The Cold War 1945-1991

1. The Cold War 1945-1991

2. What was The Cold War? • The strategic and political struggle that developed after WWII between the United States and it’s Western European allies and the Soviet Union and Eastern European allies • Capitalism vs. Communism • Democracy vs. Communism

3. The rise of the superpowers • Before WW2 USA, USSR,GB, France, Japan, Germany could have claimed to be “superpowers”. • The damage caused by the war to these countries left only two countries with the military strength and resources to be called superpowers….USA and USSR.

4. Causes of the Cold War • The Arms Race • Competition in the Third World • Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America • Two Ideologies • Mutual Distrust • Russian Revolution • WWII • Yalta/Potsdam Conference

5. US and Soviet Tension • Stalin and Truman did not see eye to eye • Both used the UN as an arena for competition and a forum to spread their influence over other nations.

6. Strengthened Offered membership to all nations of the world Enjoyed the participation of the strongest nations of the time: China, GB , Fr, US, USSR Weaknesses General Assembly had no power to enforce decisions. Security Council actions could be stopped (veto) by any of the 5 permanent members UN could invite countries to contribute military personnel and equipment, but had no military force of its own Strengths and Weaknesses of the UN

7. Yalta Churchill, FDR, Stalin Division of Germany and Berlin into four zones SU promises free elections to E. Eur. nations taken during WWII SU promises to enter war in the Pacific within three months Potsdam Final wartime conf Atlee, Truman, Stalin Truman pushed Stalin to allow free elections &Stalin refused Stalin wanted to strip Ger of its industry & Br and US refused Yalta and Potsdam

8. YALTA (in the USSR) Date: Feb 1945 Present: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin

9. POTSDAM (Germany) Date: July 1945 Present: Atlee, Truman and Stalin

10. Iron Curtain – A term used by Winston Churchill to describe the separating of Those communist lands of East Europe from the West. Divided Germany

11. Harry Truman v. Joseph Stalin

12. Bell Ringer# 1-5, answers only 1.The strategic and political struggle that developed after WWII between the United States & Soviet Union and their allies 2. What event began #1? 3. Ideological division between communist and non-communist countries 4. Which post WW2 conferences caused mistrust between Stalin and Truman? 5. What organization created after WW2 had both strengths and weaknesses?

13. Stalin • Communist • Totalitarian (dictatorship) • Resents US • US did not recognize SU until 16 yrs after revolution • Delayed European invasion • Jealous US suffered no war damages & had few casualties due to WW2 • Kept development of Atomic bomb a secret from them • Wants to accomplish • Spread communism throughout the world • Grab up land bordering SU as “buffer zone” and est. them as “satellite nations”. Transferred independence from E Europe to SU to rebuild own country • Wants to keep Ger divided and weak • Final Break with the West • Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech

14. Truman • Capitalist • Democracy • Suspicious of Stalin • Non-aggression pact - Broken promises at Yalta • Wants to Accomplish • Spread dem throughout world • Rebuild govts to prevent totalitarianism • Create new markets for American goods to est stability • Reunite Ger in belief that Europe would be more secure if Germany more stable and less bitter about defeat • New Foreign Policy • Containment – block all soviet attempts to spread Communism by forming alliances supporting weaker countries. Wanted to CONTAIN Communism and keep it from SPREADING • George Kennen

15. What did the US do to contain Communism? • Truman Doctrine • US will help any country fight against Communism • Containment/ stop the domino effect • US will send aid in form of $ and military to prevent spread of Communism to Greece and Turkey btw ’47 and ’50 • Marshall Plan • Fr., Br, in danger of going Communist • George Marshall • US provide aid to all Eur nations needing it • This move was directed “not against any doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos” • Participating countries had to remove trade barriers and cooperate economically with one another

16. Crisis in Germany (again) • US, Br, Fr believed Europe would be more stable if German industry were productive and German people not agitating for unification. • Stalin wanted a weak and divided Ger • Three other zones combine • Stalin retaliates by holding W Berlin “hostage” • Cut off all highway, water, and rail traffic into w zones of Berlin • City faced starvation • Berlin Airlift – Am and British officials flew in aid to W Berlin around the clock for 327 days • Dangerous • Prestige boost to US • SU lifted blockage in 1949

19. North Atlantic Treaty Organization • Berlin blockade increased W. European fear of Soviet aggression. • 10 European nations • Belgium, Den, Fr, GB, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway Portugal • Join US and Canada in forming NATO • Attack on one regarded as attack on all which they would resist with armed force if necessary • 1st time US joins peacetime alliance **The Cold War has ended ISOLATIONISM!!**

21. ** In 1949 two events occurred that sent shock waves through the US govt: • China goes Communist • Soviets explode their first atomic bomb

22. China goes Communist • Mao Zedong (communist in N) v. Jiang Jieshi (Nationalist in S) • US sent approx $3 billion in aid to Nationalists • Stalin sent aid to Mao Zedong and Communists • Chinese pop supported comm • Driven there by Jieshi (corrupt and abusive) • Civil war broke out as soon as Japan left • Communists win May 1949 • ** American public stunned that China had become comm • Truman accused of being “weak” on the Communist issue

23. Soviets explode Their first Atomic Bomb (Summer 1949) • Us thought they were the only ones with the bomb • Summer 1949, US news reported that “in recent weeks an atomic explosion occurred within the USSR” • Americans now feared they could suffer same fate as Hiroshima or Nagasaki • Truman responded with the forging ahead with a new weapon • 1950 Began creation of Hydrogen or thermonuclear bomb • Federal Civil Defense Administration (1951) • Air raid drills

24. Fear of Communist Influence • Loyalty Review Board • Investigated 3.2 mill emp and dismissed 212 • House un-American Activities Board (HUAC) • Congressional committee created to search out disloyalty before WWII. • Began to investigate “Hollywood” • Hollywood Ten • Hollywood producers/directors accused of being Comm sympathizers • blacklisted • McCarran Act • Unlawful to plan any action that might lead to the est of totalitarian dictatorship in the US • Vetoed by Truman

25. Spy Cases • Alger Hiss • Accused of spying for SU • Convicted of perjury • The Rosenbergs • Active in the Comm party • Accused of giving Soviets info about US Atomic bomb • Denied charges and claimed being persecuted for radical beliefs and being Jewish • Convicted and died by electric chair

26. McCarthy’s “Witch Hunt” • Joseph McCarthy (R - Wis) • Needed a winning “issue” • Tactics • Took adv of fear of Comm • Made unsupported accusations • Claimed he had names • Dem party guilty of “20 yrs of treason” • Downfall • McCarthy made accusation against army • Nationally televised investigation • Bullying alienated the audience and cost him public support • Died three yrs later broke and an alcoholic