"Two Nations Live on the Edge" - Notes

Terms and names from Chapter 24-4:

• The hydrogen bomb was developed as a more destructive super-weapon than the atom bomb, because the Soviet Union had acquired their own functioning atomic bomb (the Americans needed to have a more destructive bomb to demonstrate superiority). (It was estimated that the bomb would be 67 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima)
• The Americans won the race with the Soviets to develop such a bomb, but the USSR soon caught up less than a year after the first successful American H-bomb.
• Dwight D. Eisenhower was the president of the USA during this time.
• John Foster Dulles was his secretary of state. 
• Dulles believed in brinkmanship, the willingness of the US to go to the edge of all-out war.
• With the new developments and focus on the nuclear race and stalemate, the US came to rely on the CIA very heavily. The CIA used their spies to gather information from foreign nations, such as the USSR.
• The CIA also gave several million dollars to anti-Mossadegh supporters to have him removed from office, in order to keep that nation pro-American and anti-Soviet.
• The CIA raised an army and invaded Guatemala. When the president of Guatemala "resigned" from office, the army's pro-American leader took power as dictator of the country.
• The Warsaw Pact, signed by the Soviet Union and several other countries, linked the nations together. The USSR passed this Pact as it grew fearful of West Germany (which it had recognized when Stalin died and a new dictator took office).
• In Geneva, Eisenhower proposed an "open skies" policy in which the two superpowers would allow flights over each other's territory to prevent surprise nuclear attacks on one another. Though it was turned down, it was seen as a step towards peace.
• A war almost broke out over the Suez Canal, with England, France and Israel on one side, and Egypt on the other. However, the UN stepped in and stopped it before it began, leaving control of the canal to Egypt, the one that illegally seized it in the first place.
• Congress approved the Eisenhower Doctrine, which stated that the US would defend the Middle East against any attack by a communist country.
• Nikita Khrushchev became dictator of the Soviet Union after Stalin. He also believed that communism was best for the world, but he believed that it could spread peacefully.
• The USSR came back by being the first to launch a man-made satellite into the Earth's orbit, named Sputnik. The US, after some failures, managed to catch up and launch their own satellite.
• On the final U-2 American spy-flight over the USSR, the plane was shot down and the pilot was sent to prison in the Soviet Union for 10 years. This was after Eisenhower had been convinced to allow one more flight.
• The Soviet Union demanded an end to the flights and a formal apology. Eisenhower agreed to stop the flights, but did not apologize. This incident sparked more tension between the two nations as the world entered the 1960s.

WWII Research

THE MACHINES THAT CHANGED THE WAR:

• Russians had the t-34 tank which gave them the advantage over the Germans, even up against the Tiger and Panther tanks.
• The t-34 was mass produced in larger numbers than any other tank in the war.
• They sometimes rolled right off the production line into the heat of battle, which was much faster than the German tanks which would take a while to get to the Russian front.
• The t-34 was the first ever tank to employ the sloped-armor design which essentially doubled the armor's thickness and gave it the ability to deflect projectiles. This armor allowed the tank to be able to take a lot of direct hits from the German tanks, and continue fighting.
• As for the cannon, when the Germans outfitted their tanks with armor that could handle the original projectile of the t-34, the Russians responded by upgrading their tanks with high-velocity 85mm guns (http://web.ebscohost.com/hrc/detail?vid=3&hid=19&sid=af4c1125-b35b-41f4-aee5-01187714e94f%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9aHJjLWxpdmU%3d#db=khh&AN=28832246 -> T-34/76 by Jon Guttman)

(END OF DAY 1      HERE------->)

• Japanese had the Zero's which gave them the advantage of aerial superiority at the beginning of the war in the Pacific.
• The Japanese Zero had a maximum speed of 331 mph and had a range (with the aid of an extra fuel tank) of up to 1,930 miles)
• The zero could also be launched from a carrier, giving it increased range and allowing it to be used in the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
• When the Japanese ordered a better version from western designers, they received a plane that could achieve 276 mph at an altitude of 10,500 feet, which surpassed the expectations of the Japanese. 



