How successful was Truman at waging Cold War in the West?

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  • Created by: jessica7
  • Created on: 02-05-20 09:41

Truman Doctrine speech, 12 Mar 1947

Details

  • In the Truman Doctrine, the president stated it was the responsibility of the USA to prevent the spread of communism. 
  • Truman exaggerated the threat to alarm Congress into voting for aid for Greece & Turkey.
  • Congress voted to give $400mn, $250 of whch went to Greece & remainder to Turkey.

Significance

  • Clear decleration of war
  • Represented culmination of US fears & policy to date
  • Doctrine was accompanied by an increase in military preparation

How successful?

  • Hostile Republican Congress to vote him money
  • In getting American public to support him
  • Criticised by Rep. Senator Taft - too simplistic to divide the world in two
  • George Kennan said it was too sweeping as did not ask the right questions
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National Security Act, 1947

Details

  • Designed to improve the USA's war making capacity by merging War & Navy Departments into a new enlarged Defence Department based at the Pentagon. 
  • Established the CIA

Signficance

  • Central Intelligence Agency's function was to gather intelligence on actual or potential enemies.
  • CIA engaged in spying & secret operations abroad & was an important instrument of containment.
  • Act also created the National Security Council which reported directly to the president - gradually assumed an important role in developing policy towards the USSR.
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Marshall Plan, 5 June 1947 (1)

Details

  • Programme of economic assistance for Western Europe.
  • US saw Europe as being in economic crisis.
  • Whilst grim, was not as bad as US feared.
  • Main purpose was to contain communism. 
  • Aimed to make communism have less appeal.
  • Proposed large grants which European countries would use to purchase food, raw materials & industrial machinery from US - also stimulating US economy
  • Soviets were invited to join although Washington didn't actually want them to participate.

Significance

  • Stalin rejected it as perceived it as a challenge to his control.
  • Stalin feared the Soviets would be left without resources & markets & the sphere of influence would disintegrate.
  • Soviets created the Molotov Plan.
  • Sept 1947: Cominform was established.
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Marshall Plan, 5 June 1947 (2)

Signficance

  • Between 1948 & 1952,spending came to $13bn - main recipients were Britain, France & Germany. By 1952, industrial production increased by 35% & agricultural output by 10% in these states - MP accelerated post war recovery.

How successful?

  • Stalin's rejection signalled the economic & political division of Europe.
  • Iron Curtain really did begin to descend across Europe.
  • Hungary, 1948: non-communists expelled from govt
  • Feb 1948: the Czech expressed an interest - pro-Western Czech foreign minister Jan Masaryk was murdered.
  • Opposition from Congress to financing MP crumbled after thte Czech murder.
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Berlin Blockade, June 1948 (1)

Details

  • Stalin blocked Western Access to the Western zones by road, rail & waterway - prupose: force Americans to drop proposals for a West German State.
  • Truman responded by air lifting supplies into Berlin.
  • American & British planes flew more than 200,000 planes into Berlin in 320 days, delivering food & coal to 2mn west Berliners.
    Stalin ended blockade in May 1949.

Significance

  • First crisis of the Cold War.
  • Both Stalin & Truman not prepared to risk all-out war.
  • Stalin's plans failed.
  • Led to creation of a strongly pro-Western American Western state.
  • Led to establishment of NATO. 
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Berlin Blockade, June 1948 (2)

How successful?

  • Truman had shown he was not prepared to give in to Stalin - marked a major victory for the Americans.
  • In the face of the Blockade, the Western powers demonstrated great unity and commitment. 
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Creation of a West German State

Details

  • US believed it was engaged in a battle with Soviets to win the hearts of German people.
  • May 1949: constitution drawn up for a new West German state - combo of the 3 Western zones.
  • After blockade, free elections took place & Federal Republic of Germany born in Sept 1949.

Significance

  • Oct 1949: Soviets set up an East German state called the German Democratic Republic.
  • A one party state governed by communists. East Germans started to patrol, mine & fence the 850 frontier with West Germany.

How successful?

  • Partition of Germany a microcosm of division of Europe.
  • Neither superpower could afford to allow the whole of Germany to fall under the other's influence. 
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NATO, Apr 1949

Details

  • Military alliance of 12 states.
  • Agreed to adopt principle of collective security.

Significance

  • Europe now divided militarily, politically & economically.
  • NATO membership borugh military advanteges to US.
  • In event of a Soviet invasion, US not solely responsible. 
  • European states provided valuable air bases.
  • USSR created Warsaw Pact in 1955.

How successful?

  • American sphere of influence further consolidate in the West.
  • Historic moment in US foreign policy - first treaty signed with a European state since American Revolution.
  • NATO stabilised Europe - Asia became Cold War arena after this. 
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