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
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