Us Foreign Policy

Front 1

Joseph Stalin

Back 1

Soviet leader between 1941-1953. Viewed as an expansionist communist dictator intent on dominating Europe by the United States. While Stalin did have this intention, but only after the inevitable class of capitalists nations due to their inherent flaws. Did not seek to actively conquest Europe--just firmly believed in Marxist ideology.
Primary goal was to ensure Soviet security by creating a buffer between the USSR and Germany

Front 2

Yalta Conference

Back 2

Brought together President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and General Stalin to discuss the future of Nazi-liberated Europe. Notable in the number of Stalin's concessions, as he:
1) Promised to enter the war against Japan.
2)Accepted the establishment of United Nations (3 votes for USSR)
3) Accepted French occupation zone in Germany
4) Agreed to Joint Declaration of Liberated Europe

Front 3

Declaration of Liberated Europe

Back 3

Agreement between UK, US, and USSR to assist the peoples of liberated Europe in creating democratic institutions of their own choice. Significant in that it displayed how Stalin did not have expansionist, communist hopes for all of Europe.

Front 4

Potsdam Conference

Back 4

Meant to redue tensions. Consisted of Truman, Stalin, and P.M. Atley. Resolved Germany---US USSR UK and France split reparations, with USSR getting 25% extra of West Germany. Stalin didn't budge on Poland, and didn't agree to free elections in Bulgaria or Romania. American officials left the meeting uneasy about the future prospects of US-Soviet relations.

Front 5

George Kennan

Back 5

Proponent of Soviet "containment." American diplomat who wrote the "long telegram," which described how the Soviets had an instinctive sense of insecurity, and its interests would attempt to undermine Western Powers worldwide. Helped produce a tougher American foreign policy, which would permanently change the role of the US in global affairs.

Front 6

Truman Doctrine

Back 6

Commited the US to a global strategy against communism. Sought to help establish free institutions for free people who aced aggressive, totalitarian regimes. Resulted in a containment strategy. Justification to militarily intervene in Greece

Front 7

Marshall Plan

Back 7

Economic side of the Truman Doctrine. Pledge US economic support for the recovery of Europe. Sought to rebuild Europe as a trading partner with the US. Economic prosperity in Europe could possibly subvert the Communist threat.

Front 8

Kim-Il Sung

Back 8

Communist leader of North Korea. Nationalist, unpredictable, and wanted to lead whole of Korea. Sought both Soviet and Chinese support, possibly playing them off one another. Invaded S. Korea, and ultimately lead to the Korean War.

Front 9

Rollback

Back 9

Policy proposed by Eisenhower to roll back the Iron curtain. Achieve the liberation of captive nations. Didn't amount to much, as US didn't intervene in E Germany uprising or the Hungarian Crisis.

Front 10

New Look

Back 10

Result of Eisenhower's fiscal conservatism--while still being a staunch anti-communist.

1) Greater Reliance on nuclear weapons
2)Massive Retaliation
3)Covert CIA operations

Front 11

flexible Response

Back 11

Defense strategy implemented by John F. Kennedy in 1961 to address the Kennedy administration's skepticism of Dwight Eisenhower's New Look and its policy of Massive Retaliation. Flexible response calls for
mutual deterrence at strategic, tactical, and conventional levels, giving the United States the capability to respond to aggression across the spectrum of warfare, not limited only to nuclear arms.

Front 12

Bay of Pigs

Back 12

American-trained counterrevolutionaries attempted to overthrow Castro and the Cuban revolution. Failed within 48 hours, and ultimately strengthened the Cuban revolution.

Front 13

Cuban Missile Crisis

Back 13

Soviet-Cuban attempt to counteract the nuclear imbalance that resulted from US nukes in Turkey, Britain and Italy. Also sought to prevent another Bay of Pigs. Eventually led to Krushev and Kennedy to seek to reduce tensions, and set up hotline for the governments to communicate. Also baned atmospheric weapons testing.

Front 14

Ho Chi Minh

Back 14

N.Vietnamese leader who sought Vietnames independence from French, nationalization of French holdings, universal suffrage, and land reforms. Wanted US-like constitution. Establisher of Viet Minh movement

Front 15

Geneva Accords

Back 15

Removed French forces from S. Vietnam
Temp. Partition at 17th parallel of Vietnam
Not signed by US or S.Vietnam, elections for reunification never took place. Significant in the massive increase in Kennedy personnel in the region as they replaced the French

Front 16

Viet Minh

Back 16

National liberation movement that defeated the French in Vietnam. Ran civil administration of socialist N.Vietnam with Ho Chi Minh as Prime Minister.

Front 17

Viet Cong

Back 17

Nationalist liberation movement of S.Vietnam. Primary US opposition in South Vietnam.

Front 18

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Back 18

After N.Vietnamese attack on US destroyer in international waters, this resolution essentially granted a "blank check" of American military action in Vietnam, w/o formally declaring war. Resulted in Operation Rolling Thunder--massive air attack to hurt morale, Ho Chi Minh support, block supplies, and limit American Casualties

Front 19

Robert McNamara

Back 19

Most influential Secretary of Defense, held position during Kennedy and some of Johnson's term. Particularly in "massive retaliation" doctrine of nuclear strategy against Soviets, and the development of the Flexible Response strategy against Soviets.

Front 20

Tet Offensive

Back 20

NLF launched largest offensive of war at that point. Attacked Saigon and got US embassy. Surprised Americans and S. Vietnamese. Pubic opinion turns definitively against Vietnam War.

Front 21

Vietnamization

Back 21

Gradually reducing ground troops while implementing US-trained S.Vietnamese. Shift to providing only air and naval supports, and would allow "peace w/honor," and allow honorable exit.

Front 22

Detente

Back 22

Kissinger's initiative of engaging Soviets based on American vested interest in cooperation and restraint;

Front 23

Linkage

Back 23

Link Soviet behavior with oue own reactions; used trade restrictions as incentive for Soviet compliance. Resulted in increased trade, educational and cultural changes, scientific cooperation, and arms-control agreements. Did not decrease Soviet support for N. Vietnam however

Front 24

ABM Treaty

Back 24

Prevented each side from developing a comprehensive missile defense system. Could only have 2 abm sites, and 1,300 km apart. Significant in that it was an agreement to keep themselves vulnerable as a deterrent to preemptive attack.