Gaddis Epilogue Notes
Gorbachev Notes
- Who was Gorbachev and what were his aims?
Gorbachev was the son of agricultural mechanics, grandson of Communists (grandfather arrested for supporting Trotsky). He was involved after college with Communist Youth Organization, and became the secretary, and later the top Komsomol official, and then a delegate. He became a member of Politburo and then a deputy to Chernenko. When Chernenko died, Gorbachev took over as Secretary of the Communist Party. He had major campaigns against corruption, alcohol, and conservative members of the Party. He focused on “establishing a market economy” and changed foreign policy.
- Describe Gorbachev’s main policies of Glasnost and Perestroika and what were the consequences of these policies for the Soviet Union?
Perestroika:
1986: laid out new policy of perestroika/reconstruction. He wanted to fix the economy and stagnation by increasing progress socially and economically. It was the "conference of development of democracy, socialist self-government, encouragement of initiative and creative endeavor, improved order and disciple, more glasnost, criticism and self-criticism in all spheres of our society. It is utmost respect for the individual and consideration for personal dignity."
Glasnost:
1988: gave freedom to general public, freedom of speech. Press is controlled less by the government, and most of the political prisoners were released. By doing Glasnost, the conservaties opposing Gorbachev would be eased into his ideas, and wanted support of the SU people.
Brezhnev Notes
-Brezhnev Doctrine in 1968 retroactively justified SU invasion of Czechoslovakia a month earlier
-Policy meant that “limited independence of communist parties was allowed”
-No nation could exit Warsaw Pact, or try to counter communist rule
-Allowed Brezhnev to continue absolute rule over the country without question
-The Doctrine was vague enough to justify any SU action (Afghanistan, etc.)
-Several treaties followed the Doctrine
-Foreign policy (general “diplomacy”, attempts at friendliness with US, etc.)
-Brezhnev wanted NATO to adjust WWII boundaries to benefit SU/him
-Détente: signed SALT I, etc. with US to solve problems by not doing anything (agree to disagree)
Economic/Political Stagnation:
-SU takeover in Afghanistan led to stagnation
-Demands of workers, work shortages, productivity decline and other problems cause social stagnation which effects economy
-Brezhnev attempts to fix economy in 1960s/1970s a few times but no results
-Kosygin reform in 1965 was not accepted by Central Committee/Politburo
-SU has fallen behind rest of world with refusal to reform and social issues
-Gorbachev says that Brezhnev has caused the GNP/economic/political problems
-GNP is steadily decreasing and US continues to do well, Brezhnev is unhappy
-11+ 5-Year Plans to fix such problems, not effective.
Afghanistan:
-Brezhnev used Brezhnev Doctrine to vaguely justify invading Afghanistan in 1979
-The 10 year war in Afghanistan was the SU supporting Marxist/Communist government instead of options for democracy.
-Many other countries supported Islamist Resistance (against the SU), like the US and GB
-Troops withdrew 1988-1989 over 10 month period
-Considered the be the SU equivalent of Vietnam War for the US
-Entering Afghanistan made Brezhnev lose most of his international and domestic influence and strength
Gaddis Chapter 7
Section 1: Updates
-1989: George Bush inaugurated as US president. Skeptical of Gorbachev.
-Both Bush & G. don’t anticipate much.
-Khrushchev’s 1956 suppressing has regained autonomy in Soviet bloc.
-Poland is developing (Walesa free from prison, etc.)
-June election lets Solidarity win.
-G. allows SU elections. China is having political change issues (Deng Xiaoping).
-Deng orders 1989 crack-down, many die.
-Hungarian authorities take down Austrian border barbed wire.
-3,000 E. German asylum-wanters go to Prague.
-Romanian dictator meet with G. in Kremlin.
Section 2: Kohl/Gorbi/Bush
-“Gorbi, make love, not walls!”
-Berlin wall came down… Kohl was leading (W. Germany) and East Germans are demanding.
-Bush/Kohl persuade G. to accept together-Germany with NATO.
Section 3:
-G. is loved in many countries. He chose love (Machiavelli) and kept outside his country.
-Lenin had organized Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. No one thought Russia would break up.
-Baltics may secede.
-Yeltsin is not popular internationally. Bush goes to Moscow in July to sign START I.
