Korean War & Khrushchev

NATO and the Warsaw Pact

Sphere of Influence - an international politics, the claim by a state to exclusive or predominant control over a foreign area or territory (Encyclopedia Britannica)

● 1949 - North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) was formed○ Purpose was to provide assistance if

anyone was attacked● 1955 - Warsaw Pact

○ Dominated by Soviet influence○ Alliance of mostly eastern European

countries under soviet control

The State of Israel● UN honoured the 1917 Balfour declaration by splitting Israel

into two sections○ Palestine for Arabs○ Israel for Jewish

● Truman recognizes Israel as a state and gives it his support● Israel was invaded by surrounding arab nations, including

Iran● Soviets took the side of the Arabs

○ The middle east is resource rich, so it was of interest to both Soviets and Americans

● Israel would be successful and expand past its given territory by the UN but is approved by the UN

● This created resentment of the west by arab states

Korean War 1950-1953)

● After Japanese control, U.S. and Soviets split Korea on the 38th Parallel○ Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

(North Korea)○ Republic of Korea (South Korea)

● Americans 1st helped unilateral and then the UN and its allies would give its full military support○ Military action was passed due to Russia

boycotting the UN at this time● North Korea pushed South Korea back to

Pusan

Korean War 1950-1953● UN, involving Canadian troops, pushed

communists up North to Chinese border○ Communist China became involved and

push them back● June 16th, ‘53 Eisenhower's(president)

administration signed an armistice putting the border back on the 38th parallel

● A peace agreement was never signed between the Koreas○ Still technically at war

● American Forces are still present in Korea with multiple military bases

● Korea would help prove the importance of policies like Containment

Khrushchev (1953 - 1964)

● He sought to create a less repressive Russia

● De-Stalinization○ Spoke out against the Purges○ Called them ‘Crimes of Stalin’○ Released political prisoners from the Gulag○ Removed Stalin’s supporters

■ All 1958● Moved to decentralized farming● Party members were able to more freely

express their opinions● This inspired some Eastern Bloc countries

to push for more independence.

Three Crisis of 1956

Suez Crisis

● Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal● France & England objected to this

○ Worked to maintain their access to oil● October - War between Egypt and Israel

breaks out○ France and England on the side of Israel

● U.S. and Soviets refused to intervene● Egypt won the canal by fighting off the

British○ Signified the end of British dominance

● Lester B. Pearson helped to create peacekeepers in the UN to keep the peace at the border

Poland - Towards Independence

● Refused to take the Soviet nominee for their future leaders

● Put in their own - Wladyslaw Gomulka● Khrushchev came in with the military to

ensure Gomulka didn’t go to far away from the Soviets

● Promised economic and military cooperation with soviets

● Halted collectivisation of Polish agriculture

● Improved relations with the Roman Catholic Church

Hungary Uprising

● Imre Nagy, a communist, sought autonomy for Hungary

● He went further than Poland in that he wanted to be politically neutral○ Soviet troops were to be pushed out

● Soviets would not allow for this to happen○ Nagy was deposed and executed

● Showing Soviet control over the Eastern Bloc

Khrushchev's Foreign Policy

● 1956 - Khrushchev talked of peaceful co-operation

● 1957 - Sputnik - first satellite to orbit (space race)

● 1958 - U.S. and Soviets look to limit testing of nuclear weapons

● 1959 - Tensions are relaxedKhrushchev visits U.S.

● 1960 - Soviets shoot down US reconnaissance creating tension○ Split between China and USSR○ China stating USSR had lost its

revolutionary ability

Berlin

● 1948 - Stalin Blockaded West Berlin from obtaining resources(Berlin Blockade)○ Western allies started to airlift food into

the area● 1949 - Stalin lifted the blockade● 1950’s - Many east Berliners flee to the

West to relieve themselves of Soviet control

● 1961- Khrushchev built a wall around Western Berlin to stop people fleeing East Berlin○ Literal ‘Iron Curtain’

Read Pages 251-257

Keywords and concepts

● Deterrence● MAD● Dissuasion● Arms Race● Cuban Missile Crisis● Brinkmanship● Détente