Truman Forieign Policy Flashcards
(81 cards)
The grand allaiance
Key Fact: The Grand Alliance consisted of the United States, the Soviet Union, and Britain during World War II.
• Reason for Breakdown: Tensions emerged after Nazi Germany’s defeat, due to ideological differences and conflicting post-war goals.
• Key Event: Yalta Conference (February 1945) laid the groundwork but did not resolve fundamental differences between the powers.
Halts conference agreements
Feb 1945
Germany: Divided into four occupation zones (U.S., Britain, Soviet Union, France).
• Spheres of Influence:
• Soviet Union controlled Eastern Europe.
• U.S. controlled Western Europe.
• Britain controlled Greece.
• United Nations: Agreement on the formation of the United Nations.
• Soviet Assistance: Stalin agreed to aid the U.S. in fighting Japan after Germany’s defeat.
• Poland: Stalin promised free elections, but did not fulfill this promise, leading to tension.
• Soviet Reparations: Soviet demand for reparations from Germany.
Post war tensions
Poland and Eastern Europe: Stalin’s broken promise of free elections in Poland, and the USSR’s increasing control over Eastern Europe raised suspicions among the Western Allies.
• Ideological Divide: The U.S. and Britain, as capitalist democracies, opposed Soviet communism, which created growing conflict.
Trumans policy shift April 1945
Event: Truman became President on April 12, 1945, following Roosevelt’s death.
• Key Focus: Transition to a tougher stance on communism and Soviet relations, contrasting with Roosevelt’s more conciliatory approach.
Potsdam conference
July-august 1945
Key Leaders: Truman, Stalin, and British Prime Minister Clement Attlee.
• Key Discussion: Division of Germany and the future of Europe.
• Strained Relations: Truman and Stalin’s relationship was tense, with Truman critical of Stalin’s policies.
Trumans anti communism
Reason for Shift: Truman did not want to appear “soft on communism.”
• Focus: A firm stance against the spread of communism, especially in Eastern Europe.
• Impact: Marked a major shift in U.S. foreign policy, especially toward the Soviet Union.
George Kennan’s containment doctrine
Key Person: George Kennan, U.S. diplomat.
• Key Concept: Containment – a policy to prevent the spread of Soviet communism.
• Key Action: Kennan’s “Long Telegram” (1946) advised that the U.S. should adopt a firm but patient approach in dealing with the Soviet Union.
The Truman doctrine
1947
Key Speech: Truman’s speech outlined U.S. support for Greece and Turkey against communist forces.
• Significance: Officially marked the U.S. commitment to contain communism globally.
• Funding: The U.S. provided $400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey.
The Marshall plan
1947
Key Fact: U.S. economic aid to Western Europe ($13 billion).
• Goal: To rebuild war-torn Europe and prevent the spread of communism.
• Outcome: Strengthened non-communist governments in Europe; USSR rejected the aid, reinforcing the East-West divide.
Berlin blockade and airlift
1948-1949
Event: Stalin’s blockade of West Berlin in 1948.
• U.S. Response: Truman ordered the Berlin Airlift to supply the city with food and supplies, avoiding direct military confrontation.
• Outcome: Strengthened U.S.-European alliances and led to the establishment of NATO in 1949.
Formation of nato
1949
Key Fact: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was established as a military alliance between the U.S., Canada, and Western European countries.
• Purpose: To counter the Soviet threat and provide collective security against potential Soviet aggression.
A superpower emerges
Key Shift: Post-WWII, the U.S. emerged as a global superpower committed to containing communism.
• Key Policies: Containment, the Truman Doctrine, and the Marshall Plan were central to U.S. foreign policy in the late 1940s.
• Impact on Europe: U.S. policies helped shape the post-war order, reinforcing Western Europe’s shift away from communism.
Truman doctrine (definition)
Definition: A U.S. foreign policy aimed at containing the spread of communism by providing economic and military assistance to countries resisting communist influence.
• Key Focus: Greece and Turkey received support to prevent communist takeovers.
• Impact: Marked the beginning of the Cold War policy of containment.
Marshall plan (def)
Definition: An American initiative to provide economic aid to Western European countries to help them rebuild after World War II.
• Key Focus: Offered over $12 billion in aid to 16 European countries.
• Impact: Strengthened Western Europe against communist influence, boosted economic recovery, and promoted capitalism.
Berlin blockade and airlift
Berlin Blockade: Soviet attempt to cut off access to West Berlin, which was located within the Soviet-controlled part of Germany.
• Berlin Airlift: Western Allies’ response, flying supplies into West Berlin for almost a year to circumvent the blockade.
• Impact: Marked a significant early Cold War victory for the West and further solidified Germany’s division.
Creation of nato
Definition: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed as a military alliance between the U.S., Canada, and 10 Western European nations.
• Key Focus: Collective defense against Soviet aggression.
• Impact: The formation of NATO solidified the U.S. commitment to defend Europe, leading to a permanent Western military alliance.
NSC-68
Definition: A U.S. National Security Council document outlining the strategy of containing Soviet power and preventing communist expansion globally.
• Key Focus: Advocated for a massive military buildup and increased defense spending.
• Impact: Led to an escalation in the arms race and the militarization of U.S. foreign policy.
Korean War
1950-53
Context: Fought between communist North Korea (with Soviet and Chinese support) and non-communist South Korea (supported by the U.S. and the United Nations).
• U.S. Involvement: Truman’s decision to intervene militarily in defense of South Korea as part of his policy to contain communism.
• Impact: Demonstrated the global reach of the Cold War and further entrenched U.S. military alliances, especially in Asia.
Truman doctrine and containment strategy
Definition: Truman’s broader foreign policy strategy aimed at containing the spread of communism, particularly from the Soviet Union.
• Key Focus: Support for countries resisting communism, direct intervention, and military alliances.
• Impact: Established the U.S. as a global leader in the fight against communism.
The red scare and McCarthyism
Context: U.S. domestic fear of communist infiltration, especially following the Soviet atomic bomb test and the rise of communist governments in Eastern Europe and China.
• Impact: Fueled anti-communist hysteria in the U.S., leading to intense investigations, blacklists, and persecution of suspected communists, both within the government and in society
What key decisions were made at the Potsdam conference in Germany
A: Germany was divided into four zones of occupation controlled by the USA, USSR, Britain, and France. Berlin was also divided into four sectors despite being located in the Soviet zone. Reparations were agreed upon, and efforts to denazify Germany and put Nazi leaders on trial were decided.
What was the Morgenthau Plan, and why was it rejected?
The Morgenthau Plan advocated for dismantling Germany’s industrial capabilities and reducing it to an agrarian state. Truman rejected it, fearing it would repeat the mistakes of the Treaty of Versailles and lead to German resentment and future militarism.
What caused the Berlin blockade and how did the west respond
Stalin blockaded West Berlin in 1948 to prevent the Western Allies from unifying their zones and introducing the Deutschmark. The West responded with the Berlin Airlift, delivering food and supplies to West Berlin for 11 months.
What prompted the creation of NATO
The Berlin Blockade and Soviet aggression led the U.S. and Western European countries to form NATO in April 1949, a mutual defense alliance to protect against Soviet expansion.
