Post on 27-Mar-2015
transcript
The Cold War
1945-1975
The Cold War Defined
Period of hostile relations between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. (and respective allies) after the Second World War using any means short of direct military conflict.
Why No “Direct Military Conflict”?
Origins of the Cold War
1890’s: Russian desire to close off parts of east Asia v. the “Open Door”1917 Bolshevik Revolution: rivalry becomes ideological
Origins of the Cold War
WWII Alliance: a temporary aberration
Pure necessity: Common FoeAlways tense• Media portrayed as friendly, but…• Mutual suspicion
As victory became eminent, cooperation breaks down
Wartime Conferences Reveal Rivalry
Tehran (1943)Most congenial: war still in doubtConfirmed May, 1944 date for Operation OverlordAgreed that Poland would be “moved” west.
Wartime Conferences Reveal Rivalry
Yalta: February, 1945Last Meeting with FDR (dies in April)Declaration of Liberated Europe• pledged to the “earliest possible
establishment through free elections of Governments responsive to the will of the people”;
• to facilitate where necessary the holding of such elections.
• Separate declaration on Poland
Yalta: The “Big Three”
Yalta
Four Power Occupation of GermanyReparationsU.S.S.R. to enter war v. JapanWar Crimes Trials
Yalta Controversies
Most Cold War Issues date back to Yalta
“Liberated Europe”, esp. PolandDivision of Germany
FDR dies in April; tried to be balance between Stalin and ChurchillDocuments v. “Understandings”
Wartime Conferences Reveal Rivalry
Potsdam: July 1945
FDR DeadTruman’s “plain speaking”Churchill voted out mid-conferenceMutual suspicion evident
Stalin, Truman and Churchill
Potsdam: Major “Decisions”
Demilitarization and de-nazificationWar Crimes Trials to be heldUnconditional Surrender of JapanAllied Control Council for Germany
The Division of Germany
Origins of the Cold WarSalience: the quality of being important or striking; the U.S. and U.S.S.R. were the only two “great powers” leftHegemony: the dominance of one group over other groups, with or without the threat of forceIdeological differences: capitalism v. communism; democracy v. totalitarianismTruman v. Stalin: personality conflicts
Origins of the Cold War
Historic MissionsU.S.• Championing “democracy” and capitalism:
20th Century Manifest Destiny (my view)
U.S.S.R.• Legitimizing and extending the Russian
Revolution• Expansion along traditional lines: central
Europe, Black Sea straits
Formalizing the Cold War: Two Policy Initiatives
The Truman Doctrine:
The Philosophical Underpinning of U.S. Cold War Policy
The Marshall Plan: European Economic Recovery Plan
Formalizing the Cold War
Background to the Truman Doctrine
• Feb. 1947: Britain can no longer support Greece against communist rebels
• Turkey under pressure to allow Soviet control of Bosporus and Dardanelles
Formalizing the Cold War
The Truman DoctrineMarch, 1947 Special Session of CongressTruman’s Speech• “I believe that it must be the policy of the
United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.”
Formalizing the Cold War
The Truman DoctrineRequests $400,000,000 in aid to Greece and TurkeyBased on a new policy: containmentGeorge Kennan’s The Sources of Soviet Conduct• Soviet expansion is traditional Russian
policy• Must be opposed
National Defense Budget 1940-1964
Truman Doctrine
Pie Chart Showing Aid to Greece
Containment
The Sources of Soviet Conduct
“The main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union, must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.”
The Sources of Soviet Conduct
The U.S. must counter “Soviet pressure against the free institutions of the Western world” through the “adroit and vigilant application of counter-force at a series of constantly shifting geographical and political points, corresponding to the shifts and maneuvers of Soviet policy.”
The Sources of Soviet Conduct
Containment would “promote tendencies which must eventually find their outlet in either the break-up or the gradual mellowing of Soviet power.”
Formalizing the Cold War
The Marshall PlanWestern Europe also in chaos, years of war destroyed basic infrastructure for economyWeak economies are subject to communist sympathies1947 Secretary of State George Marshall proposes that the US provide aid to all European nations that need it$13 Billion to Europe by 1952
The Marshall Plan
Formalizing the Cold War
The Division of Germany
Western occupied Germany (Allies): Federal Republic of GermanyEastern occupied Germany (Soviets): German Democratic Republic
Berlin Blockade and AirliftBecause of the 4-way German division, the failure to reach an agreement regarding a unified Germany, and Soviet concerns over the Marshall Plan
March 20, 1948: USSR walks out of Control CouncilMarch 30, 1948: USSR slows traffic into BerlinJune 7, 1948: Western allies plan West German StateJune 24, 1948: USSR blocks access to Berlin for 321 days: “road repairs”
The Airlift
Chosen over military option272,000 flights into West BerlinMay 12, 1949: Soviets reopen West Berlin
Berlin Airlift
Formalizing the Cold War:
NATO v. Warsaw Pact
Formalizing the Cold War
The National Security Act of 1947The Department of Defense
• Army and Navy placed under• Air Force created
The Joint Chiefs of Staff: Unified military commandCreated the National Security Council (NSC): integration of domestic, foreign, and military policies affecting national security.Created the CIA
Major Crises of the Cold War
The Berlin Blockade and Airlift (1948)Soviet A-Bomb (1949)Alger Hiss Trial (1949)“Red” China (1949)McCarthy’s First Speech (Feb. 1950)Korean War Begins (June 1950)
The Alger Hiss Trial
Hiss (circled) listens as Whittaker Chambers testifies
Nixon Accuses Hiss
The PumpkinsVenona Papers
Later Cold War Crises
Suez Crisis (1956)U-2 Incident (1960)Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)Berlin Wall (1961)Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
Mapping the Cold War
http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/communis.htm