Chapter 18 Section 1

Origins of the Cold War

Former Allies Crash

• Problems building between the US and SU before and during WWII

Former Allies Crash

• Soviet Communism:– State controlled all

property– All economic activity– Totalitarian

Communist Party allowed no opposition party

Former Allies Crash

• The United States:– Capitalist system– Private citizens

controlled almost all property and economic activity

Former Allies Crash

• US furious at Stalin-Signed nonaggression pact with Hitler in 1939

Truman Becomes President

• Key American figure in early part of the Cold War

• Became President when FDR died

• 82 days as Vice President-met with FDR only twice

Truman Becomes President

• FDR left Truman uninformed on military matters

Truman Becomes President

• With the war ending Truman would have to

1. Make difficult military decisions

Potsdam Conference

• Truman’s 1st meeting with other major world leaders-Potsdam, July 1945

Potsdam Conference

• Not only did the Soviets not allow free elections in Poland, but they banned democratic parties

Potsdam Conference

• Truman pushed for free elections-Stalin refused

Tension Mounts

• Refusal to allow free elections convinced Truman that American and Soviet goals were at odds

Tension Mounts

• Americans and British opposed Soviet demands

Tension Mounts

• At odds over Eastern Europe

• US wanted Eastern Europe to stay open to trade

Soviets Tighten Grips on Eastern Europe

• Soviets felt justified to stay in Eastern Europe

Soviets Tighten Grips on Eastern Europe

• Stalin propped up communist governments in Eastern European nations

• The Satellite Nations-

Soviets Tighten Grips on Eastern Europe

• Stalin seized the industry of these nations to rebuild the Soviet Union

United States Establishes a Policy of Containment

• US institutes a policy of Containment towards the Soviet Union

United States Establishes a Policy of Containment

• Containment Policy worked by:– Creating alliances– Supporting weaker

nations

United States Establishes a Policy of Containment

• March 1946 Churchill gives his “Iron Curtain” speech

Cold War in Europe

• Conflicting US and Soviet aims in Eastern Europe led to the Cold War

 

Cold War in Europe

• During the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union tried to spread their economic and political influence wherever they could– Eventually spread to

Asia, Africa, and Latin America

The Truman Doctrine

• US 1st tried to contain communism in Greece and Turkey

The Truman Doctrine

• US spent $400 million to help Greece and Turkey

• Truman Doctrine-

Marshall Plan

• After WWII, Europe was in economic chaos

Marshall Plan

• 1946-47-harsh winter• Food shortages• Fuel shortages

Marshall Plan

• June 1947 US Secretary of State George Marshall proposed that the US help

Marshall Plan

• Congress debated plan for several months

• Then…

Marshall Plan

• Invasions showed the need for congress to move quickly and help create strong, stable governments in Europe

Marshall Plan

• The Plan was a success

• By 1952 Western Europe was flourishing

Superpowers Struggle Over Germany

• Europe starts to get back on its feet

• Western allies and Soviets arguing over German reunification

Berlin Airlift

• 1948-Western Zones combine into 1 nation

• Soviets respond by holding Berlin Hostage

Berlin Airlift

• Soviets cut off all access to Berlin

• No supplies could get in

Berlin Airlift

• Americans and British started the Berlin Airlift-fly food and supplies to West Berlin

Berlin Airlift

• 277,000 flights made delivering 2.3 million tons of supplies

• West Berlin survived

Berlin Airlift

• May 1949 West Germany becomes known as the Federal Republic of Germany with its capital at Bonn

• East Germany becomes German Democratic Republic with its capital in East Berlin

NATO

• Blockade increased fear of Soviet aggression

NATO

• NATO-North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• An attack on one regarded as an attack on all