World History

Notes 04-01-09

Term third worldwasnt meant to be a derogatory word, but to refer to those nations who rejected first world
(capitalist democracy) and second world (soviet communism) modernities

The Cold War
Bi-polar issueconstant competition between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.
Problem with the idea that the Soviet-America conflict subsumes all other conflicts
Numerous battles being fought in proxy with the Soviet-American conflictboth supplying arms to various
skirmishes around the worldthe Cold War not as cold as sometimes supposed

Rising hostilities:
o Yalta conferenceChurchill, Roosevelt, Stalin
o Roosevelt optimistic that the three superpowers could work to maintain world peace
o Vision of peace changes when Russia invades Germany and Eastern Europe
o U.S. policy toward communism switches from collaboration to containment
o Truman Doctrine: to protect countries around the world from the threat of Soviet Communism

Communist victory in China
Chiang Kai-sheks nationalist forces losing confidence of the people; waning under Maos communist forces
Nationalist defeat ensured when America withdraws support (disapproved of the brutality of Chiangs soldiers)
Tilted the scales in favor of the Communist bloccauses concern in the United States

Korean War
Argument that Americas involvement in Korea was merely about establishing a presence in Asia
Difficult to support: all troops withdrawn from America in 1949, leaving only a few hundred officers
Stalin and Mao both supported Kim Ils invasion of South Koreathough the U.S. wouldnt get involved in time

Japan
Japan not allowed to build up offensive forces after WWII, only 1% of GDP to be used for military spending
Japan's economy overtakes France, Italy, Britain, and West Germany during the later 1960s
Becomes the 6
th
largest in the worldthus the amount of money used for military spending increases
Only defensive military, but has advanced technology and ability to quickly build up any necessary forces
Japan currently capable of amassing a full nuclear missile defense system in matter of weeks


United States vs. China
America views communism in Asia as dangerous as communism in Europe
Zero-sum gameidea that both sides couldnt win, either Democracy or Communism would win out
U.S. foreign policy during the 1950s dealing almost exclusively with containing communism

Taiwan Strait CrisisTruman sends 7
th
fleet to protect Taiwan during the Korean war
China views this is as American plot to divide Chinabegins bombarding Taiwan with heavy artillery
Eisenhower continues containment policypromises protection to the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, etc.
Amasses the largest concentration of nuclear weapons (in history!) in the Taiwan Straights
However, Eisenhower gives orders to use only conventional weapons; cease-fire on October 6, 1958

Sino-Soviet Conflictrift between China and Russia
First signs of rift in 1956Kruschev takes Russia in a new direction, Chinese communist leaders disapproving
Kruschev requests a joint naval force based in China, but under Russian controlMao rejects proposal
Increasing hostilitySoviet engineers stop assisting Chinas nuclear program; Russia eventually withdraws all aid
Mao begins Great Leap Forward program to show Chinas capabilitydisastrous failure and famine

USSR and China vying for influence over third world socialist countries, particularly in Asia
Russia releases official statement proclaiming its right to intervene anywhere in the world on behalf of
socialism; China denounces it as a new czarismsays that Russia wasnt part of Asia and had no right