Date
2-28-2025
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)
Chair
Kevin E. Grimm
Keywords
Cold War, Arctic, policy, United States, diplomacy, environmental history, military history, international geophysical year, dew line, polar strategy, Canada, Greenland, Alaska, Arctic military exercises
Disciplines
History
Recommended Citation
Morris, Daniel J., "Arctic Militarization: How the United States Developed the Arctic at the Cold War’s Beginning, 1945-1965" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6545.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6545
Abstract
At the Cold War’s start, the United States conducted a robust Arctic militarization policy for North American defense against the Soviet Union. U.S. officials feared an Arctic invasion or an over-the-North-Pole attack. The Arctic policies created Alaskan statehood, the distant early warning (DEW) line radar stations, Greenland military installations, failed Arctic diplomacy, the International Geophysical Year of 1957-1958 (IGY), and Arctic military activities. In 1945, the United States started its Arctic militarization programs as its international relationship with the Soviet Union deteriorated. First, Alaska transitioned from a U.S. territory to a state, which federal money entered Alaska for national defense. Second, the United States wanted a detection system to monitor the Arctic skies for Soviet airplanes flying towards Canadian or U.S. cities for an attack and needed an agreement with the United States and Canada for the construction and operation of the DEW line. Third, the U.S. Armed Forces required military installations in Greenland to counter the Soviet Armed Forces, which a Danish agreement settled the construction and operation of the bases. Fourth, the United States negotiated proposals with the Soviet Union to lower international tensions. With diplomatic failures, the United States kept with its Arctic militarization programs. Fifth, the United States wanted an understanding about the globe and committed to the IGY for Arctic knowledge. Sixth, the U.S. Armed Forces started different Arctic military exercises to deter a possible Soviet Arctic invasion. The U.S. Cold War Arctic policy stopped Soviet aggression against North America.
