, placed informants in government agencies, and begun collecting intelligence on US atomic work as early as 1944.

National Security Act:

In reaction to the VENONA files, the US implemented several new bureaucracies. The old navy and War departments were unified into the Department of Defense, a new arm of executive branch called the National Security Council was given broad authority over planning foreign policy, and the CIA was created.

CIA:

Under the National Security Act, the Central Intelligence Agency was created to gather information and conduct covert activities. It was immune to public scrutiny, and proved to be the most effective bureaucracy. It also prevented the election of the Italian communist party.

Marshall Plan:

Established by secretary of state George Marshall to allocate funds to war ridden European nations in aid of reconstruction. The plan succeeded in brightening Western Europe's economic scene, improved the standard of living, enhanced political stability, and undermined the appeal of communism.

Berlin Airlift:

When the Soviet blocked of Berlin failed, British pilots delivered virtually all of the items needed to continue their daily routines. Truman also sent a squadron of b-29 bombers to Britain, Stalin then abandoned the blockade, and the soviets created the German Democratic Republic out of their East German sector.

NATO:

North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed in 1949 with the US, Canada, and 10 other European pledging that an attack on one of the nations would be an attack on all of the nations. Taft declared the NATO a provocation to the Soviet Union.

NSC-68:

National Security Council Document number 68 providing rationale and strategic vision for US policy during the cold war. It essentially called on the US for a full-scale effort of enlarging US power and armaments. This meant larger spending on military, and budget deficits.

Yalu River:

Invasion of 40,000 Chinese troops to Korea through the Yalu River established communism.

Douglas MacArthur:

Taft-Hartley Act:

In the effort to effectively tapp the anticommunist sentiment, the Republican Congress negated the labor unions power to conduct boycotts, conduct strikes, set up closed shops, and to sign affidavits stating they were not in any Communist party of subversive organizations. Those who refused were denied protection under national labor laws.

HUAC:

The House of Un-American Committee was a congressional committee that zealously investigated the suspected communist sympathizers opening hearings into Communist influences in Hollywood. The Hollywood 10 then claimed the first amendment barred the HUAC but then were imprisoned for contempt of Congress. Studios then held a blacklist of alleged subversives whom they would not hire. Many could not attain a job unless they gave names of those whom they knew where subversives.

Loyalty Program:

The EX. Order 9835 that called for reasonable ground to resign those in government whom belonged to a political organization of political risk. This later developed a list of subversive organizations declared the attorney general. It essentially sought out to eliminate Soviet espionage.

Alger Hiss:

Despite legal technicalities preventing his indictment for espionage, Alger was charged of lying to the Congress and went to prison. This further aggressed the hunt for subversives considering his role in advising FDR in the Yalta conference.

Rosenberg Case:

The epitome of the Cold War melodrama. Parents of two young children and members of the America Communist party were sentenced to death despite their several legal appeals, and worldwide protests. This stirred worldwide controversy, however it was believed that they were involved in some sort of nuclear espionage.