7.7mm Round

• The zero came with two 7.7mm machine guns for dog-fighting and strafing. 
• The zeros ruled the skies at the beginning of the war in the pacific because of their agility and speed (though the US went on to crush this aerial superiority with such planes as the P-38 Lightning). 

• (http://web.ebscohost.com/hrc/detail?hid=105&sid=6df77e7d-4682-4259-bff3-8065b66383f5%40sessionmgr111&vid=3&bdata=JnNpdGU9aHJjLWxpdmU%3d#db=khh&AN=3554571 -> Sixty years ago, the Japanese Zero fighter made its devastating combat debut over China. by Jon Guttman)

(END OF DAY 2       HERE------->)

• Germans had a submarine which they brought back from WWI where it showed its power and influence on the battlefield, the U-Boat.
• The older and less advanced version used in WWI sank almost 11 million gross tons of Allied shipping.
• In 1944, the snorkel was invented which allowed submarines to charge their batteries and run on diesel power while submerged.



U-Boat deck gun

• The U-Boats featured deck guns varying from 86mm to 105mm used when the U-Boat surfaced.
• German U-Boats would surface during the night to fire at enemy ships with their deck guns because they could not be seen and British radars (on their ships) could not accurately detect  a submarine on the surface.
• Adapted U-Boats also had the ability to lay mines near the shore. These mines sank nearly 3 million tons of shipping.
• (http://web.ebscohost.com/hrc/detail?hid=104&sid=01324ac7-b837-4db9-b4a8-e90d0a5c5c2a%40sessionmgr112&vid=5&bdata=JnNpdGU9aHJjLWxpdmU%3d#db=khh&AN=52367830 -> Killer U-Boats by Stephan Wilkinson)

(END DAY 3       HERE------->)

America's Neutrality Questions (Continued - pg 8-10)

1) List four principles of the fourteen points. Which of the fourteen points did Wilson think was most important?

     The four principles were to eliminate secret treaties (the main causes of war) through open diplomacy, secure freedom of the seas, develop free-trade, and encourage disarmament. Wilson believed that the most important point was the last, which called for a "general association of nations".

2) List three types of anti-German propaganda used by the U.S. during the war.

     The "Americanization" of immigrants was spread as an idea that would change public (immigrant) views of the U.S. for the better; they sent out pamphlets in foreign languages that told immigrants why they should support the U.S. The Wilson administration passed the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 which, combined, took away many rights of the people by outlawing expressions of anti-war and pro-German views. Also, the Committee on Public Information was created by Wilson.

3) What was the purpose of the Committee on Public Information?

     The C.P.I. was created to promote the war domestically and shape information of the war into something that would cause as much support as possible for the war.

America's Neutrality Pg 4-9 Questions

1) What was president Wilson's initial stance towards U.S. involvement in the war?

     Wilson believed that America should "act as a model to the rest of the world," and remain out of the conflict. He maintained that the U.S. should remain neutral in this conflict and let the European nations go at it.

2) Why was it difficult to maintain neutrality?

     Germany was attacking both British and American vessels as a result of the British flying U.S. flags for stealth. This led to the sinking of the Lusitania, which sent ripples of hatred and anger through the public. This strong push for war made it hard for Wilson to keep the U.S. out of the war.

3) After the Lusitania sank, two groups of people criticized President Wilson's actions. Who were they, and what problems did they see with his actions?

     One group was the "Pro War" group which was pushing Wilson to go to war with Germany and criticizing his decision to stay neutral. The other group was the "Anti War" group which wanted Wilson to stay out of European Wars. They criticized his decision to allow Americans to go into war territory, saying that it would inevitably drag America into war.

4) What two actions did Germany take which led Wilson to declare war?

     1 - Germany announced that it was resuming unrestricted submarine warfare. This violated the agreement that Germany had with the U.S. and caused Wilson to cease diplomatic relations with Germany and arm merchant ships, in constant threat of German attack.

