Cold War Heats up in Asia

1. Who was Chiang Kai-shek?         
 Chiang Kai-shek was a nationalist who ruled Eastern and Southern China in 1945. He relied heavily on aid from the United States. He also struggled inflation and a failing economy and suffered from weak leadership and poor morale.  

2. Who was Mao Zedong?      
  Mao Zedong was a communist who ruled northern China in 1945. He relied heavily on aid from the Soviet Union and also attracted peasants with promises of land reform. Also he benefited from experienced guerrilla army and a highly motivated leadership. 


3. How were the Communist able to take over China?     
  The communist were able to take over China by the nationalists collected a grain tax from farmers even during the the famine of 1944. When city dwellers demonstrated against a 10,000 percent increase in the price of rice, Chiang's secret police opened fire on them. Which then allowed Mao Zedong to gain strength throughout the country by working to win peasant support. They encouraged peasants by encouraged them to learn how to read and write and they also helped to improve food production.  


4. How did the State Department respond to critics that Truman's "Containment" policy didn't extend to Asia?               
 The State Department responded by saying that what happened in China was a result of internal forces and that the United States had failed in it's attempts to influence these forces, such as Chiang's inability to retain the support of his people. 


5. How did Korea become a divided nation after World War II?      
 Korea became a divided nation after World War two by Japan was originally taken over by the Japanese  from 1910 until 1945 and when World War Two ended the top half of Korea surrendered to the Soviets while the bottom half surrendered to America. Which caused the two nation to divided into communists and democrats.


6. What is the importance of the Yalu River and what prompted the Chinese to enter the Korean War?     
 The importance of the Yalu River was that it was the "border" in the war and the Chinese were prompted to enter the Korean War by the fact that they wanted North Korea as a communist buffer state to protect their northeastern provinces that made up Manchuria. 

7. Who is General Douglas MacArthur and what did he want to do against China?     
 General Douglas MacArthur was an American general and he wanted an extension of the war into China being convinced that Korea was the place "where the communist conspirators have elected to make their play for global conquest." Also MacArthur called for the use of nuclear weapons against Chinese cities.


8. Why did Truman relieve MacArthur from duty?       
  Truman relieved MacArthur from duty because he spoke and wrote privately about the idea to newspapers , magazine publishers and especially Republican Leaders and he also continued to criticize the president.


9. How did the war end?       
 The war ended by the opposing sides reached agreement on two points: the location of the cease fire line at the existing battle line and the establishment of a demilitarized zone between the two opposing sides. Negotiators spent another year wrangling over the exchange of prisoners and finally in July 1953 the two sides signed an armistice ending the war.
10. He is the current leader of North Korea and was also named the "Sexiest Man Alive" in 2012.      

Origins of the Cold War Outline

To what extent were the policies of the United States responsible for the outbreak and development of the Cold War between 1945 and 1949?

 The United States was responsible for the outbreak of the development of the Cold War that was between 1945 and 1949 because of a numerous amount of reasons for example there was the Marshall Plan, The Truman Doctrine, Truman being an anti-communist, the atomic bombs that were dropped on Japan and lastly the Nato Alliance. However some may argue that the U.S.S.R were responsible for the Cold War because of Stalin took over Eastern Europe.
 First the Marshall Plan was a huge reason for the the United States being apart of the Cold War to begin with; The Marshall plan changed the economic situation in the European continent as a result of freeing up trade policies within the continent. This created a situation in which trade could be conducted freely and this ended up boosting their economy. While the Marshall Plan may not have initiated the economic recovery it was important in helping it. Also the Marshall plan helped America by the fact that to supply Europe with goods American farms and factories raised production levels which as a result the American economy continued its wartime boom.
 Second the Truman Doctrine and Truman being an anti-communist was another reason why the United States was responsible. To begin with the Truman Doctrine  provided Turkey and Greece with economic and military aid after the Ottoman Empire's  collapse in World War II.Therefore it was an indirect way by the United States to promote their idea of democracy to these nations.The United States did this because the Soviet Union's idea of communism was fastly spreading throughout Europe and the United States saw it as a threat. Therefore, by supplying other countries with aid, they won them over.
  Third the bombs being dropped on Japan by the United States Harry Truman dropped the bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima to end the war. At the time you could say that America was fighting two wars, one against Germany and one against Japan. Even though Japanese military supplies were very limited at this point in time of the war, Truman still enforced the Japanese to sign a treaty to surrender. After they failed to surrendered, America dropped 2 bombs on Japan. The effect was Japan surrendered the war immediately after the 2nd bombing. It also showed the military power America could potentially use to the world. The significance of it now is that the atomic bomb has basically created an arms race. The Cold War was a feud over not only communism but the fear of a nuclear war.
Fourth the NATO Alliance was another reason why the United States was responsible for the cold war NATO is an abbreviation for North Atlantic Treaty Organization the 12 members of NATO were the United States and Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal. The twelve members of NATO pledged military support to each other in case any member was attacked.
Others may say that the U.S.S.R was to blame for the Cold War because of Stalin taking over Eastern Europe because the United States believed that Stalin was building up communism in the eastern European countries which the United States did not want. Some may say that  Soviet expansionism really did stem the whole cold war because it brought to the forefront the US's fear of communism and total hostility and the proxy war began over Marshall Aid, and the Berlin Airlift in 1948, which were as a result of soviet expansionism.
Hence the United States were responsible for the cold war because of The Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine, Truman being an anti-communist, the bombs being dropped on Japan and lastly the NATO alliance however some may argue that the U.S.S.R was responsible for the Cold War because of Stalin taking over Eastern Europe.

