Maurice Stans

Nick Goetz

May 20, 2013

History

C Block

Maurice Stans

Maurice Stans was the former Secretary of Commerce and was the financial chairman for CREEP (Committee to Re-Elect the President). For the 1972 election Stans brought in $60 million through his fundraising. Some of the money that Stans brought in Nixon used for the Watergate burglaries. That is how he was connected to Watergate. To clear his name after Watergate he sought out for an ambassadorship in another country, but he needed a Senate approval for this and thus he didn’t get it.

Bibliography:

Bernstein, Carl and Bob Woodward. All the President’s Men. New York, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1974

Genouese, Michael A. The Watergate Crisis. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999

Schudson, Michael. Watergate in American Memory: How we remember, forget, and reconstruct the past. New York, New York: Basicbooks, 1993

America Enters the Vietnam Conflict

1. What European country controlled (ruled) Vietnam before, during and immediately following World War II?      
Before World War II Vietnam was controlled by the French, then they were conquered by the Japanese during the War. After the War the French tried to get Vietnam back but they were unsuccessful because Vietnam was supported by China. 
2. Who led the Viet Minh (anti-Japanese resistance group)?    
Ho Chi Minh was the leader of the Viet Minh.   
3. Which country helped France keep Vietnam and why?       
The United States tried to help France keep Vietnam because they saw them as puppets of Communist China, they didn't want Vietnam to become Communist as well. 
4. What is the Domino Theory?       
The Domino Theory was that Vietnam fell, then Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, and possibly India would fall to Communism. They wanted to isolate communism to those countries which it had already "infected". 
5. In 1955 the United States installed this man as the leader of the Republic of South Vietnam. Who was he and why was he placed into power?           
They put Ngo Dinh Diem in as leader of Republic of South Vietnam because he was bitterly anti-communist. He was ready to exile or persecute communists. 
6. What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail? How was it used?           
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a system that went from North Vietnam to South Vietnam. It was used to provide the Viet Cong with materials, or arms. 
7. What was the Tonkin Gulf Resolution? What powers did it give President Johnson? 
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was an act made by Congress that gave the President the power to do whatever it takes to achieve peace and security. 
8. Look at the timeline on page 256. Why is 1965 considered a "turning point" year for American involvement in Vietnam?               
1965 is considered as a turning point in the war because there was a large scale bombing of Vietnam done, and the first American combat troops touch Vietnam land at Da Nang. 
9. Why, according to Source 3 on page 255, were U.S. troops put into a difficult position in Vietnam?   
The U.S. troops were put in a difficult position in Vietnam because they could not tell who were and who was not a Vietcong sympathizer. They might have seemed to be a regular Vietnamese person but they could be a Vietcong, the same goes Vise-Versa vietcong being mistaken as regular Vietnamese citizen. 

China Communism

The Communist Party of China, or the CPC, is the the ruling political party of The Peoples Republic of China. Although it does work aside a coalition of governing bodies it is, in practice, the leading political party in the PRC. The party was originally founded in 1929 in Shanghai but it assumed control of mainland China in 1949. The other party retreated to Taiwan where it still stands today. The brand of communism the the PRC used was the Marxism-Lenninism brand (similar to Cuba's). China was connected with the Soviet Union until the 1960's when China and Soviet Union split up over ideological differences. The Communist Party's ideology was redefined under Deng Xiaoping to incorporate principles of market economics, and the corresponding reforms enabled rapid and sustained economic growth. 

Today the CPC is the largest political party in the world, claiming more than 80 million members (about 6%

of mainland Chinas population). Since 1978, the Communist Party has attempted to institutionalize transitions of power and consolidate its internal structure. The modern party stresses unity and avoids public conflict while practicing a pragmatic and open democratic centralism within the party structure.

Cuban Communism

Cuba has had a "communist" party in Cuba since the beginning of "Cuba" but the formal communist party was formed in 1925 by Moscow-trained members of the Third International.
For three years Cuba adhered to the Stalinist brand of Communism but between the the 1940's and 50's it collaborated with the government of Fulgencio Batista and no longer became communist. They renamed the party in 1944 to the Peoples Socialist Party. This was the  name of the party until 1961, when Castro overthrew Batista, when it was then named Organizaciones Revolucionarias Integradas. This was until, again. it was renamed (and recognized) as the United Party of the Cuban Socialist Revolution. This then dissolved and turned into the Communist Party of Cuba which was more along the lines of the Soviet Communism. In 1975 Cuba made it so that there was only one sole legal political entity. In a congress in 1991, in Cuba, they reaffirmed the sole legal political entity "rule". They did this because of the collapse of the Soviet Union and other Communist countries in eastern Europe. 

