From World War to Cold War HIS 450)
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Grand Canyon University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
144
Subject
History
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
5
Uploaded by areyes091189
1
From World War to Cold War - Online
Angelica Reyes
His 450: U.S. History Since 1945
Cliff McCain
10/8/2023
2
1.
Describe the significance of the Truman Doctrine to the Cold War.
The Truman Doctrine was the United States' response to the proliferation of communism.
After the Second World War, the Soviet Union had already imposed its communist
ideology on Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, and Romania, which fell under
their control. Tensions escalated when the USSR attempted to spread its ideology
throughout Europe, starting with Greece and Turkey. Truman found this disturbingly
reminiscent of Hitler's actions pre-war. The Truman Doctrine aimed to impede the spread
of communism and provide assistance to any nation resisting it. In his speech, Truman
stated, "It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are
resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures… If we falter
in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world—we shall surely endanger the
welfare of our nation" (Moss and Thomas, 2013 via Truman, 1947). The Truman
Doctrine was a direct response to the global threat of communism and served as a foreign
policy not only for the United States but also for its allies. This doctrine set forth a plan
for defending democracy worldwide. In the aftermath of this speech, the Cold War began
as a struggle between communism and democracy. The Truman Doctrine provided the
United States with the rationale for engaging in this conflict and safeguarding the
principles of democracy, both at home and abroad.
2.
How did the Marshall Plan impact the future of Europe?
After the war had ravaged Europe, leaving behind destroyed families, leveled cities, and
hyperinflated economies that made survival nearly impossible, the Marshall Plan was
created to rebuild the continent. With much of the war fought on European soil, the
United States was concerned about the possibility of communist rule in these battle-
scarred nations, particularly in countries like France and Italy which already had
established communist parties and sympathizers (Moss and Thomas, 2013). During a
conference, the Marshall Plan was introduced to both Western and Eastern Europe. Even
though the West was more inclined towards democracy, the plan aimed to aid the
communist-led Eastern Europe and the USSR themselves. While the English and the
French rallied behind this plan to encourage the rest of Europe, the Soviets opposed it and
left the conference, labeling it as an "American scheme to dominate Europe." Stalin also
prevented the Eastern European countries under his control from receiving aid.
Nevertheless, the Marshall Plan proved to be a success in Europe, reducing communist
influence in the West and providing necessary resources to rebuild the economy and
workforce of recipient countries. Ultimately, the Marshall Plan served as a means to
contain communist influence in Europe.
3.
How did the social and racial changes that occurred during WWII impact U.S.
society after the war?
During the Second World War, America experienced numerous social and racial
transformations. With men serving overseas, there was a significant void in the
workforce. This void presented an unprecedented opportunity for women and minorities
to enter the workforce and take on roles that had previously been unavailable to them in
the United States (Moss and Thomas, 2013). Following the war, there was an emphasis
placed on maintaining and advancing the social and racial progress achieved during
wartime. Women were encouraged to remain in the workforce rather than reverting to
3
traditional roles as homemakers. This push resulted in a 32 percent female representation
in the workforce by 1950, compared to 27 percent at the end of the war (Moss and
Thomas, 2013). The commitment to civil rights for marginalized groups also continued
under Truman's presidency. He was a vocal advocate for civil rights for all and
implemented reforms such as desegregating all government agencies and ending
segregation in the military. These efforts resulted in a more inclusive society with
increased opportunities for women and minorities.
4.
What is NATO and why was (is) it important to the West?
Upon its inception, NATO, or The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, functioned as a
security agreement between the United States, Canada, and ten other Western European
nations in response to the threat of communism. The original agreement stated that if the
Soviet Union showed aggression toward any NATO member, the other members would
provide protection, with the treaty reading, "an armed attack against one or more
members… shall be considered an attack against them all" (Moss and Thomas, 2013).
However, changes to the treaty occurred through senate ratifications and time, and now
NATO is predominantly a peacekeeping organization rather than a defense pact against a
common enemy (Bowman and Goodwin, 2019). During the Cold War, NATO played a
critical role in safeguarding both North America and Western Europe in the event of a
Soviet attack. Additionally, the organization supported the Marshall Plan, assisted in
building support within the region, and contributed to containing the spread of
communism. In modern times, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) holds a
critical role in maintaining diplomatic relations with foreign countries. It serves as a
platform for all members of NATO to convene and deliberate on international issues,
offer assistance, and ensure global security.
5.
What was the Red Scare? What role did the HUAC (House Un-American Activities
Committee) play during the Red Scare? What was the overall impact of the Red
Scare on U.S. society?
As the tension between the United States and the Soviet Union escalated, so too did
concerns regarding the spread of communism. The fear of communism spreading to the
United States was amplified following reports that the ideology had infiltrated
government offices and that some citizens were acting as spies for the enemy (Moss and
Thomas, 2013). To address this threat, the HUAC was formed to identify communist
sympathizers and undercover agents. However, in their efforts, the HUAC exaggerated
the extent of the Communist menace, causing harm to innocent people and creating
confusion and division among Americans. In addition, the committee posed a threat to
basic political freedoms (Moss and Thomas, 2013). During his time as a junior member
of the HUAC, Richard Nixon was tasked with the removal of communist influence from
Hollywood films. Although the committee claimed to be focused on identifying and
eradicating communist media, its true purpose was to purge the United States of
communism. The impact of the Red Scare was far-reaching, leaving a lasting impression
on the American public. It evoked an intense sense of fear among the populace, leading to
the erosion of basic rights and freedoms. Furthermore, it created a deep sense of distrust
between the people and the government. The effects of this period also permeated the
boundaries between national security and personal civil liberties, causing confusion and
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
4
conflict. The paranoia led to the loss of jobs for countless individuals, with even those
innocents of any wrongdoing caught in the crossfire.
5
References:
Bowman, J., & Goodwin, C. (2023). NATO: Overview.
Salem Press Encyclopedia
. Retrieved
from:
https://eds-s-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/eds/detail/detail?
vid=0&sid=f118cb87-3f2f-4136-a3d9-
8d90e7ca1037%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d
%3d#AN=89158260&db=ers
Flynn, G. Q., & Rudolph, J. R., Jr. (2023). Truman Doctrine.
Salem Press Encyclopedia
.
Retrieved from:
https://eds-s-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/eds/detail/detail?
vid=1&sid=98187366-ba9f-4c70-bd2d-
07b6153b0a45%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d
%3d#AN=89316419&db=ers
Harry S. Truman, the Truman Doctrine (1947). (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://media.pearsoncmg.com/pls/az/gcu/1323178368/Truman_Truman_Doctrine_194
7.html
Moss, G., & Thomas, E. (2013).
Moving on: The American people since 1945
(5th ed.).
Pearson Education. ISBN-13: 9780205880768