The Cold War

1. The Cold War World History II

2. Beginnings of the Cold War • Two superpowers emerged after World War II • The United States—believers in Democracy • The Soviet Union—believers in Communism • The leaders of the United States wanted to spread Democracy in the World • The Soviet leaders wanted to take over all of Eastern Europe and spread Communism

3. Yalta Conference: • At the Yalta Conference, many of the tensions for the Cold War were set • The “Big Three” met at Yalta and were trying to establish an agenda for governing post-war Germany • Big Three • Churchill—wanted to save the British Empire • FDR—wanted to spread democracy • Stalin—wanted Eastern Europe

4. The “Big Three” decided to partition (divide up) Germany after the war • Germany will be split into a Western and an Eastern Part • Western Germany—democratic • Eastern Germany—communist and controlled by the Soviets

5. The “Big Three” at Yalta

6. Soviet Security • The Soviets will be given most of Eastern Europe • They wanted Eastern Europe as a buffer against Western Europe • These Eastern European nations became “satellite” nations that would provide security against attacks from Western Democracies • The Soviets were afraid of the United States because the US had the atomic bomb • The Soviets were hard at work on trying to create their own bomb • The Soviets did not emerge from WWII as well off as the US

7. American Security • The US was afraid of communism • Americans were afraid of the Soviets’ large military • Many Americans distrusted Stalin because of his Non-Aggression Pact with Hitler before WWII • The US adopted a policy of Containment toward communism • Trying to keep communisms from spreading—especially from spreading close to the United States

8. Because of the differing policies on government and politics, the US and Soviet Union entered into a secret war known as the Cold War Both nations would avoid direct fighting against each other They would try to block each other’s goals around the world Churchill said an “Iron Curtain” had fallen across Europe when Stalin took control of Eastern Europe Iron Curtain Video

9. The Containment of Communism • The US adopted a policy of containment toward communism • The American government did not want communism to spread • The US will take many steps—from legislative to actual war—to stop the spread of communism

10. 1.) United Nations • Formed near the end of WWII • Designed to create a body for the nations of the world to try to prevent future global wars • General Assembly • Each member nation has a representative • Security Council • 15 members • 5 permanent members with veto power • Power to send troops

11. 2.) Truman Doctrine • Great Britain was nearly bankrupt after WWII • GB had been supporting the Greek and Turkish governments • GB asked the US to take over the support for the Greek and Turkish governments • The Soviets were trying to force the Turks to share a shipping channel between the Black and Mediterranean Seas • Communist rebels were fighting against the government in Greece

12. Pres. Truman and his advisors believed the US should act • Without American help, Truman believed that the communists might succeed in taking over many nations • Truman believed that America must help all free people who were resisting communist rule • This ideas is known as the Truman Doctrine • The US would resist communist aggression from spreading into other nations • The Truman Doctrine dictated American foreign policy for the next 20 years • Truman Doctrine Video

13. 3.) Marshall Plan • June, 1947: Secretary of State George C. Marshall created the Marshall Plan as a way to contain communism • Europeans were still struggling to survive 2 years after the end of WWII • This struggle and suffering left many European nations in a situation that could allow for communism to spread into Western Europe • Marshall’s plan: use American money to help Europe regain its economic strength • American aid would help rebuild Europe • European nations would have a favorable view of the US because of America’s help • American $ was even offered to the Soviets, but they refused to accept the offer • Soviets believed the US was trying to take over Europe

14. Marshall Plan Video

15. 4.) Berlin Crisis • After WWII, the Americans and Soviets had adopted different plans for Germany • US wanted a strong Germany to promote European economic growth and recovery • Also wanted a strong Germany to help contain communism • Soviets wanted a powerless Germany that would never be a threat to the Soviet Union again • Each side will be given control of different zones of Germany and Germany’s capital of Berlin

16. Germany will be split into a Western Part and an Eastern Part • West Germany—France, GB, and the US turned West Germany into a powerful state with an economy closely tied to Western Europe • East Germany—dominated by the Soviets and communist • The capital of Berlin—located in East Germany– will also be split into a Western Part and an Eastern Part • West Berlin—democratic • East Berlin--communist • Soviets were upset at the Western Democracies (FR, GB, US) for turning West Germany into a powerful state

18. Map of West and East Germany

19. June 1948: the 3 Western Democracies announced a new currency for West Germany Soviets=upset, believed Germany should be treated as one nation Soviets responded by giving the democracies an ultimatum—either drop the new currency for West Germany or the Soviets would create a new currency for East Germany and ALL of Berlin (West and East) Western leaders told the Soviets that the Soviets had no say in West Germany Soviets then demanded that ALL of Berlin (Germany’s capital) become part of their territory

20. June 22: Meetings were held, but a compromise between the Soviets and Western Democracies could not be reached • Soviets then announced their new currency would start for ALL of Germany (West and East) the next day—June 23 • Soviet troops then blockaded railways and highways that crossed from East Germany into West Berlin (democratic section of the capital) • The Soviets were holding 2 million West Berliners hostage • The people of West Berlin could not get needed supplies • Stalin and the Soviets were hoping to force Western Leaders into giving up Berlin to the Soviets and giving up on their plans for a new currency in West Germany

21. Pres. Truman of the US faced a major dilemma He could send troops to East Germany and start a war with the Soviets Truman then realized he could get supplies to West Berlin through the air Truman authorized 130 American planes to fly in needed goods to the people of West Berlin—Berlin Airlift Every 3 minutes, planes landed in West Berlin with needed supplies The Berlin Airlift was a success for the US and a failure for the Soviets