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift

1. What is Source 37 (p. 75) saying about Josip Tito, leader of Yugoslavia?     
  Source 37 is saying that Josip Tito is betraying Yugoslavia by accepting money from Americans. However when he is accepting the money he is under a cloak because does not want to be seen by anybody from Yugoslavia or the Soviet Union because he is not supposed to be taking money from Americans so he is therefore betraying Stalin and the Soviet Union.


2. Why do you think Stalin was so hostile to Tito?        
 I think that Stalin was so hostile to Tito because he was suspicious that Tito would not follow his ways and that he knew that he would do anything for his country even if it meant betraying Stalin by taking money from America. 


3. Look back at the map in Source 27 on page 71. How does the geographical position of Yugoslavia help to explain why Stalin did not take any direct action (such as sending in troops) against Tito?     
 The geographical position of Yugoslavia helps to explain why Stalin did not take any direct actions towards Tito because right next to Yugoslavia is Albania and he knew that Albania would help Yugoslavia if they needed it and also Yugoslavia is right near the ocean so if they had to the people of Yugoslavia could run away on boats.
 


4. Read Source 40 (p. 77). What reasons did the Soviet Union give for cutting off West Berlin?       
 The reasons that the Soviet Union gave for cutting off West Berlin were that they it was deep in the Soviet zone and was linked to the Soviet zones of western Germany by vital roads, canals and railroads.
5. Why do you think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons?           
 The U.S did not believe that they were genuine reasons because they saw it as a test case and if they gave in to Stalin on this issue western Germany might of been next and Truman wanted to show that he was serious about his policy of containment.
 


6. How do Sources 41–43 differ in their interpretation of the blockade?            
 Sources 41-43 differ in the interpretation of the blockade by source 41 says that the blockade was considerable achievement but that neither side gained. Source 42 says that it brought the people of western Europe closer to the Americans and that it was a move to test our ability and our will to resist. Also source 43 says that the blockade the U.S was forced to yield and that their war plans had come to nothing because of the U.S.S.R.


7.  Which do you think is the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade?       
 I think that source 43 is the most useful source because it showed both the U.S.S.R and the U.S view on the blockade.



8.  Which source do you think gives the most reliable view of the blockade?   
 I think that source 42 gives us the most reliable view of the blockade because it shows how the blockade gave Western Europe and America a closer relationship.   

Iron Curtain Separates Europe

What is your overall impression of Source 26 (p. 70) and use extracts from the source to support your view. (No fence sitting; you must choose one but not both)      

• a reasonable assessment of Stalin’s aims based on the facts
• an overreaction to Stalin’s actions based on fear of and prejudice towards the USSR?               
  My overall impressions is that this report from the British foreign secretary is an overreaction to Stalin's actions because the source clearly states that "The Soviet Government is not prepared to co-operate with any non-communist government in eastern Europe" and also that "Physical control of Europe and Asia and eventual control of the whole world is what Stalin is aiming at". I think that this is a overreaction because I do not believe that Stalin's true intentions were to take over and control the whole world like how the British foreign secretary post says that it was.   