-G. thinks things are petty.
-Yeltsin abolishes Communist party.
Gaddis Chapter 6
Section 1: Détente
-Détente collapses; freezes Cold War.
-Purpose was to establish rules, not end conflict.
-Elites do not run world. More freely elected governments than before.
-Nuclear danger diminishing. Universal standards of justice.
Section 2: SALT I & II
-Center of détente was SU/US effort to limit nuclear race. Strategic Arms Limitation Talk (1969) capped number of missiles, and made a treaty.
-This was called SALT I. SALT evaded issues (nuclear arms reduction, etc.)
-Senator Jackson starts appearing and makes a resolution for arms.
-SALT II went on for years. Jimmy Carter wanted to fix the SALT and problems.
-Brezhnev has health problems, drug usage. 1977, SU develops accurate missiles. This causes problems in the creation and signing of SALT II.
Section 3: Marxism Internationally
-1972 Moscow summit: US/SU agree to “Basic Principles”.
-SU did not prevent Israel from taking Sinai/Gaza during 1967, and SU won’t help Egypt get them back. They end relationship with SU.
-Kissinger negotiates hostilities, SU gets nothing.
-SU is committed to class struggle and is involved internationally.
-1977: Somalia (SU friend) attacks Marxist Ethiopia. SU switches sides, Carter administration is freaking out.
-1978: Afghanistan has government overthrow, Marxists in charge.
-SU considers intervention, never mind. Politburo reverses itself.
Section 4: SU
-1980: Carter withdraws SALT II. American is stuck in arguments with itself.
-Poland has problems post SU/Warsaw Pact, protests, oil falls.
-SU is incapable of efficient and important strategizing.
Section 5: Takeovers
-Deng Xiaoping is taking over from Mao, Mao was 70/30% right/wrong.
-Margaret Thatcher is taking over in GB as prime minster.
-Reagan came to power through faith/fear/self-confidence.
-Mehmet Ali Agca (Turkish) plots to kill Walesa in Rome.
-John Paul II is recovering from attack.
-1981, Politburo will not intervene. Brezhnev Doctrine ends, SU is willing to use force.
Section 6: Reagan
-1981: Reagan is attacked, survives. Pope is attacked again, survives.
-No reform in Poland. Afghanistan is bloody stalemate. Oil prices down and collapsing.
-Reagan uses religion, increases military spending.
-1983: Reagan repudiates Mutual Assured Destruction. Stability is important.
-Strategic Defense Initiative questions Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (SALT I). Reagan is committed.
Section 7:
-Gorbachev takes over for Chernenko. G. is smart and a better ruler.
-G. knows SU cannot continue. G. is flexible for once. Wants SU/US to get rid of all nuclear stuff by 2000.
-Nuclear explosion in Chernobyl, 1986.
-Reagan/G. summit in Iceland, new ideas to get rid of missiles and weaponry.
-Shultz lectures G. He is receptive, reads Shultz’s book.
Gaddis Chapter 5
Section 1: The UN
-Wilson wants the League of Nations to push legal constraints onto citizens.
-Truman wants global governance, carries Tennyson’s “Parliament of Man, Federation of World” passage.
-UN can only act when most powerful members agree. Ends up being debating society instead of helpful group.
-UN passes human rights declaration in December 1948.
Section 2: Spread of Red/CIA
-Americans confident they can beat SU.
-Italy’s election in April 1948, concerns about spread of red.
-CIA established, finances opposing parties in Italy, beat communists at polls.
-CIA grows. Kennan later regrets recommendation.
Section 3: Ethics of Espionage
-Doolittle Report wants Americans to become familiar with a SU philosophy.
-Rumors of American involvement in Iran and Guatemala.
-Shah of Iran consolidates repressive regime, US has no control.
-Ethics of espionage debates. Americans realize that their leaders lie.
-Johnson thinks Americans have to stay in Vietnam to beat Cold War. Postpones choosing between “Great Society” and Vietnam War.
Section 4: Credibility Gaps
-Nixon inherited situation, made it worse. “Without secrecy…no ending Vietman War” and other things like China, SALT. Uses secrecy to conduct foreign policy.
-Spring 1969, Nixon orders Cambodia bombing, keeps explanation secret.
