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The
Domino Theory: The Cold War Presidents
There were nine Presidents who served
during the Cold War era between
1945 - 1991. The names of the Cold War Presidents were Harry Truman,
Dwight D Eisenhower, John F Kennedy, Lyndon B Johnson, Richard
Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H Bush.
Many of the Cold War presidents used the Domino Theory as the main
justification for their involvement and intervention in the affairs
of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, China, Korea, Cuba and Vietnam.
Domino Theory Facts
for kids
The following fact
sheet contains interesting information, history and
facts on Domino Theory for kids.
Domino Theory
Facts for kids
Domino Theory
Facts - 1: The Domino Theory
was based on the idea that communism was a contagious
force that spread from country to country. It was first
advanced during Harry S. Truman's presidency, when WW2
ended, as the United States adopted the policy of
Containment to restrict communist
expansion and the sphere of influence held by the USSR.
Domino Theory
Facts -
2:
The end of
World War 2 saw military forces of the USSR occupying large areas of
Eastern Europe and extending their
influence over the communist-dominated governments in the 'Satellite
Nations' of the Iron Curtain.
Domino Theory
Facts - 3:
The USSR was not content with their power over East Germany, Hungary,
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania, the USSR sought to extend their
power and sphere of influence together with
communism to other countries in Eastern Europe and even to the Middle East.
Domino Theory
Facts - 4:
The Domino Theory was debated in the US during the Iran crisis of 1946
when the Soviets remained in Northern Iran after WW2 instead of
withdrawing.
The Soviets demanded access to Iran's oil supplies and
began to help Communists in Northern Iran to set up a separate
government.
Domino Theory
Facts - 5:
The USSR also sought to extend their influence to Greece
and Turkey giving further credence to the Domino Theory. Greece was
in a weak position after WW2 and the Greek
Civil War (1946–1949) had broken out as Communist rebels attempted to take over the country.
Domino Theory
Facts - 6: Turkey was also a
prime Soviet target as the country became involved in
the Turkish Straits crisis in 1946. Whoever controlled the Turkish straits,
which connected the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, had
entry or exit
points for naval forces to travel to and from the Black
Sea.
Domino Theory
Facts - 7: President Truman
and General George Marshall, the United States Secretary
of State, were early proponents of the Domino Theory. It
was this belief together with the US policy of
Containment that led to the
Truman Doctrine and the
Marshall Plan. Both Turkey and Greece
had turned to the US for help and on March 27,
1947 President Harry S. Truman had made a speech asking
Congress to support the Greek Government with economic
and military aid against the Communists and also to provide
assistance for Turkey to help them resist the communist
aggression.
Continued...
Domino Theory
Facts for kids
Facts
about the Domino Theory Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet continues with interesting information, history and facts
on Domino Theory for kids.
Domino Theory
Facts for kids
Domino Theory
Facts - 8: The withdrawal of Japan at the
end of WW2 had left the Malayan economy in crisis. The Malayan
Emergency (16 June 1948 – 12 July 1960) was a Malayan guerrilla war
fought between British Commonwealth armed forces and the military
arm of the Malayan Communist Party. The Domino Theory was given
credence on 8 September 1955, the Government of the Federation of
Malaya issued a declaration of amnesty to the communists.
Domino Theory Facts - 9:
NATO, the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization, was formed on April 4, 1949
to establish a mutual defense pact aimed at
containing Soviet aggression and blocking USSR expansion
into Europe. The establishment of NATO gave further credence to the Domino Theory.
Domino Theory
Facts - 10:
The Domino
Theory once again came into play as
the world witnessed the rise in power of
Mao Zedong and Communism in China. The
conflict involving the US-backed forces of Chiang Kai-shek against
the Communists resulted
in the spread of Communism into
East Asia.
Domino Theory
Facts - 11:
In 1950 China
entered the Korean War
(June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953)
and the US joined the conflict
to defend South Korea from the communist invasion.
Domino Theory
Facts -
12: On 7 May 1954, the
Viet Minh, a Communist army, defeated French troops in
the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and took control of what
became North Vietnam. In
line with the US policy of Containment, and aware of the
Domino Theory, President Dwight D. Eisenhower had sent
previously sent aid to
the French forces fighting the Communist guerillas in
Vietnam. The French defeat at Dien Bien Phu ended the French effort
to retain Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in the Indochina
War but began the direct involvement of the US to fight against communism in
the
Vietnam
War (November 1, 1955 – April 30, 1975).
Domino Theory
Facts - 13: President
Eisenhower had reasoned that if Communists succeeded in
taking over the rest of Indochina that the Communists
would gain the momentum to take over Burma, Thailand,
Malaya and Indonesia.
Domino Theory
Facts - 14: President
Eisenhower was the first to speak publicly about the
"Domino Theory" when he spoke about the importance of
preventing communism's rise in Indochina. There were
considerable fears that Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan
and even New Zealand and Australia could be forced to
compromise politically with communism.
Domino Theory
Facts - 15: The Vietnam War
dragged on and examples of US Presidents beliefs
in the Domino Theory were evident in the following
public statements. President John F. Kennedy made a
public statement on 2 September 2, 1963 stating "If we
withdrew from Vietnam. the Communists would control
Vietnam. Pretty soon Thailand. Cambodia. Laos. Malaya
would go".
Domino Theory
Facts - 16: On August 2, 1965
President Lyndon B. Johnson used the Domino Theory to
justify the escalation of the U.S. military presence in
Vietnam stated "If this little nation goes down the
drain and can't maintain her independence, ask yourself.
what's going to happen to all the other little nations?"
Domino Theory
Facts - 17: The Domino Theory
provided a succession of US Presidents with a simple,
believable justification for their actions in the Korean
War and the Vietnam War. The speculations of the Domino
theory and the US Containment policy resulted in the
Vietnam War and arguably led to the Philippines,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand staying free
of Communism.
Domino Theory
Facts for kids
Domino Theory
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Interesting Facts about Domino Theory for kids and schools
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Summary and Definition of the Domino Theory in US history
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Domino Theory Facts with important dates and key
events
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Domino Theory Facts with important dates and key
events
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Fast, fun, interesting
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Foreign & Domestic
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