Post – WWII Post – WWII Foreign Policy Foreign Policy

1945 - 19601945 - 1960

Cleaning up the Cleaning up the MessMess

What happened after the What happened after the War??War??

Where do we begin??Where do we begin??

In your opinion what were In your opinion what were the biggest foreign policy the biggest foreign policy concerns for the US concerns for the US immediately after WWII? immediately after WWII?

What happens to Germany after What happens to Germany after WWII?WWII?

Potsdam ConferencePotsdam Conference – the 1 – the 1stst time Truman time Truman meets w/ Churchill and Stalin (July-August meets w/ Churchill and Stalin (July-August 1945)1945)

Agree on joint occupation of GermanyAgree on joint occupation of Germany West = British, French & USA.This was the West = British, French & USA.This was the

industrialized sectorindustrialized sector East = USSR, poorer more rural sectorEast = USSR, poorer more rural sector Joint administration of Berlin which lies in the Joint administration of Berlin which lies in the

USSR controlled EastUSSR controlled East

POTSDAM POTSDAM

The Significance of PotsdamThe Significance of Potsdam

““There are moments when the drama of There are moments when the drama of our times seems to focus on a single our times seems to focus on a single scene. The meeting at Potsdam is one scene. The meeting at Potsdam is one of these moments”of these moments”

--Truman, Truman, by David by David McCulloughMcCullough

Nuremberg TrialsNuremberg Trials

German war crime German war crime trialstrials

International International military trialmilitary trial

12 Nazi leaders 12 Nazi leaders were executed, 7 were executed, 7 were jailedwere jailed

Many escaped or Many escaped or hid their identitieshid their identities

Robert Jackson (USA) – Lead Robert Jackson (USA) – Lead Prosecutor Prosecutor

Victor's Justice?Some of the potential criticisms of the trial are:The Nuremberg judges came from the same four countries as the prosecutors: the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and France, which together had formed the International Military Tribunal. The defense attorneys, in contrast, were all Germans.The Allied countries had committed some of the very acts that the defendants were accused of committing, such as bombing civilians.The defendants were accused of committing crimes that were not legally defined as crimes at the time they were committed, such as waging aggressive war.Under the rules of the court, defendants were responsible for the acts they committed even if they were just following orders.

A Survivor SpeaksA Survivor Speaks

““For months, for years we had one wish For months, for years we had one wish only: the wish that some of us would only: the wish that some of us would escape alive, in order to tell the world escape alive, in order to tell the world what the Nazi convict prisons were like. what the Nazi convict prisons were like. There was the systematic…..urge to use There was the systematic…..urge to use human beings as slaves and to kill them human beings as slaves and to kill them when they could work no more”when they could work no more”

- Marie Vaillant- Marie Vaillant

What happens to Japan after What happens to Japan after WWII?WWII?

USA occupied Japan from 1945 – 1952USA occupied Japan from 1945 – 1952 Douglas MacArthur, his staff, and a Douglas MacArthur, his staff, and a

new Japanese Congress ran the new Japanese Congress ran the countrycountry

1947 – new Japanese Constitution, set 1947 – new Japanese Constitution, set up a democracy and abolished the up a democracy and abolished the army and navyarmy and navy

Trials in TokyoTrials in Tokyo

1946 MacArthur sets up Military 1946 MacArthur sets up Military TribunalTribunal

20 Japanese military leaders 20 Japanese military leaders 5/1946 – 11/19485/1946 – 11/1948 Hideki Tojo and 7 other were Hideki Tojo and 7 other were

executedexecuted Set precedent holding people Set precedent holding people

responsible for “war crimes”responsible for “war crimes”

MacArthur and HirohitoMacArthur and Hirohito

Tojo Takes the Stand at Tojo Takes the Stand at TrialTrial

Eleanor lends a hand in Eleanor lends a hand in creating the “Declaration creating the “Declaration of Human Rights”of Human Rights”

How do we prevent another How do we prevent another world conflict?world conflict?

The United NationsThe United Nations 10/24/1945 – It’s 10/24/1945 – It’s

officialofficial 50 Nations50 Nations Established the General Established the General

Assembly & Security Assembly & Security Council, 5 permanent Council, 5 permanent membersmembers

Headquarters – NYCHeadquarters – NYC Eleanor Roosevelt was Eleanor Roosevelt was

on the US’s first on the US’s first delegates to the UNdelegates to the UN

The UN CharterThe UN Charter WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS

DETERMINED: to save succeeding generations from the scourge

of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and

to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and

to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and

to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom

Harry Signs the CharterHarry Signs the Charter

UN Headquarters in NYCUN Headquarters in NYC

THE ICJ – The Hague, THE ICJ – The Hague, NetherlandsNetherlands

Ban Ki-MoonBan Ki-Moon

The Founding of IsraelThe Founding of Israel Zionism Zionism – movement seeking a Jewish – movement seeking a Jewish

homeland (1900s)homeland (1900s) After WWII many Jews moved to Palestine in After WWII many Jews moved to Palestine in

instead of back to Europeinstead of back to Europe Both the Torah and Quran claim this as “holy Both the Torah and Quran claim this as “holy

land”land” Area was Ottoman controlled for 500 yrs until Area was Ottoman controlled for 500 yrs until

19191919 Palestine was controlled by the UK since 1919Palestine was controlled by the UK since 1919

The UN & Israel The UN & Israel

The UN ruled that 2 states would be The UN ruled that 2 states would be created out of Palestine, one created out of Palestine, one controlled by the Jews and one Arab controlled by the Jews and one Arab controlledcontrolled

This was rejected by the Arab states = This was rejected by the Arab states = 1948 Arab-Israeli War1948 Arab-Israeli War

1949 official boundaries established1949 official boundaries established

Arab – Israeli conflict cont.Arab – Israeli conflict cont.

Arab countries that attacked Israel in Arab countries that attacked Israel in 1948 were: Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria 1948 were: Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan along with Palestinian and Jordan along with Palestinian forces forces

US Diplomat Ralph Bunche convinced US Diplomat Ralph Bunche convinced both sides to accept the 1949 both sides to accept the 1949 armisticearmistice

A permanent determination on the A permanent determination on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip is yet to West Bank and the Gaza Strip is yet to be negotiated be negotiated

Ban Ki-Moon 1/2009Ban Ki-Moon 1/2009

““I believe a massive and united I believe a massive and united international effort is required to help international effort is required to help

Palestinians achieve statehood and Palestinians achieve statehood and Israel and Palestine to live side by side Israel and Palestine to live side by side

in peace and security. I am more in peace and security. I am more determined than ever to see this determined than ever to see this

achieved.”achieved.”