The Postwar World & Origins of the Cold War

1. The Postwar World & Origins of the Cold War SS.A.3.4.9; SS.A3.4.10

2. Origins of the Cold War • U.S. & Soviets have different views of how postwar world should look • The Atlantic Charter (1941) Nations should solve problems through diplomacy—through an international organization—and nations of the world should be free w/ self determination • Signed by United States, Great Britain, and Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) • Soviets secretly want to take control of Eastern Europe after war • British nervous about what A.C. means for their worldwide empire • Churchill and Stalin want the great powers to control different “spears of influence” • Casablanca Conf: Agree for total surrender of Axis • Teheran Conf: Soviets agree to help with Japan after European war ends, disagreement over Poland’s future

3. The Yalta Conference • The Big Three meet in February 1945 • Roosevelt seeks Soviet help with Japan • Promises Japanese land to Stalin in exchange • Creation of a new United Nations • Security Council: US, UK, France, USSR, China • First meeting set for April 1945 in San Francisco • After war Germany to be split into four sectors controlled by US, UK, USSR & France, based on troop placement at the end of the war • Berlin too would be divided into four sectors • Future of Poland left uncertain • Soviets already held Poland, installed pro-communist gov’t

5. Potsdam and New Struggles • Truman, now president, not as familiar with international politics as FDR, uses “Get Tough Policy” • FDR believed Stalin would ultimately listen to reason, Truman did not trust Russians in general, and was suspicious of Stalin • July 1945: Potsdam Conference, Germany • Truman demands elections for all of Europe, fails • Stalin wins battle to move Polish border into German territory • Truman convinces Stalin to accept no reparations from Allied controlled parts of Germany, assuring Germany would stay split • Big Three agree to trials of Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg, Germany(1945-1946) • Churchill: “iron curtain has descended on the continent” splitting Europe east/west

8. Two Super Powers • After WWII, USA and Soviet Union emerge as superpowers • unrivaled military, political, & economic power • Disagreements over how to rebuild post-war Europe breeds mistrust • 1947:Truman Doctrine • The United States will help any country fight Communism • Supported by the writings of diplomat George Kennan • Born from a fear of Soviet influence in the developing world

9. The Marshall Plan • Motivations for helping Europe after the war: • Humanitarian concern for Europeans affected by war • Concern that Europe would be a drain on the U.S. economy • A recovered Europe would provide a market for American products • Strengthen pro-American, anti-Communist governments in Europe • 1948 Communist coup in Czechoslovakia galvanizes American public support • U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall offers plan: • Offered to all European nations, including Russia • Congress creates Economic Cooperation Administration • $12 Billion in U.S. aid to European countries that accept Marshall Plan • U.S. companies help finance and rebuild European countries • European industrial production increases by 64% by end of 1950 • Keeps populations happy, Communism remains unpopular • Soviet satellite states refuse American help • Soviet plans to help failed, not enough money available

11. Division of Germany • According to Yalta & Potsdam agreements Germany divided • United States, Soviet Union, U.K. & France split control over zones • Berlin, German capital, also split in four • Berlin was located deep in Soviet East Germany • West Germany united, Soviets blockade West Berlin • Soviets block supplies from reaching W. Berlin • Soviets hope to take control of entire city of Berlin • Berlin Air Lift: supplies are flown into West Berlin by U.S. Air Force

12. Division of Germany

14. Containment & the Bi-Polar World • Policy of Containment: United States vow to keep Communism from spreading past its current boundaries, fight against Soviet aggression. • Communist government comes to power in Yugoslavia • U.S. helps Greece fight against Communist revolution • U.S. helps Turkey defeat Communist rebels • The world splits into Communist and Anti-Communist alliances: • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): U.S., U.K., Belgium, Lux, France, The Neth., Italy, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Iceland, Canada, W. Germany, Turkey, Greece • Warsaw Pact: U.S.S.R. & Eastern European “Communist Block” • By 1950s, USA allied with 42 nations against Communism

16. Containment in Asia • Rebuilding Japan seen as way of hedging American influence against Communist advances in China • Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist government is friendly to U.S. interests, but corrupt, incompetent, and unpopular in China • Mao Zedong’s Communist forces gaining strength & popularity • United States seeks a “third force” to support • Civil War erupts in China, Truman supports Chiang • Marshall maintains full out U.S. war in China only way Chiang can win, does not recommend fighting in China—Mao ultimately wins • 1949: Communist government established in China • Chiang and his allies flee to island of Formosa (Taiwan), U.S. support • United States does not recognize Mao’s Communist China • Japan and Taiwan stand in American sphere of influence • Hope for open, prosperous, democratic China fades

18. Cold War Heats Up • 1948: Truman revives Selective Service System, draft • 1949: Soviets detonate an atomic bomb • Arms Race: Soviets and Americans build up militaries and weapons, improve bombs • 1946: Atomic Energy Commission created • 1947: Congress passes the National Security Act • Created Department of Defense to handle all military activities • Created National Security Council (NSC) to oversee policy from White House • Created Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as spy organization • 1950: Truman approves creation of the Hydrogen Bomb • 1950: National Security Council issues a report (NSC-68) toughening containment policy, the U.S. could no longer depend on other countries to help in containment, be the aggressor

19. Berlin Wall • Arms race builds steam with hydrogen bomb, ICBMs and stronger nukes • 1957: Soviet Sputnik I reaches space • USA believes it’s losing space race/arms race • 1958: NASA created to compete with Soviet space program • Nikita Khrushchev, new Soviet leader, sees problem with East Germans escaping to the much richer, freer West Berlin • Soviets build a wall around West Berlin to prevent escape