chapter 27

1. There are three different perspectives on the origins of the cold war. The first and most accepted view by historians is the Soviets desire for new territory and the ideology to spread communism forced the United states to take as hard line as possible. Revisionist argued that after being invaded during both World Wars it is is natural respose for the Soviets to want to protect their borders. The revisionist believe that the U.S. should have reassured the Soviets instead of intensifying their fears. The last view states that the tension between the two powers was inevitable. In all three of th view Harry Truman played a important role in intensifying the tensions between the two nations. The US-Soviet relation worsened with the mention of the atomic bomb at the Potsdam Conference. Truman intented to scare the Soviet by using the atomic bomb on Japan but it is unclear if the use of the atomic made the Soviets scared or more agressive.

2. The policy of Containment was first introduced when Greece was facing a conflict in which, communist led insurgent were trying to take over the government. If the communist led insurgents won in Greece then Turkey would also become vulnerable to commnuism. Turman saw Turkey to be critical to U.S. interests. Truman knew that the Congress would not be in favor of providing foreign aid to Turkey and Greece. Therefore, inorder to gain support, Truman overally dramatized the whole situation. In an overally dramatic speech Truman stated that the U.S. national security depended on the future on all countries, not only Greece and Turkey and that if the United States did not help these countries fight communism then totalitarian communism would spread around the world. As a result of this speech Congress passed Truman's request for $400 million in assistance to Greece and Turkey. The term initially appeared in an article written in a journal called Foreign Affairs which was written by George Kennan the State Department's leading expert on Soviet affairs. In the article Kennan stated that the main element in the U.S. foreign policy should be "long term contaiment of Russian expansive tendencies."

3. The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall plan were part of the U.S. foreign policy. The Truman Doctrine stated that U.S. must aid countries who are resisting attempted subversion by armed minorities or by outside pressures or else totalitarian communism would spread around the world. With the Truman Doctrine, 400 million dollar in assistance was provided to Greece and Turkey. The Truman administration also feared that the economic turmoil that Europe was facing at the time made it vulnerable to communist movements. In order to strengthen the economy of Europe George Marshall proposed the Marshall plan, which would provide Europe with the necessary funds to design and carry out a broad program of postwar economic reconstruction. Under the Marshall Plan, the U.S. provided nearly 13 million dollars in assistance to 17 Western European nations. The Soviet's response to the U.S. containment policy was the Berlin Blockade. In June 1948, Soviets cut off all highways, railroads, and water routes linking West Berlin to West Germany. However, the soviet blockade of Berlin failed because America provided round the clock delivery of 2 million tons of supplies.

4. As a result of Truman containment policies it was an easy win for Harry Truman in the election of 1948. The other candidates were Henry A. Wallace nominated by Progressive party, Thomas E. Dewey a republican nominee, and Thomas Thurmond, candidate of the States' Rights policy. Many believed that Truman had zero chance of winning the presidency. Truman's opponent, Dewey was so confident of winning that he developed a very slow, energetic campaign and when he reached Kansas City, Dewey relaxed by booking a hotel suite that the president used whenever he was in town. On the other hand Truman conducted a very energetic campaign, denouncing Dewey and Henry Wallace. In the end, Truman aggressive campaign paid off because in November, Truman gained a solid majority in the electoral college even though he only 49.6% of popular vote. Truman was easily able to win the election of 1948 because of Franklin Roosevelt's achievements. It was the benefits of the New Deal programs that helped Harry Truman in the election. In addition, Truman attracted people with his anticommunist policies.

5. Concerns for internal security greatly affected work life and the entertainment industry. Concerns

Atomic Bomb DBQ

On August 6, 1945 a United States B-29 bomber dropped a massive atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Hiroshima was not a military base, in fact most of the casualities caused by the bomb were civilian death. While the people of Japan were still trying to coprehend the devastating situation. The U.S. planned for another bombing mission. Three days later, the United States droper another bomb on Nagasake. Nearly half of Nagasaki had been destroyed from the bomb. Th reason for the U.S. 's decision to use the atomic bomb is controversial, but the decison was mainly adeplomatic measure calculated to intimidate the Soviet Union

Although many believed that the Atomic bomb was the key to completely ending the war with Japan but it was apparent to everyone that even without the bomb Japan was already on the verge of collapsing. Japan had already been weakened by many other air bombing. The United States "had hit some 60 Japanese cities with our regular Hight Explosive and incendiary bombs and, as a result of our raid, about 241,000 people had been killed, 313,000 wounded, and about 2,333,000 home destoryed."(Doc B) It is very clear from General H.H. Arnold's accounts about the Japaneses situation in World War 2, Japanese surrender was inevitable. Although, the bomb might have quickened the process, Japanese unconditional Surrender of the Japaneses was coming with or without the bomb. " Japan was essentially defeated and that we could win the war in another 6 months."(doc F)

At the time, President Truman and much of the United States government was less concerned about the Japanese surrender and more about Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union. Russia at the time was superior in military weaponry and military tactics. Many of the United States leaders felt that the United should show its power and strength and sort of scare Russia. The opportunity to do this presented by using the Atomic Bomb. Up until than Russia had the new and better weaponry but the Atomic bomb was a very powerful weapon, therefore it was big accomplishment that the United States, " won the race of discovery" of the atomic bomb.(Doc h) Even though without the bomb the surrender of Japan was possible but the United States needed from the Souviet Union. The United States strategic plan for the of Japan would require 5,000,000 men, which would only be possible with the help of the Souviet Union.(Doc A) Truman was relcutant to seek help because the United States wanted to undermine the power of the Souviet Union not seek their help. As Winston Churchill states in the Potsdam Conference, " We should not need the Russians" if the atomic bomb could be used. Like many Dwight D. Eisenhower feared that " no power on earth could keep the Red Army out of the war unless victory came before they could get in." (Doc C) The only way to gain victory with out the aid of the Russians was by the using the Atomic bombs.

1920's DBQ

Although America experience a period of prosperity during the 1920's, it was also a period of conflict between the old traditional ways and the new ways. Essentially, a groups known as the fundamentalists completely disapproved of the new ways. Many of these fundamentalists were white protestant. The people who embraced these ways were the city dwellers. The cause for the social and economical differences during the 1920's was effec ts of World War I and these differences were manifested by the KKK, and new immigration laws.

New method of mass production developed during the war increased production, therefore decreased prices. Additionally, with new invention of credit allowed even the common Americans to buy new products. One of the greatest inventions of the 1920's was the Ford model T. The Model T gave more freedom to teenagers and allowed farm famillies to go on family outings and see the exciting life of the city. These new products and especially the Model T, became signs of wealth as Sinclair says, "The standard advertised wares...were his symbols and proof of excellence.."(doc A)

When the men were away fighting the World War, women took over jobs, which were previously held by men. Women gained a new sense of independence, as a resulf of World War I. From the 1920's the flapper women image formed. A flapper women was more social and wore shorter dresses and had shorter hair. The one group the was aganist this new found independence amoung women, were white protestants and the KKK. They believed that women should go back to being a homemaker. These groups were against almost all new ideas and inventions of the 1920's. Importantly, the KKK and the fundamentalists were aganist darwinism and allowing more new immigrants into America. As represent by the trial in Doc C, Fundamentalist believed that the bible should be accepted as it is given, but the intellecuts of the 1920's discredited the bible with ideas of Darwinism.