  
2. Source 26 is a British source. Does it seem likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government?  
 Yes I believe that it does seem likely that similar documents like document 26 were being posted by the American Government because it was very clear during most of the Potsdam Conference and the Yalta conference that America and Britain were a team and were very suspicious of Stalin and his actions.   





3. Study Source 27 (p. 71) and make a list of three different actions that Communists took to achieve power in eastern Europe. AND Explain how each factor helped.   

Three different actions that Communists took to achieve power in eastern Europe were that after the war the communists joined a coalition government then became outright leaders in 1947 when they forced the non-communist leader into exile. This is a significant factor that helped because it forced other countries to join Stalin's ways and join the coalition government. Another action that the communist took was that they became the largest single party in the 1947 elections. They imprisoned opposition politicians and attacked church leaders. This is important factor because they were imprisoning other countries politicians that did not believe in the Soviet ways and that they also were attacking other countries religions and their church leaders.
Lastly another actions that the Communists took were that they in 1945 a communist was elected prime minister within a left-wing coalition and in 1947 the communists also abolished monarchy. This is also an important factor because countries that were controlled by Stalin and his communists could no longer have a monarchy government. 

The Potsdam Conference

1. Read Source 17 (p 68). At Yalta, Churchill and Roosevelt had agreed with Stalin that eastern Europe would be a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’. Do you think Source 17 is what they had in mind?   
 
 I do think that source 17 is what Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt had in mind because they wanted Eastern Europe to take responsibility for their actions that they made during The World War




2. Would they agree with Stalin’s views expressed in Sources 17 and 18? Explain your answer.       
   I do not think that they would agree with Stalin's views that were expressed in sources 17 and 18 because they can say that they are in the position that they are in because of the outcome that the war had on Eastern Europe so for them to have have any help would not be fair because America always has the help of Great Britain.





3.  Explain how each of the three developments described in the text might affect relationships at Potsdam.
  Each of the three developments described in the text might affect the relationships at Potsdam because they could of caused tension and awkwardness  between Churchill Stalin and Roosevelt. 

Nuclear Arms Race Since 1945

1. Explain how Dragonfire's report on October 11, 2001 highlighted a new threat from nuclear weapons.                 
 The dragonfire report was a report which claimed that Al Queda had brought a nuclear bomb into NYC. This event had brought this new threat of nuclear weapons that terrorist may use the nuclear weapons against the US and its allies. Also this caused a new danger of nuclear weapons complicating nation’s foreign affairs with one another

2. Why is proliferation such a strong concern for the United States?              
     Proliferation was a strong concern for the United States because the USSR might spread nuclear weapons to their communist allies who were not capable or did not yet have the technology which could bring the capitalist and communist world against one another in a full out end of the world nuclear war. 

3. What is deterrence?                   
   Deterrence was an idea that US air force strategist came up with saying that if one side were to launch a nuclear weapon at the other, and in retaliation the other nation would fire one back to devastate the initial attacker, both nations would fear total annihilation, and both sides would deterred from attacking.


4. Explain the importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis.                   
     
The importance of the Cuban Missile crisis is that this was the closest the US and the Soviet Union were to having a nuclear war and turning the Cold War into nothing but a humanity war. Also this ended the connection between the Cuban nation and the US, when JFK placed a trade embargo on Cuba which is still in existence today. 

5. President John F. Kennedy worried that twenty-five nations would have nuclear weapons by the 1970s. Why do you think his worry did not come to pass?                           
Kennedy's worry of the twenty-five nations having nuclear weapons by the 1970's did not come true because the US and the USSR agreed not to spread nuclear weapons or materials to their allies which without many nations would/will not be able to develop these weapons                          


6. What was the Cold War? How long did it last?                      
 The Cold War was the war which was never fought on a battlefield between the Capitalist US and the communist USSR. Although the two never fought head to head on the battlefield, both nations fought like the US in Korea and in Vietnam against the spreading of communism around the world.The Cold War raged from 1945 at the end of WWII to 1991 when the USSR collapsed