Cold War Heats up in Asia

1. Who was Chiang Kai-shek?        
Chaing Kai-shek was the nationalist leader of southern and eastern China.

2. Who was Mao Zedong?     
Mao Zedong was the communist leader of Northern China.


3. How were the Communist able to take over China?    
The Communist were able to take of China with the Aid of the Soviet Union, and the support of the peasants in the country. Chiang couldn't get the support of the peasant (a large part of the population in China) so that is mostly why he couldn't retain the control.


4. How did the State Department respond to critics that Truman's "Containment" policy didn't extend to Asia?              
The State Department responded to the critics by saying that the United States had failed in trying to  influence these forces, such as Chiang’s inability to retain the support of his people, and that only doing more would start a war. A war the United States was not ready to fight.


5. How did Korea become a divided nation after World War II?     
Korea became a divided nation after World War II because when Japan had to surrender in Korea, which they had taken over in 1910, they surrendered on which side of the 38th parallel they were on. The ones on the south were with the United States and the ones of the North were will the Soviets and thus another Germany, half of them were Communist and half of them were democratic.


6. What is the importance of the Yalu River and what prompted the Chinese to enter the Korean War?    
The Yalu River is on the border of North Korea and China. The Chinese didn't want the United States to be on their border. He then sent 300,000 troops to get them back further away from their border.


7. Who is General Douglas MacArthur and what did he want to do against China?    
General Douglas MacArthur was a high ranked general for the United States Military. Against China he launched an amphibious attack behind enemy lines. He made it so that they had nowhere to move, half of them surrendered and the other half were chased back by the United Nations military forces.


8. Why did Truman relieve MacArthur from duty?      
Truman relieved MacArthur from duty because Truman felt that MacArthur was sabotaging his policy, because he was trying to get Truman to start a nuclear war against China and Russia.


9. How did the war end?      
The war ended with the Soviet Union suggesting a cease-fire. Although both sides agreed it was at best a stalemate.


10. He is the current leader of North Korea and was also named the "Sexiest Man Alive" in 2012.    
Kim Jong Un.

Origins of the Cold War Outline

To what extent were the policies of the United States responsible for the outbreak and development of the Cold War between 1945 and 1949?

Thesis statement: 
 The policies of the United States between 1945 and 1949 where the reason for the outbreak and development of the Cold War. They were the reason because of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) making an alliance "against" the soviets, the Truman Doctrine containing communism to just the Soviet Union, The atomic weapons race, the Marshall Plan giving aid to Europe, and the race to see who was the better country out of the two.

Main Points-
1. NATO alliance

• the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was an organization that was only limited to the North Atlantic, not the Soviets
• They created there own alliance, leaving the Soviets behind. 
• Shows American trust of the UK not of the Soviets

2.Truman Doctrine

•  gave money to countries who, the Americans felt, were in jeopardy of being taken over by communists.
• Trying to stop what the Soviets were doing, making them mad
• Containing the problem, communism.

3. Atomic Bombs

• A race between the two countries to get the most weapons 
• Either side had to show that they were the better nation
• Who has the more power is who has the more weapons

4. American Intervention (Marshall Plan)

• Soviets did not like it at all, they forbade any Eastern European states to apply for it
• Stalin felt that it would weaken his grip on the Eastern European states
• He felt that the United States was trying to dominate as many states as possible by making them dependent on money

5. They were the two nations to come out of the war the most succesful

• They didn't like each others political views so they couldn't have an alliance 
• No alliance so one has to lead the world
• So "fight" to whose the best

D/I- 
Others may argue that the Soviet Union was the reason for the Cold War because of Stalins takeover of some of Eastern Europes countries, He was trying to spread communism throughout the world, and the Berlin Blockade. 


Disagreement- 

Main Point 1- Stalins demands at Yalta

• demanded the satellite countries because of their significant lose of lives during the war.  
• He wanted to move the border of Soviet Russia into western Poland
• He got what he wanted, cause he promised to join in the war effort in Japan within 90 days.

Maint Point 2- USSR's response to Marshall Plan

• He forbade any Western European country to apply for it
• He tightened his grip on Eastern European states, setting up new organizations to keep control on them. 
• Was against all of the United States intervention, he felt that they were just trying get allies to try and get them 

Main Point 3- Berlin Blockade

• 
  

Main Point 4- Potsdam 

Main Point 5- Yugoslavia

D/I-

The Berlin Blockade and Airlift

1. What is Source 37 (p. 75) saying about Josip Tito, leader of Yugoslavia?     
Source 37 is saying that Josip Tito is accepting money from the Americans. That he is so poor that he will take money from anyone and do anything for the money.


2. Why do you think Stalin was so hostile to Tito?        
Stalin was so hostile towards Tito because of what he did when he was elected in 1945. When he was elected he wanted to put in his own brand of Communism not the one that Stalin had liked. So he was expelled from the country for doing that.


