Chapter 27Chapter 27

The Age of Containment 1946–1954

Creating a National Security State, Creating a National Security State, 1945–19491945–1949

Onset of the Cold War Various interpretations

Traditional: Focus on Soviet Expansionism Revisionist: Focus on Soviet vulnerability Other: Focus on historical Soviet–American rivalries

Truman administration took a hard line Baruch Plan Suspended Lend-Lease Tied economic aid to pullbacks in Eastern Europe

After 1947, the administration focused on “national security”

Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)

Background Civil war in Greece Traditional sphere of influence By 1947, British could no longer afford to stay in Greece

Truman decision to step in Way to protect free world Had to resist Communist aggression Overcame domestic opposition

Idea of Containment George Kennan article in Foreign Affairs (1947) Catchphrase for global, anticommunist national security

policy Linked all leftist movements to Moscow

Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)

Loyalty review boards to ensure that government employees were not “security risks”

Attorney General’s list of subversive organizations

Based on premise that Soviets were widely conducting espionage in the United States Verona files

Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)

National Security Act Created several new bureaucracies Steps toward creation of Department of Defense National Security Council Central Intelligence Agency

Most flexible arm of national security bureaucracy

Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)

Marshall Plan Linked economic policies in Western Europe to

containment U.S. financial assistance to prevent spread of

communism Opened markets and investment opportunities for U.S. Stunning success

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Divided Germany and

the NATO Alliance

Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)

Berlin Crisis German recovery central to recovery of Western Europe British, American, French zones would merge currency,

June, 1948 First step toward merger

Soviets responded by cutting West Berlin off from outside world

Americans responded with airlift Soviets abandoned ineffectual blockade in May, 1949

Creating a National Security State Creating a National Security State (cont)

Election of 1948 Truman won after major political comeback Some Democrats backed Progressive Party

Nominated Henry A. Wallace Considered containment too militant

Some Democrats backed States’ Rights Party (Dixiecrats) Nominated Strom Thurmond Opposed federal action in area of civil rights

Republicans nominated Thomas Dewey Lackluster campaigner

Truman waged aggressive, energetic campaign Eked out victory Strong national security record probably helped in

election

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Presidential Election, 1948

Era of the Korean War, 1949–1952Era of the Korean War, 1949–1952 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Pledged to be collective defense against Soviet aggression

China U.S. supported non-Communist government in civil war

with Communists Nationalist Chinese defeated late 1949 China lobby blamed administration for failing to support

enough aid

The Bomb Soviets exploded device in September 1949 Ended U.S. nuclear monopoly

Era of the Korean WarEra of the Korean War (cont)

NSC-68 Major administration review of nation’s foreign policy Urged full-scale offensive to enlarge U.S. power

Covert action Economic pressure More vigorous propaganda Massive military buildup

Labeled efforts “defensive” to guarantee public support

Era of the Korean WarEra of the Korean War (cont)

Korean War Communist North Korea attacked South Korea, June 1950 Truman administration saw Soviets as instigators

Review of background Japanese Occupation, 1905–1945 Postwar division at 38th parallel

Fighting enlarged into international conflict U.S. goals unclear

Push invasion force back above 38th parallel? Total defeat of Communists and reunification under non-

Communist leadership? Course of war up and down for U.S.- led UN forces

Resulted in dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur War at line of demarcation by end of Truman’s term

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Korean War

Era of the Korean WarEra of the Korean War (cont)

War justified recommendations of NSC-68 Administration took many steps to pursue the

nation’s interests abroad Increase in military budgets and bureaucracies

RAND

Nation came to oppose any political movement that was left-leaning

Containment framed in defensive terms

Pursuing National Security at HomePursuing National Security at Home Anticommunism and the Labor Movement

Labor Management Relations Act (Taft-Hartley), 1949 Limited gains unions had made during 1930s Forced union leaders to eschew ties to communism Truman vetoed, but Congress overrode

Communists in Unions became national security issue

House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Hearings into film industry initiated in 1947

Hollywood Ten Studios drew up blacklist of so-called subversives

Alger Hiss case

Pursuing National Security at Home Pursuing National Security at Home (cont)

Truman’s loyalty program in action List of subversives to be detained in event of national

security emergency

FBI dossiers on wide range of artists and intellectuals

Homosexuals as targets of investigations Justifiable basis for denying people government

employment

Containment at HomeContainment at Home (cont)

The Rosenberg case Cold War melodrama Remains subject for debate even today

Government pursued suspected Communists Dennis v. U.S. (1951) McCarran Internal Security Act (1950)

Special detention camps for suspected subversives Subversive Activities Control Board Vetoed by Truman, but overridden

McCarthyism Charged that Communists were at work in the State

Department Attacked those who criticized him, initially with great

success Supported by influential people in and out of

government

Truman’s Fair DealTruman’s Fair Deal

Originally called for government intervention to ensure “full” employment

Eventually scaled back to provide “maximum” employment

“Full” sounded too much like socialism Created Council of Economic Advisers

Focus on economic advice rather than formal planning

Assumption that prosperity was inevitable

Truman’s Fair Deal Truman’s Fair Deal (cont)

Extension and expansion of New Deal Some programs very popular

G.I. Bill (Serviceman’s Readjustment Act), 1944 Social Security

Others opposed vigorously National health care opposed by medical community Housing industry opposed publicly financed housing

projects Focused on programs for specific groups, such as

veterans or the elderly, rather than more extensive programs for all

Civil Rights Truman endorsed civil rights agenda in 1948 campaign Supported school and housing desegregation efforts

A Changing CultureA Changing Culture

Jackie Robinson and the baseball “color line” Robinson integrated major league baseball in 1947 By 1960, every major league team fielded black players

Postwar suburbs Government encouraged suburban home ownership

Federal Housing Authority Epitomized optimism about the future for residents

Avoid contact with minorities The suburban family and gender issues

A Changing Culture A Changing Culture (cont)

Life revolved around the automobile Daily life fell into sex-segregated spheres

Hollywood Had been supportive through Depression Audience attendance dropped after war

Television Femmes fatales Changes in cultural patterns in the United States

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The Baby Boom

From Truman to EisenhowerFrom Truman to Eisenhower

The Election of 1952 Democrats on the Defensive

Adlai Stevenson took anti-Communist stance, but it was not enough to win

Republicans ran Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon

Won significant victory

Eisenhower in office Advocated “moderate Republicanism” Ended war in Korea Wrested control of anti-Communist issue from McCarthy Considered skilled leader who increased executive

branch power

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Presidential Election, 1952Web

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions What were the economic, political, and social

causes of the Cold War? How did the U.S. and the USSR go from being allies to enemies?

What was the Marshall Plan? What role did it play in American–Soviet relations?

Assess Truman’s administration. What were his successes and failures? Was he a good president?

What caused the Korean War? Why did the United States become involved? Was this consistent with U.S. foreign policy?