Hot Spots of the Cold War

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Hot Spots of the Cold War

• Conflicts and Almost Conflicts between East and
  West, 1948-1956

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China

• Communists and Nationalists unite to defeat
  Japanese in World War II
• Communists Mao Zedong
• Nationalists Chiang Kai-shek
• After war, sides continue civil war
• 1949 Red Army defeats Nationalists
• Chiang Kai-shek and forces flee to Taiwan

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Consequences

• Worlds most populous nation is now communist
• Although relationship with USSR is shaky and not
  always cordial
• US and UN recognize Taiwan as the true China.
• Not changed until 1971

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The Korean War, 1950-53

• After WWII, Korea occupied by both USSR (North)
  and USA (South)
• With Chinese Soviet backing, North invades
  South
• First outright battle for containment

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The Korean War, 1950-53

• US does not declare war it is a police action
  Forces are United Nations
• Fighting advances and retreats across peninsula
• After UN rescue South, they attack North
• China intervenes directly

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The Korean War, 1950-53

• Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Commander of UN forces
• issues ultimatum to Chinese, threatens to take
  war to China
• Criticizes Truman Truman relieves him of duty
• 1952 - Eisenhower becomes President
• Negotiates end of war 38th parallel

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Critical Thinking

• How does the Korean War fit with Kennans policy
  of containment?

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Hungary, 1956

• Stalin dies 1953 Replaced by Kruschev
• Policy of modest liberalization
• Spontaneous uprising of students and others to
  restore democracy
• Demands to remove Soviet troops
• Soviets send in Red Army and brutally crush
  rebellion

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Consequences

• Over 30,000 Hungarians dead
• 200,000 Hungarians flee
• Despite comments of support from US for Hungarian
  dissidents, US takes no action
• Why not?

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The Suez Canal Crisis, 1956-57

• Egypt, under Nasser, nationalize Suez Canal
• British, French and Israel threaten to invade
• Isreali troops invade Sinai
• UK/France issue ultimatum, invade
• US/UN opposed
• UN Takes Canal Zone, returns to Egypt

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Consequences

• Actions by Britain and France send Nasser more
  firmly to Soviets
• Sets stage for 1967 Arab-Israeli War
• Eisenhower asks Congress to use military force in
  Mideast if countries are threatened, as well as
  money for ME development
• Eisenhower Doctrine

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Critical Thinking

• How does the Suez Canal crisis represent a
  failure of Kennans containment policy?