Government Policy
... to gain public support. FDR “deceived the American people during the periods before Pearl Harbor…he was like the physician who must tell the patients lies for the patients own good…because the masses are notoriously short-sighted and generally cant see danger until its at their throats”# That winter the US was attacked by Japan. The states knew the attack was going to occur but unable to crack codes giving the location until it was too late.# “Japan’s strike against the American naval base climaxed a long series of mutually antagonistic acts”# We entered the war, first taking care of Japan, then quickly moving into Europe. U.S. soldiers were deep in stagnant trench warfare, so that we could show that we were stronger than other nations. To be a mediator allows you to be placed above those in conflict. The USSR joined the allies after Hitler had turned on their peace agreement, and we were able to save Europe, democracy, and the Jews, but nothing happened to the American people, besides deaths and casualties. After WWII, both Russians and Americans were happy to have defeated Germany, but Russia saw the U.S. as imperialistic, which they felt was the cause of war with Hitler leading it. FDR and Churchill along with the USSR invaded and took control of Italy but refused to allow the Soviets to benefit. Berlin is split up and the Soviets decide to blockaded the U.S. portion of Berlin, which made them look bad. “There was great competition to divide up the world.”# Propaganda on both sides flourished. “China declared themselves as communists and Stalin wanted the world to accept those views.”# In response the “Americanism program, role played a Russian invasion…it instilled pride in the U.S. citizens.”# Americans developed the A-bomb, and shortly after tested it on Hiroshima, then shortly after in Nagasaki. These attacks served two purposes; one: to test, two: to show that we mean business and aren’t afraid to use our weapons. Despite the obviously terrifying effects on the targeted people, America said they wanted to “fight the war to win” and “will use the atomic bomb, if necessary”# At this point the U.S. felt very strong, they were developing a second bomb and no one else had even duplicated the a-bomb. Although fear remained for a long time once Russia developed an A-bomb, no bombs were dropped. The attacks were upon helpless nations and occurred, so that the United States could flex their muscles and show off their new toy to the world. Many nations in the late 50’s early 60’s were debating between going US or Soviet and most chose Soviet. Power was being pulled away from the states and shifting towards the Soviets once again. Vietnam was a country which was in civil war over the topic. The United states felt that if pro-communist, North Vietnam, won many other South-East Asian countries would follow. Vietnam “had been part of the French empire…during the war Indochina was taken over by Japan and after 1945 the French were keen to regain this southeast colony…at first the aid [from America] was financial, but military aid was given as the situation became more serious”# A new look policy was created with the goal of showing a clear nuclear superiority to pressure other coun...