The Cold War

1. The Cold War Dave Phillips ED 448 02/27/01

2. The Cold War’s Beginning… Terms: • Iron Curtain • United Nations • Arms Race

3. People: • Harry S. Truman • Dwight D. Eisenhower • Joseph McCarthy

4. Places: North Korea South Korea

5. An Overview... The United States and the Soviet Union, once allies, became bitter enemies during the period following WWII.

6. The United Nations In April 1945 delegates from 50 countries met in San Francisco to set up a new organization, the United Nations. Their meeting was to be the largest gathering of government representatives in history. Their goal was to maintain world peace. Yet in 1950 the United States would be fighting again.

7. What was the Cold War? • A conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, which was fought with • Ideas • Words • Money • (and, sometimes) Force

8. After World War II... • Much of the world was in ruins. • The United States, however, remained untouched. • The country’s factories began turning out refrigerators, cars and other peacetime products.

9. By the 1950’s American workers were producing and using over one-third of all the world’s goods. • The United States and the Soviet Union became the world’s two most powerful countries. -United States Adventures in Time and Place

10. The “Cold War” begins... • Important differences had long divided the United States and the Soviet Union. • These tensions resurfaced after the war was over. • Even though the Soviet Union had been devastated by the war, it rebuilt its industry and military at a rapid pace.

11. The Soviet Union sent troops into Eastern Europe and put these countries under Soviet rule. • Stalin did not let the countries hold free elections.

12. The “Iron Curtain” The “Iron Curtain” was an imaginary line separating Europe’s communist countries from its noncommunist ones.

13. Role of President Truman • President Truman did not want communism to spread. • He believed that the people of all countries should be free to elect their own leaders. • Truman sponsored a recovery program for Europe

14. This program provided $13 billion in food and goods to help Western Europe recover from the damage caused by WWII. • Called the Marshall Plan, it helped prevent the spread of communism in Western Europe.

15. The Korean War • In June 1950, the Korean War began in Asia when a communist country invaded a noncommunist country. • The Korean peninsula had been divided into North Korea (communist) and South Korea (noncommunist). • On June 25, 1950, North Korean troops led a surprise attack on South Korea. • On July 5, 1950, United States troops came to the aid of South Korea.

16. The United States in the Cold War President Truman said as he sent troops to Korea: “A return to the rule of force would have far-reaching effects. The United States will continue to uphold the rule of law.”

17. The Response of the United Nations • Under the leadership of the United Nations, 16 countries sent soldiers to South Korea. • United Nations forces, most of which came from the United States, turned back the North Koreans and freed Seoul, the capital city of South Korea. • The UN troops then moved North into Korea.

18. China, which had been a communist country since 1949, then sent armed forces to aid North Korea. • After two more years of fighting, the war ended with a settlement in July, 1953.

19. The role of President Eisenhower • In the early 1950’s, the Soviet Union and the United States became locked in a costly race to build the world’s most powerful weapons, • This competition became known as the Arms Race. • Many people feared that a war involving nuclear weapons might end all life on earth. • Some people built bomb shelters. • Fear of the Soviet Union grew.

20. McCarthyism • Joseph McCarthy started a campaign to rid the country of communists. • Between 1950 and 1954 many people were called before the Senate to testify. • Some lost their jobs or were sent to jail whether they were communists or not. • The term “McCarthyism” is used today to describe accusations made to damage people because they may have certain political beliefs.

21. Fear in the United States • In the years following WWII, fear of communism in the United States became exaggerated. • In 1947, Truman issued as executive order to search out any “disloyal persons” in the government. Over six million people were investigated. • During Eisenhower’s presidency, people were often questioned by McCarthy because of political affiliations they had held years before or because they knew someone who held questionable views.

22. Why it is important... • The cold war conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union affected the world for over forty years. • The Korean War is one example of how this conflict led to war.

23. Activities and Assignments 1. Describe how the Marshall Plan contained communism in Eastern Europe. 2. Write a newspaper headline to reflect Truman’s decision to fight in Korea. 3. In your journal: How might an arms race be harmful to rival countries?

24. 4. Imagine you are Truman or Eisenhower at a press conference. Comment on the following questions. -What actions did you take in the Cold War? -What was your attitude toward the Soviet Union and communism? -Do you think your actions helped the west in the Cold War? -If you had to do it over again what would you do differently? Explain.

25. 5. Imagine you are a Secretary of State in 1953. Write a policy for dealing with communism. 6. Discuss in small groups who started the Cold War and why? 7. Write a newspaper article about nuclear weapons and the arms race.

26. Research Opportunities We have addressed the development of the Cold War through the Eisenhower presidency. The Cold War continues through the presidencies of Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter and Reagan. With a partner, use the internet to obtain information for your presentation. Present the remaining events of the Cold War in the form of a journal, song, debate, newspaper, skit or drawings.

27. Assesment Assignments, activities and research projects will be evaluated based on the following: -Historical accuracy -Originality -Use of primary source information -Presentation A comprehensive test on the Cold War will finalize the unit.