3. Look back at the map in Source 27 on page 71. How does the geographical position of Yugoslavia help to explain why Stalin did not take any direct action (such as sending in troops) against Tito?     
The geographical position of Yugoslavia helped explain why they didn't go in there because it was the farthest of the satellite countries away from the Soviet Union. He would have to send in troops through a bunch of different countries just to get to him, it would have been a waste of resources and time.


4. Read Source 40 (p. 77). What reasons did the Soviet Union give for cutting off West Berlin?       
The Soviet Union cut off the power to West Berlin because of "technical difficulties". They actually cut the power from their power plants to West Berlin but they gave them coal instead, so much help!


5. Why do you think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons?           
I think the USA did not believe these were genuine reasons because it just sounds so fake. They lost all their power just to West Berlin and then they stopped all their traffic into the city, it would have to be a huge coincidence that, that happened at the same time.


6. How do Sources 41–43 differ in their interpretation of the blockade?            
The three sources differ a lot, the first source is saying that it was a considerable achievement but that neither side had gotten anything out of it. The second source is saying that it was both an achievement and that they got something out of it because it "brought the people closer to us...". The third source is saying that it was a stupid move, there was a threat of a war and they intrude onto their land. He is saying that they were calling for a war.


7.  Which do you think is the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade?       
I think that the most useful source for a historian studying the Berlin Blockade is a textbook. That has all the facts on what happened during that time period, it isn't just one persons view right then.



8.  Which source do you think gives the most reliable view of the blockade?
I think a view from the people who had to deal with the blockade. They were the ones who were in there, they lived through it. 

Iron Curtain Separates Europe

1. What is your overall impression of Source 26 (p. 70) and use extracts from the source to support your view. (No fence sitting; you must choose one but not both)     

• a reasonable assessment of Stalin’s aims based on the facts
• an overreaction to Stalin’s actions based on fear of and prejudice towards the USSR?               
I do agree with the statement that it was a reasonable assessment of Stalin's aims based on facts. I agree with that because the things said in this document were true. In line 2 he says that the Soviet Union were not willing to co-operate with the other sides, that was true. The Soviets didn't want to co-operate with the other sides because they didn't the other sides didn't have the same ideals about communism. Also when he says that the Soviet Union wanted to extend their control into continental Europe is true. He wanted the whole world to be red(communist) and to get that he would have to start near him in Europe and then spread.



 
2. Source 26 is a British source. Does it seem likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government?   
Yes it does seem likely that the American government was producing the same sort of documents. It seems that way because they were allies and we had the same viewpoints on the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union wanted to take over the world and that the Soviet Union was the enemy.




3. Study Source 27 (p. 71) and make a list of three different actions that Communists took to achieve power in eastern Europe. AND Explain how each factor helped.  
1. In Bulgaria a left-wing coalition won the government in 1945, the Communists then killed all the leaders in the opposing parties. This factor helped because when you get rid of all your competitors, you are the only one left and they have to give it to you. So they got control of the government by killing off everyone else.
2. In Hungary the Communist party became the largest party by imprisoning leaders of the other parties and attacking church officials. This factor helped in that when you kill off the opposition you win, like they did in Bulgaria, and when you attack people they are less likely to speak up against you. 
3. In Poland they forced the non-communist into exile. Again when you get rid of the other side you have won outright. That is what the did in Poland except they didn't kill them this time. They just forced him into exile, a lot better than killing him :).

The Potsdam Conference

1. Read Source 17 (p 68). At Yalta, Churchill and Roosevelt had agreed with Stalin that eastern Europe would be a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’. Do you think Source 17 is what they had in mind?  
No I do not think that is what they had in mind. They didn't want communism to spread even more and that is what Stalin is suggesting. That he will do whatever he wants with his territory, whether it is what Roosevelt and Churchill agree with or not.





2. Would they agree with Stalin’s views expressed in Sources 17 and 18? Explain your answer.      
No they would not agree with Stalin's views expressed in sources 17 and 18. They wouldn't because they don't want Communism to spread into other parts of the world. They want those countries to be able to be a democracy not influenced by the U.S.S.R. to be communism.





3.  Explain how each of the three developments described in the text might affect relationships at Potsdam.
Each of these developments makes is so that the relationships are not as great as they were at Yalta. Each country is mad at each other because of these events. Mostly it is both Great Britain and the United States are mad at the Soviet Union because of all they have done, lied about the free elections, trying to convert other countries to communism, just all around they are mad at them. 

Origins of the Cold War: Yalta Conference

1. What month and year did the Yalta Conference place?      
The Yalta Conference took place in February of 1945.




2. While the conference was taking place who were the Allies (Big Three) still fighting? Be specific. (Consider as well, what hadn't taken place yet that you've already studied.)       
While the conference was taking place the Allies were still fighting Germany and Japan. Even though technically they were still fighting against Germany the war was already over, the only one who didn't believe that was Adolf Hitler. The war in Japan although was still going strong.