-“Credibility gaps” for Johnson & Nixon.
-October 1970, Allende takes Chile. Nixon “respects”.
-June 1971, Ellsberg turns over Pentagon Papers to New York Times.
-Nixon puts together staff to fix, “Plumbers”. He resigns August 1974.
Section 5: Nixon & CIA
-Nixon doesn’t believe N. Vietnamese will willingly cease-fire.
-Watergate had weakened Nixon. Passed War Powers Act to limit military deployments with no Congressional consent.
-CIA director Colby says that CIA broke its own rules about international interference.
-Chile is a problem. Military coup September 1973. US acted there like they did in Iran and Guatemala.
-Congress prohibits potential “daylight tests” failures, not justifiable to public.
Section 6: Kissinger & Nuclear Risk
-White House, Pentagon, CIA not above own laws.
-Mutual Assured Destruction, inhumane to put civilians at risk of nuclear annihilation.
-US didn’t violate human rights like SU, Mao, other Europeans did.
-Détente was to lower nuclear risk, encourage relationship with Cold War rivals, recover.
-Kissinger keeps saying that legitimacy is not justice.
-Kant wants universal justice.
-SU makes emigrants pay to leave. Kissinger protests Trade Reform Act.
Section 7: Historical Infallibility
-Khrushchev reveals that Lenin/Stalin enslaved more than liberated, SU satellites are behind US and capitalists in terms of prosperity.
-Psychological effect: people in SU defer to Marxist-Leninist doctrine publicly but do not believe or follow it.
-Communists rule from “historical infallibility” but are losing it.
-Brezhnev says SU will continue but will concede NATO’s permanence. Wants NATO/US to ratify post-WWII stuff in Europe.
-Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, July 1975.
Section 8:
-People think Ford/Kissinger abandoned human rights causes.
-Helsinki is a liability because of leaked comments. Ford concerned about condemnations by Reagan and Carter. Helsinki is a “legal and moral trap”.
-Havel goes to prison, chronicles “disillusionment with communism”.
-Wojtyla was progressively a priest, arch-bishop, cardinal, and then pope (non-italian and young!). He is Pope John Paul II.
-“We want God!”
Paper 1 & Deng
- Describe the struggle for power following Mao, the emergence of Deng Xiaoping and the defeat of the gang of four.
- Deng regime sent troops into Beijing to suppress pro-democracy movements, post-Mao’s death.
- When Mao died, his widow and the Gang of Four continued to work. Deng led the “moderates”. Gang of Four blames Deng for problems. Zhou Enlai was in power but he died, power struggle for party began. Deng was in exile, needed to stay for Hua to be in control. Deng comes back, Hua is leader but underground struggle makes Deng eventual leader.
- Moderates take over eventually, under Hua Guofeng and then Deng. Deng uses friends to get power & works behind the scenes.
- Deng resigned in 1989 but is still a power.
- Describe some of the economic policies and Four Modernizations for China under Deng.
- Four Modernizations to fix China, post-Cultural Revolution and other problems by Mao (4M: agricultural, industrial, technological, national defense). All of these had been destroyed by China’s history and were necessary to remain somewhat of a power.
- Deng brought some capitalism in (instead of sticking to just communism).
- Deng got rid of shared land (family communes) “responsibility system” & incentives (not communism!) to get work done, using production teams and shared land.
- All based around weakening central planning, introducing material incentives, and pricing policies.
- What were the political changes and limits under Deng and how did these culminate in the Tiananmen Square conflict in 1989?
- Foreign policy changes (Sino-Soviet/American/Japanese)
- Deng tries to get rid of corrupt position-holders with education and salaries but ultimately this program collapses.
- Encourages demonstrations but does not follow through & protesters are arrested. Everyone is angry. Revolts occur later when possible.
- Public collected at Tiananmen to mourn Yaobang but it becomes a riot, and the army later attacks (famous photo).
Gaddis Chapter 4
Section 1: Decolonization & Liberation
-Decline of European colonialism, no continental unity
-Decolonization not a major issue in wars
-End of 1949, Soviet-American fight at a stalemate. Stalin played with Korea as a distraction.
-Khrushchev likes to travel. Americans are scared of him helping liberate countries.
-What new independent countries do matters to the power balance.