22. Berlin Airlift Video

23. 5.) NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) • The Berlin Airlift showed the people of Western Europe that they needed more than economic hope • They also needed military support to stay free from communism • April 1949: The US, Canada, and 10 European nations formed NATO • A military alliance with Europe • If the Soviets tried to invade Western Europe, NATO and the US would take action • NATO was able to keep many nations from joining with the Soviets

24. 6.) Warsaw Pact • Soviets responded to NATO by forming their own alliance with Eastern European nations—the Warsaw Pact

26. 7.) Berlin Wall • Wall built barrier constructed by the Soviets starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin • The Soviets were trying to keep Eastern Germans and East Berliners from escaping into democratic West Berlin • The wall was 28 miles long • The Berlin Wall was a symbol for communism • Berlin Wall Video

30. 8.) Space Race/Arms Race • 1950s saw the US and Soviet Union locked into an arms race to produce more nuclear weapons than each other • 1957: Arms race intensified • Soviets launched the 1st intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a nuclear warhead • Would allow the Soviets to strike targets far away with a missile • Oct. 4, 1957: The Soviets launched Sputnik (a satellite) into orbit • Caused fear in many Americans • The Soviets had beaten the Americans into Space

31. The US responded to Sputnik by increasing its spending on missile development • 1959: The US created NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) • The US enlarged its B-52 bomber fleet • The government put lots of money into education • Trying to get more trained scientists to ensure the US would not fall behind the Soviets again • The US also adopted a policy of “massive retaliation” since the Soviets had matched the US in nuclear weaponry • If nuclear war did break out, both the US and Soviet Union would be destroyed

32. Sputnik Sputnik Video

33. Communism in Latin America

34. US had been involved in Latin America for many years 1950s: many Latin American nations were experience lots of nationalism—pride in their nation Very little wealth in Latin America stayed with the Latin American people Many Latin American leaders wanted to loosen the grip that US businesses had over the Latin American people Many nations in Latin America were on the verge of revolution

35. 1.) Fidel Castro and Cuba • Cuba will be one of these Latin American nations on the verge of revolution • 1950s: Cuba was totally controlled by US businesses • Nearly 90% of Cuba’s resources belonged to the US • Most people in Cuba were living in poverty • 1952: Fulgencio Batista overthrew the Cuban government • Batista made himself dictator • Batista’s dictatorship was friendly to the US • Batista did little to help his own people • 1958: Fidel Castro led a successful revolt against Batista • Castro had support from the Cuban middle class and peasants

36. Fulgencio Batista

37. Fidel Castro

38. Castro moved to solve all of Cuba’s problems • Castro wanted to have control over American properties in Cuba • The American businesses REFUSED to turn over their properties in Cuba • US businessmen did not want to lose the $ they were getting from Cuba • Castro then turned to the Soviet Union for Economic help • The Soviets now had influence in a nation that was only 90 miles from the US • Cuba became communist • By 1961, Castro had taken over all American businesses in Cuba • The US and Cuba broke off all diplomatic relations

39. 2.) Bay of Pigs Invasion • President John Kennedy will attempt to send the La Brigada (a secret society of Cuban exiles) to get Castro out of power • April 17, 1961: 1500 commandos attempted to land in the Bay of Pigs in Cuba • The commandos were quickly defeated in 2 days by the Soviet trained Cuban forces • America’s failure at the Bay of Pigs made the US and Kennedy look weak

40. Bay of Pigs Video

41. 3.) Cuban Missile Crisis • Kennedy still wanted Castro out of Cuba • Castro and the Soviet Premier—Kruschev—began taking attempts to ensure the US would have no influence over Cuba • The Soviets wanted to keep their holding in the Western Hemisphere • Castro and Kruschev wanted to place nuclear missiles in Cuba to serve as a warning to the United States to leave Cuba alone • Oct 14, 1962: an American spy plane flew over Cuba and took photographs of the missile silo construction • Kennedy attempted to block Cuban shipping lanes to keep Soviet missiles from reaching Cuba • Kennedy was trying to quietly push Kruschev into removing the remaining missiles from Cuba

42. Oct. 22, 1962: Pres. Kennedy addressed the American people on TV Oct. 24, 1962: 180 American naval ships set sail for Cuba American bombers carrying nuclear weapons were in the air and ready to attack the Soviet Union Soviet ships loaded with nuclear missiles were still headed for Cuba The US and Soviet Union were on the brink of nuclear war

43. Oct. 26, 1962: Kruschev agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba • Nuclear war had been avoided • Kruschev also demanded that the US remove their nuclear missiles from Turkey • Kennedy refused • Oct. 28, 1962: Kruschev finally agreed to the US demands and removed Soviet missiles in Cuba • Cuban Missile Crisis Video

44. Spy plane photo of Soviet missile sites in Cuba

45. Communism in Asia

46. Many formerly held European colonies in Asia began demanding their freedom in the late 1940s (after WWII) • Revolutions will occur in China, and other Asian nations • Communism will find its way into Asia

47. 1.) Red China (Mao v. Chiang) • China had been a major ally of the US • At the end of WWII, a revolution was occurring in China • The revolution had powerful leaders on both sides • Chiang Kai-shek—leader of the Nationalism government • Mao Zedong—leader of the Communist forces in China • Most in America supported (wanted) Chiang Kai-shek to be successful • If he won the Civil War, China could block the expansion of communist Soviet Union • China was also a major trading partner to the US—keeping China away from communism would keep trade with China

48. Chiang Kai-shek

49. Mao Zedong

50. 1945: Pres. Truman sent a negotiator to China to help ease tensions between the warring sides • Negotiations failed • Mao Zedong eventually won the civil war • Mainland China will become a communist nation under Mao • Chang moved his Nationalist government to Taiwan • Many Americans saw China’s falling to communism as a failure in America’s policy of containment • The US broke off nearly all relations with China for the next few decades