The Three major conferences
Which nations are involved in the grand Alliances
Great Britain, United States of America and Soviet Union
Who made the Truman Doctrine?
FDR
no just kidding, obviously it is President Truman
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev
When is the Korean war
1950~1953
to be specific, 25th June 1950 to 27th of July 1953
What are the members of US intelligence monitoring of communist members and what are their roles
FBI: Inside the nation
CIA: International programs
both tries to stop the spreading of communism
Who are the leaders for the conferences including Tehran, Yalta and Postdam conference? What could be a potential implication for such changes?
Terhan: Stalin, FDR, Churchill
Yalta: Stalin, FDR, Churchill
Postdam: Stalin, Truman, Attlee (200points)
Implication: Change of policies and change of the actions conducted due to the change in personality differences. (200 points)
What are the contents for the Truman Doctrine?
Viewed as Soviet aggression via proxy.
Domino Theory was accordingly carried out.
What are the names of the institutions that USSR settled to fight against USA's influence after Marshall Plan and Truman doctrine?
Comecon and Cominform
Why does President Truman refuse to use Atomic bomb during the Korean war?
1. loss of nuclear monopoly
2. massive opposition of the allies
3. potential escalation into world war 3
4. moral unease
Name four countries included in the OAS
Antigua and Barbuda. Argentina. Barbados. Belize. Bolivia. Brazil. Canada. Chile. Colombia. Costa Rica. Cuba. Dominica. Dominican Republic. Ecuador.
Outline the main impact of the Yalta conference (including the political, territorial, economic impact, make three points)
POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE = Churchill was isolated Churchill felt isolated and powerless after Stalin and Roosevelt got on well & made most of the agreements.
TERRITORIAL CONSEQUENCE = Germany divided It was agreed that Germany would be divided into 4 zones which would be controlled by Britain, France, USA & Russia. This, to prevent more conflict initially.
ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCE = Reparation payments Germany should pay $20 million in reparations.
POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE = Soviet Influence: That east Europe was looked after by Russia in their ‘Soviet Sphere of Influence’. There would be free elections. It eventually causes the differences between the democracy.
Provide an overview of the Marshall plan
(require the time that Marshall plan is implanted, the overall policy of the Marshall plan and the nation's intention)
Year: 1948
(100 points)
Policy: Economic investments into European nations which is under USSR's ideology and infiltration. Giving out more than 12.7 billion dollars worthy of economic assistance. (not required with this specific value)
(150 points)
Intention: To Prevent the social chaos and instability that could lead to extremist political movements, particularly communism.
(150 points)
Provide an overview of the targets and motives that the USSR tries to achieve during the Berlin blockade
To force the Western Allies out of Berlin and build an isolated western Berlin is a main goal.
Test of Western resolve's capability, aiming to achieve a strategic victory without direct military conflict.
As a reciprocal of the Deutschmark that was implanted in other parts of Berlin.
The London Six-Power Conference's decision to merge the Western zones and create a new, unified German federal state was a major point of contention for the USSR.
outline the impact of the Korean war on any of the following nations (China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan)
China: gained a higher global status over the winning of the war. However losing tons of casualties, it also triggers their ambition for doing further developments.
North/ South Korea: ended with conflicts no results, leading to the long term conflicts between the nations.
South Korea/ Japan: become USA's bases in the Eastern Asia, high economic developments over time.
Provide an overview of the policies of the OAS (organization of the American states)
What are the potential impacts of the breakdown of the grand alliances over the United States?
(including political, military, social and economic)
Political: Its breakdown would immediately diminish Washington's ability to shape international rules, and conduct actions. Additionally, generally causes the conflict.
Military: Increased risk of direct conflict between the two nations. The buildup of a stronger military such as nuclear weapons, etc.
Social: The role of "leader of the free world" is deeply embedded in American national identity.
Economic: challenge the free trade between worldwide, and further leading to both sides starting their own union for resources and trades.
Policy of containment main goal is to prevent the spread of Soviet and communist influence beyond its existing borders during the Cold War, examine how well they have achieved this target from 1947 to 1953.
1. Berlin blockade, sort of failed as they can not stop USSR from isolating the space in Western Berlin. However, their humane action, the Berlin airlift provided them with adequate global support. (Social)
2. Marshall plan, NATO and Truman doctrine, Marshall plan explicitly provided money with nations such as Greece, and West Germany which is under the risk of communist. NATO also implanted with nations that are surrounding the USSR. (Economic)
3. The Korean war, directly engaging with the communist militarily, despite didn't achieving the ultimate goal, still showcases prevented communist unifying Korea. (military)
examine the effectiveness of the salami tactics and how it may causes the USA to respond.
examination:
the act to cut off any anti-communist parties in eastern European nations
a slow, precise, but less alerting strategy, that doesn't causes any notation of other nations.
Should provide USSR with a significant amount of gains, both economically and allies.
However, the actions are spotted by other nations as their infiltration are too violent and forcing
The governments installed through these tactics lacked genuine popular legitimacy. They were seen as puppet regimes imposed by a foreign power.