Section 2: Tito, Nehru, & Nasser
-Tito (Yugoslavia) wants to stay strong, use some assistance from US.
-He wants “non-alignment” all over the world.
-Nehru (India) resists US/Pakistan. Enlai (China) uses Mao’s reasons.
-Egypt was controlled by GB, Suez Canal is important. Nasser is in control there.
-Dulles worried about Nasser having control, domino reaction to other countries.
-Anglo-French-Israeli invasion almost breaks up NATO. Eisenhower is angry.
Section 3: Korea & Vietnam
-Korea is tumultuous post-Korean War.
-Mao jumps in and builds up military on an island. He defuses crises and then protests Americans landing in Lebanon.
-Khrushchev threatens Americans with nuclear when they threaten him.
-Vietnam isn’t doing well. Ho Chi Minh beat French in 1954, makes communist in north, Ngo Dinh Diem allies.
-Diem is a brutal totalitarian. Johnson in US decides to bomb North Vietnamese areas and sends in almost 200,000 American troops. Soviets are angry.
Section 4: Germany
-Postwar Germany is both strong and weak. They like to fake other countries into thinking that they are collapsing, to get what they want.
-Both East and West Germany are threatening (political party or regime collapse).
-Unrest in Poland/Hungary is used by Ulbricht to get materials and goods from SU.
-Khrushchev worried about controlling Mao, Ulbricht also concerned.
-Khrushchev confronts Kennedy with Berlin ultimatum at Vienna summit. Kennedy will defend W. Berlin, Khrushchev upset.
Section 5: France & China
-France/China benefit with superpower help. De Gaulle is unstable and does a lot of things wrong (nuclear war, relationship with US, will not reconcile). US has no control.
-Mao thinks Khrushchev is beginners luck, superficial, accuses him of losing revolutionary edge.
-Mao wants danger from US/SU could make China safer, no one would question him.
-De Gaulle & Mao push superpowers around, no fear left.
Section 6: Revolutions
-July 1967, Mao is under siege by young Red Guard.
-Mao & de Gaulle get authority, no motivation. Ulbricht in discomfort.
-Johnson not going for reelection. Nixon in charge. Kissinger makes quotes.
-Mao launches Cultural Revolution in 1966. He tries to regain control later.
Section 7: Fights/no fights
-March 1969: SU/Chinese fights along border. Mao doesn’t know what to do.
-Minimal communication with Mao and Nixon. Both want order back.
Section 8:
-Nixon/Mao want to unsettle Russians.
-Brezhnev orders invasion of Czechoslovakia & it does not go well.
-Brezhnev Doctrine threatens Soviets with the potential negative impacts.
-West Germans think that East Germany can be changed if no unification.
-Geopolitical stability necessary.
-Nixon/Kissinger were concerned about these policies. Nixon beats McGovern in new election.
History Terms Notes
-Lumumba is outsted after military coup and murdered (January 1961). Prime minister of Sweden are killed (September 1961).
-UN investigates, finds that the Belgians are involved. Fighting continues, General Mobutu stages another military coup (Novemeber 1965). President is arrested, dies of heart attack in prison (June 1969).
-Motubu takes control, changes name back to Zaire (October 1971). Three months later, all European names are abolished. Motubu does what he wants (trades with foreign companies, gets support from US for a one-party, anti-communist dictatorship).
-Two more revolts (1977 and 1978) and Mobutu flees in 1997.
Fall of the Berlin Wall:
-Provisional wall and a real wall were built through Germany, splitting streets and the country)
-August 1989, Hungary removes borders with Austria and 13,000 East Germans go to Austria. This happens along a few borders and protests begin in September.
-Wall falls November. People show up with sledgehammers and regular hammers and chipped the wall off. The East German regime announces new border crossings and they open throughout 1990.
-The wall remained guarded but not very well and the military attempted to repair the wall damage but gives up quickly. The official fall begins June 1990, by the East German military.
-German reunification begins, everyone parties.
Gaddis Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Command Versus Spontaneity:
Section 1: Marxism
-B. Disraeli writes Sybil about the classes, industrial revolution. Warns that countries exploiting people for economy will be in trouble. Marx agrees.
-Marxism makes poor happy, rich scared, and governments in between.
-Wilson sees problems with military fighting Germany and other fighting with Bolsheviks in 1917/1918.
