Sem2.HW5

Q for 40.2: "How real was the threat of Communist spies within the USA?"
It was the threat of Communist spies within the USA because many Americans became Communist Sympathizer. Many believed that communist was better than capitalism. For example, they offer fairer way of a organizing a society, everyone shares the products equally, and extremes of wealth and poverty will fade away.

The Alger Hiss case had raise fears to the USA. Alger Hiss had served President Roosevelt as an adviser at the Yalta Conference; however, someone accused his as a spy of Soviet Union. Whittaker Chambers said that Hiss passed secrets to Soviet Union, and a federal grand said Hiss perjury or lying under oath.

Q for 40.3: "Is it fair to say that the anxiety caused in the US due to Nuclear threat, was useful and 'healthy?' (security of the nation . . . = its health).
It is fair to say that the anxiety caused in the US due to Nuclear threat, was useful and healthy. In 1951, congress established the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA). It taught people how to protect themselves if there is a surprised nuclear attack, so they don’t have to rely on the military.

Sem2.HW4

"How does the CIA's activities in Iran show that the US behaves undemocratically in its foreign policy?"

During the 1930s, the United States used its airports and roads to transport 18 billion worth of military aid to British. Therefore, British got the power to refuse what the Iran demanded. Also, they bribed the local politicians, newspaper editors, and the radio director, so British were able to overthrow Mossadeq.

CIA spent $150,000 propaganda campaign to control Iran’s press and public, in order to overthrow Massadeq. It was a waste to spent huge amount of money on overthrowing a person who was not a pro-American. This act shows the US behaved undemocratically in its foreign policy.

Sem2.HW3

1. "How convincing was America's attempts to influence other parts of the world to side with them in the Cold War?" [39.4]

In 1953, the US government created the United States Information Agency (USIA) to influence other's hearts and minds by words and persuations. They used propaganda to raise fears of communism and highlight the benefits of capitalist democracy through films or radio broadcast, so it was very convincing to influence other to side with them.

In 1949, the US used foreign aid to assist other countries from the Third World, so they can gain new allies. On the other hand, the Third World really needed their support, so it was a win win situation for both side.

2. "How wise were America's decisions to produce advanced weapons during the Cold War's first 20 years?"[39.5]

It was not so wise for US to race to develop weapons against Soviet Union around 1950s and 60s. However, they were intelligent in quickly building strong weapons, such as H-bomb, nuclear missiles and submarines. It was also wise for the invention of the US scientists.

It was wise for US to produce advanced weapons as a threaten to contain Soviet Union. In 1950s, the government developed a foreign policy, Brinkmanship. Because of different strong weapons, the US was able to threaten Soviet Union and China that the US would use its nuclear weapons if they pushed too much.

Taiwan - Cold War

1. Where are the island of Quemoy and Matsu?
Quemoy and Matsu are about 8 miles off the coast of mainland china, and they are between Taiwan and China.
2. Who is Chaing Kai-Shek and why did he come to Taiwan?
He was the leader of democratic which was against Mao. He attempted to eradicate the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but the CCP defeated Chiang Kai-Shek. Chiang Kai-Shek retreated to Taiwan.
3. Was Chaing’s move to Taiwan a sign that he and the KMT had decided to give up the fight against Mao and Communist Chinese?
No, Chaing’s move to Taiwan was not a sign that he and KMT had decided to give up the fight against Mao and Communist Chinese. He was forced to retreated to Taiwan, and he’s original plane was to rebuild his military at Taiwan and fight back.
4. Why does the US change its mind about defending Taiwan?
5. Why doesn’t Mao finish the Chinese Civil War by invading Taiwan in 1950?
Mao doesn’t finish the Chinese Civil War by invading Taiwan in 1950 because Mao thought Taiwan and the US were together, so he was afraid if he invades Taiwan, there will be a war.
6. In what ways can we say that smaller allies like China and Taiwan were able to make the superpowers (US and Soviets) do things they did not want to do?
Smaller allies were able to make the superpowers do things they did not want to do because Taiwan and China were fighting against (democratic vs. communist), and Mao sees the US as enemy. The US and Soviet Union were also fighting for it, so they have to support them.

Sem2.HW2

US used the method of Espionage to spy on Soviet Union in the late 1950s. US believed they could photograph Soviet military installations, but it was not successful. The Soviets shot down US spy plane, so the US pilot was caught by the Soviets. It was not justified for US to contain the spread of Communism.

In 1948 Soviet Union had established communist government, coup d’etat. The communist leaders had arrested, tried, and jailed people who opposed them. This act had alarmed the US, so the US had to try to prevent this happened. It will be justified if the US contains the spread of the communism.

Sem2.HW1

The Long Telegram (1946), written by George Kennan, saying that Soviet Union should be contained by U.S. If he didn’t write this telegram, U.S. government might not have to dominate Soviet Union so tight, and so they could have avoided the Cold War.

Soviets Union ignored an agreement with Britain in 1942, which they refused to leave Iran, caused the first major postwar crisis. If Soviets Union decides to respect the agreement they had made with Britain, there wouldn’t be any pressure between USSR and the U.S.

The Baruch Plan in 1946 could have avoided the Cold War between U.S. and Soviet Union. If the U.S. allows Soviet Union and the other to build nuclear weapons, then there wouldn’t be any argument about the unfairness in building the nuclear weapons.