(any three points)
US' responds:
For USA, it was a strong evidence of Stalin imitating Hitler and reviving Nazism for which USA accused Stalin of re-purposing Hilter's "piecemeal" strategy
Stigmatization of communist, by promotion of anti-communist art pieces/ propagranda/ etc.
Examine the causes of the Korean war, is the total breakout of the war generally attributed to a national conflict or an international conflict?
arguments for a national conflict:
1. The nationalist leaders in both nations.
2. Both sides sought to unify Korea under their respective governments, but diplomatic efforts failed.
Arguments about international causes:
1. the establishment of 38th parallel, signifying the sphere of influence for USSR and USA.
2. The ambition of China and USSR enhances after their strengthening.
3. Policy of containment by the USA
Discuss the short term and long term impacts of the Organization of the American states and the treaty of reciprocal in terms of how it may benefit or cause harm to USA.
Short-term impact:
pro:
Provides a platform for immediate cooperation on issues like human rights and development.
Offers experience and mechanisms for conflict resolution and promoting dialogue, which can be deployed to manage immediate crises.
Con:
U.S. consumers bear the cost through higher prices, and American businesses that rely on imported goods face higher production costs.
Tariffs can lead to job losses in sectors like automotive manufacturing due to decreased demand and increased production costs
Long term impact:
pro:
Its primary long-term benefit is the framework for collective defense against external threats
Contributes to a stable and prosperous environment for US interests in the region
Con:
trade diversion caused by the differences in Tariff weakening this party
The fight between NATO and OAS
To what extent do you agree "United States needs to be attributed with the most responsibility for escalating the Cold war during the Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam conferences?"
(require 2 arguments for and 1 argument against or opposite)
Topic 1 (pro): Truman hiding the intention to build an atomic bomb to have a head start on the war of atomic war.
Topic 2 (pro): The will of democracy on Poland which could be a buffer zone for USSR can be seen as a infiltration for USSR's sphere of influence.
Topic 3 (con): The USSR breaking the rule during the Yalta conference for free election in Poland, USSR to blame.
Topic 4 (con): Stalin was unhappy with his quarter of Germany as he got the ‘poor’ section. Stalin wanted Poland’s boarder further West to allow a bigger ‘buffer zone’. Despite getting the greatest amount of reparation.
Examine the impact of the US policy of containment on superpower relations between 1947 to 1953.（you can talk about it from a economic, political and military standpoint)
Economic rivalry between the NATO and USSR policies such as invasion of Iran/ Poland/ Turkey/ etc.
Increased military rivalry: Korean war showcases the starting of the direct conflict between the two nations, it may be argued as USA's policy of containment.
Escalated Arm race: the race for atomic bomb building, turning into a race for hydrogen bomb.
Increased political control: The foundation of OAS, NATO, FBI and CIA, all represented USA's effort on policy of containment. Causing a greater backclash from the USSR.
To what extent do you agree with historian John Lewis Gaddis’ argument that the policy of containment was motivated by the fear of Soviet expansion?
Pro:
1. The Polish crisis with not handling the democracy.
2. Invasion of Iran, Turkey to extend the sphere of influence.
3. The USSR's actions, such as the Berlin Blockade from 1948-1949, heightened tensions and demonstrated a willingness to use force to achieve its goals.
Con:
1. ideological difference is the major cause
2. USA's imposed actions such as the hiding of the atomic bomb.
3.economic actions Marshall plan.
4. NATO as a collective security mechanism against USSR
(any valid points)
To what extent was the Korean War a failure of United States foreign policy? (require 2 arguments for and 1 argument against or opposite)
Pro:
1. Primary Goal Achieved: Containment: the Korean war indeed stopped the spreading of communist ideology which is a part of the policy of containment
2. The commitment of future allies, they successfully established South Korea as a future allies.
3. The United Nations transmitted USA to a global military power.
4. To an extend showcased the military strength of the USA army. (Including the potential usage of the atomic weapon/ the militarization all the way across to the Yalu river)
Con:
1. Failure to achieve a fully unified Korea, failed to achieve the ultimate goal of the Korean war.
2. The human cost, as there are a significant amount of casualties. The war resulted in over 36,000 American deaths, more than 100,000 wounded, and enormous financial expenditure.
3. Militarization of the cold war (may argue on the both side)
4. Truman lost public support due to the war
To what extend do you agree with the statement "After 1945, the foreign policy of countries in the Americas was largely shaped by the Cold War." With references to the treaties discussed.
( a bonus 200 points if you use a country for reference, but it is out of our knowledges for the mid-term)
pro:
The role of the CIA is the most direct evidence of Cold War shaping. US foreign policy aimed to prevent the spread of communism at all costs, often overriding concerns for democracy or social justice.
The 1947 Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty) bound members to collective defense, which was interpreted through a Cold War lens.
The United States often back the anti-communist governing bodies in the American nations.
con:
Latin American nations doesn't have a Marshall plan, which means that they are less infiltrated by the economic ideology that the European nations faces.
The collective agenda means that all nations have the right to be a part of the decision making process.