Section 2: Marxism-Leninism
-Marx is vague, Lenin gets it done.
-End of WWII, Wilson would look like a failed idealist, compromises too much.
-End of WWII, Lenin would look like a successful realist.
-Marxism-Leninism is very popular in Europe. Americans self-doubt.
Section 3: Reviewing Obvious Things
-Cold War changed everything.
-Pearl Harbor affects security, Wilson becomes relevant.
-Everyone was initially allies, stuff changed, duh.
Section 4: More Obvious Things
-Ideologies are different. Stalin and Lenin both were horrible to their country.
-Germans occupying USSR were really bad too.
-Marx is a lot like Stalin.
Section 5: Goals of the US
-No one ever planned how to use capitalism to stop communism.
-US wants military stuff to be kept away from some other countries.
-Function of government – facilitate freedom. (Marshall Plan)
-US was the only economically capable country to attack SU.
Section 6: Stalin/Beria/Plotting
-Maybe Stalin was the problem.
-Beria stops purges, tries to close Korean War, wants to fix up Germany.
-West Germany made Stalin angry: communism can’t go there naturally, so he forms East Germany.
-That all goes badly. Beria tries to crush East German uprising, thrown in jail.
Section 7: Khrushchev
-Khrushchev tracks and mocks Stalin’s crimes (communists not used to admitting mistakes, Bierut dies, freaks out all other communists, really dumb idea).
-Gets rid of Rakosi. Re-enters Hungary, kills a lot of people.
Section 8: China & Khrushchev
-China helps Khrushchev suppress Hungarian uprising.
-Mao not consulted about Khrushchev’s insane speech against Stalin.
-Mao differs in action, doesn’t want to reform peasants as much.
-Mao has a Great Leap Forward, kills people.
Section 9: The Wall
-Rest of world is not aware of what is going on.
-Everyone is vulnerable, scared, etc.
-East Germans riot, leave. They built a giant wall, August 1961, with other precautions. NO ONE CAN LEAVE!
Section 10:
-Capitalism succeeding, outside of wall.
-No one knows what to do about problems.
-Marxism & successors didn’t do too well with actual humans.
Gaddis Chapters 1 & 2
Chapter 1: The Return of Fear
Section 1: Different & the Same
-US and SU based in revolution (American Revolution & Bolshevik Revolution)
-Both very different (US did multiple wars at once, SU did one war at a time)
-Soviet deaths = 90x Americans dead
-Stalin is the only one in a certain, confirmed position and country
Section 2: What Stalin Wants
-Stalin in charge, wants security, believes SU should get majority of post-war things (territories, money, punishing Germany)
-Marxist-Leninist ideologies influence Stalin, thinks depression/crisis will return post-WWII, everyone will need the SU, so the US should give the SU lots of money
-Stalin underestimates GB constantly
-Does not want to restore balance of power, but rule absolutely over Europe
Section 3: What the US Wants
-US cannot be separate from the world and still be a model for the world, wants global influence
-US is no longer isolationist during WWI, WWII. This concerns many Americans
-FDR pushing for involvement in world politics (difficult), 4 priorities (keep allies GB SU and China, get cooperation for postwar settlements, make that settlement have collective security with power, and the settlement would be “sellable” to the US)
-GB wants to influence US
Section 4: Sharing & Splitting Powers
-Separate peace would make second front slowly, politically important
-SU/GB agree that Stalin has influence, FDR feels left out, protests
-Everyone has spheres of influence that they want; Poland is angry and imposed on by Stalin
-Germany occupied mostly by GB, France, and US. Stalin is aggressive, has plans. Germans prefer Anglo-American control over SU control
-Atomic bombs make SU-US not trusting, spying on each other, ruins balance
Section 5: Plotting
-US/SU both sending telegrams from ambassadors to home country, awkward meetings later
-Truman Doctrine/Marshall Plan: assisting Greece/Turkey with military/economy versus European Recovery Program and a plan for a great wall. Stalin gets tricked, builds wall
-Stalin makes Cominform, SU loses some allies, blockades Berlin, backfires
-Stalin lifts blockade in May 1949
Section 6: Fears & Spies
-US expects to rule with atomic bombs, SU makes their own which concerns the US
-Truman tells US to super-produce atomic bombs
-Mao forms People’s Republic of China, surprises US and SU. Mao wants to ally with SU, feels betrayed by US
-GB and US find spies in State Department and Manhattan Project, McCarthy scares everyone
Section 7: Korea
-Korea occupied by SU/US, part of Japanese empire previously, SU/US withdraw
-US denies support to S. Korea, N. Korea’s ruler Kim Il-sung plots, wants SU to help unify
-Stalin tells Kim Il-sung to go invade S. Korea, impacts US stationed nearby
-US and S. Korea retreat, Stalin gives up.