     2 - Germany also promised to return Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to Mexico if it joined the war on Germany's side.

Progressive Era Packet Questions (continued)

4) Was Taft a true "Progressive"? Make a list of points for and against...

     >FOR: Taft made, and followed through with, a pledge to cut rates on the tariff. He supported insurgents who were trying to, and succeeded in, liberalizing procedures in the House. Prosecuted more trusts than Roosevelt. Signed off on the Mann-Elkins Act which improved the regulatory powers of the ICC and supported labor reforms. 17th Amendment (direct election of US senators) passed during his presidency.

     >AGAINST: Taft's bill which cut rates failed, and he signed off on a bill that restored many of the cuts. He abandoned the insurgents whom he had earlier supported. Fired Gifford Pinchot who protested Richard A. Ballinger's plan to lessen federal supervision of western waterpower sites. 16th Amendment (allowing income tax) passed during his presidency.

5) Who were the main contenders in the 1912 election? What were the election returns?

     The three main contenders in the election were Wilson (democrat), Roosevelt (progressive), and Taft (republican). Taft got 1.5% of the electoral votes and 23% of the popular votes. Roosevelt got 16.5% of the electoral votes and 27% of the popular votes. Wilson, the winner, got 82% of the electoral votes and 42% of the popular votes.

6) Define Wilson's "New Freedom" platform.

     Concentrated economic power threatened individual liberty and monopolies had to be broken up so the marketplace would be generally open. He did not believe in cooperation between business and government.

7) What reforms were passed during Wilson's presidency?

     His administration passed the Clayton Antitrust Act which helped to prevent corporate abuses and corrected problems that the Sherman Antitrust Act had. He also passed a bill which created the FTC which investigated companies and gave orders against unfair trade practices. Also, the Federal Reserve Act established the first national bank since the expiration of the second national bank in 1836. He set the Underwood Tariff to restore competition by encouraging imports. Finally, the Adamson Act, which mandated an 8 hour work day and set overtime pay for railroad workers, was passed.

Progressive Era Packet Questions

1) What role did President Roosevelt want the federal government to serve?

     President Roosevelt wanted the federal government to involve itself more in business affairs and national concerns such as the progressives and their goal of eliminating harsh working conditions and giving more power to the workers instead of letting the big business owners control society.

2) What reforms were achieved during Roosevelt's presidency?

     Roosevelt used antitrust laws to eliminate the abuse of the public through trusts occurring in the railroad, meatpacking, and oil companies. He also helped to get the Hepburn Act passed, which gave the ICC more authority to set railroad freight and storage rates. However, it also gave courts the authority to overrule the set rates. Roosevelt supported the Meat Inspection Act which required that government agents monitor the quality of processed meat. Finally, he also supported the Pure Food and Drug Act that prohibited dangerously adulterated foods and addressed abuses in the patent medicine industry.

3) How did Roosevelt handle the 1902 United Mine Workers' Strike? How did this illustrate his stance toward unions?

     He forced the mining company to recognize the union and accept arbitration of the dispute by a special commission. This illustrated the side of Roosevelt's belief that there are legitimate labor demands that should be recognized and met by the employer. However, this does not show the other side of his belief which is that there are also illegitimate/inappropriate labor demands that the President and/or federal government should put down.

Triangle Factory Fire Response

     My reaction to these events would be frustration, outrage, and sadness. Sadness/mourning obviously because of the workers who died due to shortcuts taken by the owners to save themselves a few bucks. Frustration because this isn't the first time that workers have been injured and/or killed in their workplace. Finally, outraged because there isn't one big-business owner out there who is actually putting worker safety where it should be, ahead of money. I think that these business owners should be put in prison for indirect murder of their employees by purposefully ignoring any sort of common-sense safety measures.

     The events during and after the Triangle Factory Fire tie into the Progressive Era because people after the fire began pushing for changes in workplace safety measures. They began saying that it's not right to let your workers die for the sole purpose of saving some money. This push for progression in workplace safety measures is very similar to the other pushes for workplace progression during the Progressive Era.