COLD WAR GOES GLOBAL: KOREAN WAR AND NSC-68
(Depth Study 3: International History, 1945-1991)
(Cambridge International AS and A level History 9389)
U.S. Foreign Policy 1949-1950
NATO established April 1949, USA optimistic Communists contained Europe, first by Truman
Doctrine, now NATO. NATO cheap option USA, power rested A. bomb. USA not invest huge
money developing conventional forces W. Europe to match Sov. Red Army. USA relied
nukes, after WW2 had demobilised troops, USSR had not. Autumn, 1949 key events shift
power to USSR:
- Got nukes
- China fell Communism (Mao Zedong)
USSR gets bomb
USA lost its ace card. USSR achieved quicker than expected cause of spies.
China falls to Communism
Chinese Civil War (1945-1949) USA given little support Nationalists (Chiang Kai-Shek). When
country fell Communism, white paper stated USA couldn't have prevented. Chiang was too
unpopular. It was collapse of Nationalism than Communist victory. White paper = Mao
independent Moscow. Acheson stated Nationalism collapsed, soldiers didn't want fight.
Communist Mao troops seen as fanatical liberators taking advantage of people + situation.
Red Scare: McCarthyism + anti-Communist crusade USA
Feeling strong in US after WW2, reached peak 1950s, Senator Joseph R. McCarthy
encouraged
+ alleged Soviet conspiracy place Communists into key jobs in US. These accusations led
purges + show trials for un-American behaviour. Similar to Stalin’s 1930s. Affected every
level, nobody safe from suspicion. Most infamous Julius, Ethel Rosenberg spying, executed
1953. 1950s people brainwashed anti-Communist. McCarthy claimed Truman
administration Communist influence, all American liberals Communists. February 1950
, Acheson forced make speech appeasing McCarthyites. Truman + Acheson seen as soft on
Communism. Acheson decided reconsider findings 1949 White Paper China. People who
agreed with Acheson lost jobs; valuable workers dismissed.
Continued pressure, Truman called review foreign, defence policy, response new threats
perceived resulting Chinese Comm. Victory + USSR nuke.
Truman not able recognise legitimacy new Chinese Gov.
NSC-68: ‘Total Commitment’
Was report from U.S. National Security Council 1950. Was one key document Cold War. It
warned how all Communist activity traced back Moscow. Indicated growth of Communism.
It was ‘Monolithic View’ Communism. It advised US to always be alert. Increased military
$35-$50 billion.
It encouraged military + economic aid to countries fighting Communism.
Revisionist historians criticised American perceptions Soviet intentions expressed in policy.
Based on false premise, excuse US expansionist.
The Korean War: first hot war
Truman's democratic party difficult elections Nov. 1950. Wanted shelve issues of
recognition
China + commitment Asia + recommendations NSC-68. 25 June 1950 90,000 North Koreans
invaded. Truman not enough time, whether total commitment on global scale wise. North
attack seen as Soviet expansionist as assumed orders Stalin. Failure action undermine USA
containment + ‘domino effect’. Truman says N. Korea take Korea, Korea Asia, Asia Middle
East, Middle East Europe.
US sent aid South, US sent troops to UN. If UN ignore would make same mistakes as League
Nations. USSR boycotted Security Council protest refusal China attend. 1 July US troops
arrived Korea, joined by 15 Nations later, UN commander was General MacArthur.
Course of the war
Several dramatic changes course war first months, stalemate situation lasted armistice
1953:
- Push by North sent deep S. Korea, leaving Pusan. American + S. Korean pushed back
to here.
(Depth Study 3: International History, 1945-1991)
(Cambridge International AS and A level History 9389)
U.S. Foreign Policy 1949-1950
NATO established April 1949, USA optimistic Communists contained Europe, first by Truman
Doctrine, now NATO. NATO cheap option USA, power rested A. bomb. USA not invest huge
money developing conventional forces W. Europe to match Sov. Red Army. USA relied
nukes, after WW2 had demobilised troops, USSR had not. Autumn, 1949 key events shift
power to USSR:
- Got nukes
- China fell Communism (Mao Zedong)
USSR gets bomb
USA lost its ace card. USSR achieved quicker than expected cause of spies.
China falls to Communism
Chinese Civil War (1945-1949) USA given little support Nationalists (Chiang Kai-Shek). When
country fell Communism, white paper stated USA couldn't have prevented. Chiang was too
unpopular. It was collapse of Nationalism than Communist victory. White paper = Mao
independent Moscow. Acheson stated Nationalism collapsed, soldiers didn't want fight.
Communist Mao troops seen as fanatical liberators taking advantage of people + situation.
Red Scare: McCarthyism + anti-Communist crusade USA
Feeling strong in US after WW2, reached peak 1950s, Senator Joseph R. McCarthy
encouraged
+ alleged Soviet conspiracy place Communists into key jobs in US. These accusations led
purges + show trials for un-American behaviour. Similar to Stalin’s 1930s. Affected every
level, nobody safe from suspicion. Most infamous Julius, Ethel Rosenberg spying, executed
1953. 1950s people brainwashed anti-Communist. McCarthy claimed Truman
administration Communist influence, all American liberals Communists. February 1950
, Acheson forced make speech appeasing McCarthyites. Truman + Acheson seen as soft on
Communism. Acheson decided reconsider findings 1949 White Paper China. People who
agreed with Acheson lost jobs; valuable workers dismissed.
Continued pressure, Truman called review foreign, defence policy, response new threats
perceived resulting Chinese Comm. Victory + USSR nuke.
Truman not able recognise legitimacy new Chinese Gov.
NSC-68: ‘Total Commitment’
Was report from U.S. National Security Council 1950. Was one key document Cold War. It
warned how all Communist activity traced back Moscow. Indicated growth of Communism.
It was ‘Monolithic View’ Communism. It advised US to always be alert. Increased military
$35-$50 billion.
It encouraged military + economic aid to countries fighting Communism.
Revisionist historians criticised American perceptions Soviet intentions expressed in policy.
Based on false premise, excuse US expansionist.
The Korean War: first hot war
Truman's democratic party difficult elections Nov. 1950. Wanted shelve issues of
recognition
China + commitment Asia + recommendations NSC-68. 25 June 1950 90,000 North Koreans
invaded. Truman not enough time, whether total commitment on global scale wise. North
attack seen as Soviet expansionist as assumed orders Stalin. Failure action undermine USA
containment + ‘domino effect’. Truman says N. Korea take Korea, Korea Asia, Asia Middle
East, Middle East Europe.
US sent aid South, US sent troops to UN. If UN ignore would make same mistakes as League
Nations. USSR boycotted Security Council protest refusal China attend. 1 July US troops
arrived Korea, joined by 15 Nations later, UN commander was General MacArthur.
Course of the war
Several dramatic changes course war first months, stalemate situation lasted armistice
1953:
- Push by North sent deep S. Korea, leaving Pusan. American + S. Korean pushed back
to here.