Section 8:
-Winning WWII didn’t make anyone feel better
-Kennan (containment founder) tells students that everyone has totalitarianism in them
-Kennan says that force is a means to and end, A & H bombs aren’t like that
Chapter 1: Deathboats & Lifeboats
Section 1: History of War
-Atomic bombs are unique and concerning. War isn’t new, but this weaponry is
-War impacts empires mostly. Bombs made to be used if functioning, only used twice for 20th century
Section 2: All About Bombs
-Truman thinks atomic bombs are really bad. Political leaders usually give military the choice about weapons and fighting, Truman does too.
-Post-bombings, he says no more, civilian agency, not military, controls bombs. Proposes to give United Nations all technology in 1946.
Section 3: Stalin’s Bomb
-Pentagon concerned by amount of Red Army troops in Europe, few available to US
-Truman hopes Stalin recognizes power of atomic bombs, moderates self. Stalin makes program to build a Soviet bomb, fearful
-Everyone wants to hide fears, threaten other countries
-Soviets get atomic bomb in August 1949
Section 4: What to Do with Korea
-Truman & administration concerned about Chinese troops chasing US, S. Koreans
-No one wants to use atomic bombs in Korea or China, although possible, no one wants to expand war even more
-Stalin is vague. He authorized/began Korean War and acknowledges likeliness of a military stalemate. No direct military confrontations for years about Korea.
Section 5: Super-Bombs
-US scientists tell Truman about potential for thermonuclear or super-bomb. Everyone opposes the “psychologically necessary” weapons
-Soviets develop super-bomb
-Everyone tests bombs on birds, not humans
Section 6: Super-Bombs, Part 2
-Truman leaves office, Stalin dies. Eisenhower in charge.
-Super-bombs are tested (BRAVO), 750x the Hiroshima bombing, spreads everywhere
-Churchill in charge again, opposing Malenkov, Malenkov demoted, Churchill steps down in 1955
Section 7: Eisenhower
-Eisenhower makes depressing comments, doesn’t want to use atomic weapons often
-Eisenhower plans only for total war
Section 8: Khrushchev
-SU tested first thermonuclear bomb in late 1955. 1.5 years later, they launch intercontinental ballistic missile, launches Sputnik a few months later
-Khrushchev is in charge, learns about nuclear weapons, and doesn’t want to use them
-Khrushchev says he is mass-producing bombs, later admits to exaggerating. Repeatedly threatens US with nuclear attack, not actually possible for him. Wants to visit US
-Visits in later 1959, wants to go to Disneyland, gets in fights
Section 9: Planes & Lies
-New US spy plane tests in 1956, takes photos of Soviet forces, proves that they are limited
-Khrushchev teaches son about fighting the US
-Khrushchev meets with Eisenhower in Paris, wants to be annoying to everyone
-Kennedy is waiting, calls out Khrushchev about lies, Khrushchev tests big-bomb
Section 10: Castro
-Castro is trying to have a revolution, in trouble, Khrushchev has missiles but no plans
-Khrushchev is committed to Castro emotionally
-Cuban missile crisis makes everyone fearful
Section 11: Changes
-Kennedy in charge, wants to get rid of nuclear war. Eisenhower left minimal war plans, would have needed to use all nuclear bombs simultaneously, against every country.
-McNamara makes new plan, some problems with his strategy. Wants to attack only military, no cities, must get Khrushchev to operate similarly. Not likely
-1963: Limited Test Ban Treaty abolishes nuclear tests in atmosphere
-1972: Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty abolishes defenses against long-range missiles
-Fear of war is more important than anything
Section 12: Life of Pi
-Life of Pi is a possible Cold War story