Collapse of Peace, The: Truman Gets Tough with Soviets Leading to Potsdam
Roosevelt is dying and leaves his successor Truman uninformed and poorly prepared. Truman berates foreign minister Molotov for Russia's not keeping its bargain at Yalta, but in reality there is little the U.S. can do to compel the Soviet Union to li...
Collapse of Peace, The: Revitalizing Japan
Secretary of State Dean Atchison tells MacArthur that it is time to reverse existing policies and allow Japan to strengthen and centralize its economy. MacArthur resists strategy, bit within three years of the war's end the United States is rehabili...
Collapse of Peace, The: Wartime Diplomacy
Allied leaders periodically hold strategy talks during World War II, but the relationship is more a marriage of convenience. Stalin agrees to enter the Pacific conflict once the war in Europe is over. In turn Roosevelt promises to launch the long-aw...
Collapse of Peace, The: Containment Doctrine, The
A new American doctrine is slowly emerging. Rather than attempting to create a unified, "open" world, the United States and its allies will work to contain threat of further Soviet expansion, first by political and economic measures then later throu...
Collapse of Peace, The: Marshall Plan, The
The Marshall Plan, initiated by the United States in 1948, assists in the economic reconstruction of Western Europe. The U.S. also offers help to Soviets in the East Block, not really thinking they will accept and they don't. Subtext to the Marshall...
Collapse of Peace, The: China Problem, The
America's hopes for an open, peaceful world "policed by the great powers," require a strong, independent China, but a civil war in China led by Mao Zedong stands in the way. This Communist Revolution in October of 1949 shifts the balance of power in...
Collapse of Peace, The: Mobilization at Home; Alliances Abroad
At Truman's request, Congress approves a new military draft and revives the Selective Service system in 1948. With the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949; NATO nations agree to mutually defend each other. This is only one of...