 

3. Why was Roosevelt anxious to make concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany?       
Roosevelt was anxious to make concessions to Stalin because he didn't want Stalin to get too much control and go overboard with it. Like taking over Germany making them part of the Soviet Union, or with Japan have that split into two different parts (North and South). Also he didn't want to make him make promises that he could ultimately break.

 

4. What decisions did Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin make at the Yalta Conference?      
At the Yalta Conference the "Big Three" came up with some huge decisions. They would separate Germany into four different parts, one for the United States, Soviet Union, France, and Great Britain. Roosevelt also got Stalin to agree to join the United States in Japan once Germany was defeated, and to get him to come to a conference in San Francisco about the United Nations, which became a reality.

Nuclear Arms Race Since 1945 - part 2

1. Summarize the basic argument for and the basic argument against nuclear weapons.     
The basic argument for nuclear weapons is the they actually make the world safer, because countries are less willing to risk the use of force. The basic argument against nuclear weapons is that because imperfect human beings are involved, deterrence is not a fool-proof system.  
2. What is the difference between a strategic and a tactical nuclear weapon?       
The difference between a strategic and tactical nuclear weapons is there size and distance they can hit. Strategic weapons are a lot bigger and can hit targets up to six thousand miles away in thirty minutes or less. Tactical nuclear weapons can be concealed in something as small as a briefcase or a backpack and are used to hit targets near them.         
3. What is nuclear proliferation?       
Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons.        
4. What role has the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty played in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons?           
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has played a big role in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. Only four countries have not signed this Treaty. People say that if the treaty wasn't made President Kenndey's worry of 25 more countries having nuclear weapons by the 1970s would have come true. 
5. Explain Secretary of State Rice's high level of concern about the Russian nuclear arsenal. (See her quote on page 16 of your reading.)       
Secretary of State Rice's high level of concern about the Russian nuclear arsenal is all about them being secured. She is worried that if they aren't protected the can just be walked in by a thief and the nuclear weapons just be stolen. For this reason she want's their nuclear weapons to be dismantled so no one will ever have to worry about them being stolen.    
6. How as the threat of terrorism changed thinking about nuclear weapons?  
Terrorism has drastically changed the thinking about nuclear weapons. People are so scared of a terroist group getting a hold of a nuclear weapon, some think they already do. No one knows what they would do if they had one so that is what makes everyone so scared about it. What if they come after us if they have one? is a big question. People want to get rid of them because of this factor, if they got them who knows what they would do with it. 

Nuclear Arms Race Since 1945

1. Explain how Dragonfire's report on October 11, 2001 highlighted a new threat from nuclear weapons.                
Dragonfires report on October 11, 2001 highlighted a new threat from nuclear weapons because no one had ever used a nuclear bomb since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, let alone use one against the United States. It also highlighted that no one had every brought a nuclear bomb into a country unknowingly especially into a major city like the heart of New York City.

2. Why is proliferation such a strong concern for the United States?             
Proliferation is such a strong concern for the United States because it is linked to the United States' most complex and challenging foreign policy problems. It is also a strong concern for the United States because we don't want them getting into the wrong hand, like our enemies.

3. What is deterrence?                  
Deterrence is the idea that if you trick someone into thinking you would retaliate big time if the did something to you. In this case if one side were to attack the other with nuclear Weapons, the other side would launch a nuclear response that would devastate the original attacker, knowing that they faced certain both sides would be deterred from attacking.


4. Explain the importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis.                  
The importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis is the Soviets and their nuclear weapons were getting extremely close to us, on 90 miles off our shores in Cuba. They were so close if we fired a missile at them they would hit us first from Cuba. It also got the two leaders of the countries to realize what this could do to their countries/ the world. They decided to back down from Cuba if the US removed their artillery from Turkey.


5. President John F. Kennedy worried that twenty-five nations would have nuclear weapons by the 1970s. Why do you think his worry did not come to pass?                          
I think that his worry did not come to pass because the other nations in the world could see what it did to countries and what it could do it the nuclear war had actually begun. They saw what it was instilling in the US/USSR and they probably didn't want that. Lastly they probably knew that if they gained the nuclear weapons they would join in this "battle".


6. What was the Cold War? How long did it last?                     
The Cold War was a period of hostility and tension between, mostly, the US and the USSR from 1946 to 1991. The two countries were making an enormous amount of nuclear weapons incase there actually was a nuclear war. It was basically all talk. It lasted about 45 years. 

Works Cited

Ambrose, Stephen E. D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II. New York: Touchstone, 1994.

Ricks, Thomas E. Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq. London: The Penguin Press, 2006.

Seager, Robin Pompey: A Political Biography. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1979.