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The Widening of the Cold War, 1949–1955
to the brink of Nuclear War: international relations, c1945–: The Widening of the Cold War, 1949–1955
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10
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88 min
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AqaA LevelHistory2R The Cold War, c1945–1991
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The Widening of the Cold War, 1949–19554 objectives
- US containment in action in Asia: the reconstruction of Japan and US-Japanese relations; support for Jiang Jieshi and policy towards China and Taiwan; the defensive perimeter strategy; support for South Korea; NSC-68.
- The Korean War: causes, position and aims of Kim ll Sung and Syngman Rhee; attitudes and actions of the UN, USA, USSR and China; military involvement and settlement.
- Increasing Cold War tensions: McCarthyism in the USA and its influence in Britain and Europe; US dominance in the UN and role as 'world policeman'; the isolation of China.
- Alliances and shifts: FRG and NATO; the Warsaw Pact; SEATO; Eisenhower, Dulles and 'brinkmanship'; the domino theory; attitude to French struggle in Indo-China; the Geneva Conference.
Key terms
Jiang JieshiKorean WarCold WarRed ScareIron CurtainNATOWarsaw Pact
Exam tips
- Use specific examples: When discussing US foreign policy, always include specific examples such as NSC-68 or the Korean War.
- Use specific examples in your answers: When discussing the Korean War, include specific events, such as the UN's military intervention or key battles.
Common mistakes
- Overgeneralizing US foreign policy: Acknowledge both military and diplomatic strategies in US foreign policy, particularly in the context of containment.
- Confusing the roles of Kim Il Sung and Syngman Rhee: Clearly differentiate their goals: Kim Il Sung aimed for a communist Korea, while Syngman Rhee focused on defending South Korea's independence.
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