Cold War Objectives free essay sample

Compare two proxy conflicts in two different regions. †¢ Analyze the role of detente. †¢ Analyze political developments in China (Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution) †¢ Discuss the Sino-Soviet split. †¢ Evaluate the process and effectiveness of various arms control regimes. †¢ Examine internal dissent in the communist world. Determine to what extent the Soviet Union and its satellites collapsed or were forced into defeat. Compare two proxy conflicts in two different regions. Proxy War: a war instigated by a major power that does not itself participate Korea: †¢ 1950-1953; Truman and Eisenhower †¢ Had been taken over before, constantly being invaded and too weak to fight for their independence †¢ War of attrition (push boundaries), conventional war, much more like WWI †¢ Did not make it nuclear because it WAS proxy Soviets got involved first, China gave aid †¢ Were not given a blank check, actually told to stop †¢ America engaged because of the Domino Theory; to contain Communism in independent nations; fought against ideology not individual o Did not come in until August 12 †¢ Korea was split because Soviet and US forces met halfway up peninsula after WWII and stayed there †¢ US and USSR changed leaders (Truman to Eisenhower, Stalin to Khrushchev), while China and Korea stayed the same †¢ Korean leaders Kim Il-Sung – North, Communist o Synghman Rhee – South, Democratic, Christian, US supported just because he was anti-Communist although he was authoritarian †¢ US gave supplies before sending troops †¢ Divided along the 38th parallel †¢ Ended in an armistice and ceasefire with concessions for both sides, North and South Korea still divided today Vietnam: †¢ 1955-1975; Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon †¢ Divided along the 17th parallel †¢ Just US got involved Had been taken over before (French Indochina, Japan) and wanted independence but was unable to claim it directly after WWII †¢ More guerilla warfare, first televised war, Americans did napalm, agent orange, carpet bombing, rolling thunder †¢ Nuclear warfare was unnecessary, MAD †¢ Vietnamese leaders o Ho Chih Minh – North Communist o Ngo Dinh Diem – South, Democratic, Christian, US was embarrassed with him also because he was a â€Å"brutal dictator† †¢ American engaged because of the Domino Theory; to contain Communism in independent nations; fought against ideology not individual †¢ Fighting two different wars Vietnamese fighting for nationalism and independence, total war o US was for containment, limited war †¢ United States pulled out 1973 under ceasefire with concessions for both sides, North invaded South Compare †¢ Both had been taken over multiple times before the war and wanted their independence o Korea was promised independence in Cairo Conference and never got it (1943); were not consulted in Potsdam after being divided o Viet Minh and Viet Cong – product of nationalist tendencies †¢ The US joined both wars because of the Domino Theory: they were trying to contain Communism in â€Å"independent† nations; fought against ideology not individual †¢ US did not really like the leaders they were supporting, they were just anti-Communist †¢ US believed both were limited wars, while the opposite side it was more of an important war (absolute war for Koreans and Vietnamese); US did not use all resources or troops †¢ Both ended with US withdrawing before the conflict was over; ceasefire, considered unwinnable o Korea: stalemate,