The Cold WarChapters 38-40

Talks of Peace

Yalta Conference (Feb. 1945) Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt Decided to divide Germany into 4

occupation zones Decided to support free elections in

Eastern Europe Potsdam Conference (July 1945)

Stalin, Churchill, Truman Finalized plan for Germany including

dividing Berlin

Uneasy Peace

Potsdam – tense Truman learned of A-bomb had been

tested▪ Told Stalin U.S. had a powerful new weapon▪ This caused Stalin to distrust the U.S. more

Eastern Europe was under Soviet influence▪ not holding free and open elections (Yalta)

No trust between the 2 leaders

Uneasy Peace

Wartime Alliance Erodes Soviet Union▪ Security concerns; wanted a buffer of

communist countries (ie. Poland)▪ Claimed Eastern Europe as a Sphere of

Influence▪ Outside country claims exclusive investment/trading rights

United States▪ Wanted Eastern Europe to determine their

own form of government (democracy)

Uneasy Peace

Cost of War Soviet Union▪ 20 millions of people killed▪ Cities and landscape destroyed▪ Asked U.S. for a loan – Truman said no

United States▪ 290,000 killed▪ No fighting in the United Sates▪ U.S. economy boomed during the war

Uneasy Peace

Different Ideologies Soviet Union – Communism▪ Single-party rule of government and economy▪ State owned businesses – decides what will

be produced United States – Democracy and

Capitalism▪ Individual and private ownership of business▪ Private businesses make most economic

decisions

Adjusting to a new world

Superpower = nations that influence or control less powerful nations Size, economic influence, military

strength United States and Soviet Union

The Soviet Union believed it was impossible for capitalism and communism to coexists peacefully

Soviets wanted to spread communism around the world

Adjusting to a new world

Containment = U.S. policy to try to keep the Soviet Union within current boarders With politics or war? This tension and fear = race for nuclear

weapons U.S. scientists continued to improve

atomic bombs Soviet scientist worked to develop an

atomic bomb

Adjusting to a new world

The U.S. wanted to be the only country with nuclear weapons Knew the damage the bomb could cause Wanted to prevent Soviet power

Went to the UN to ask them to stop other countries from building atomic bombs This plan met resistance form the

Soviets and did not move forward

Confronting Communism

Iron Curtain = barrier between east and west ; line through Europe capitalist vs. communist counties

Many Communist takeovers by force or rigged elections

Confronting Communism

Greece and Turkey Faced pressure from communist

advancesTruman Doctrine = the U.S. would

provide political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from authoritarian forces. The U.S sent money and military

equipment This became a major feature in our

policy of containment

Confronting Communism

National Security Act = law passed in response to the Soviet threat National Security Council(NSC)- advises

the president on national security issues Central Intelligence Agency(CIA)-

collects and analyzes intelligence – spies

Rebuilding European Economies Europe

Many cities devastated in the war▪ Destroyed schools, hospitals, churches,

factories, roads, bridges, railroads Leaving many homeless and unemployed Death and disease spread rapidly

These conditions made communism look appealing to the poor and jobless Also many communist groups had resisted

the Nazis’

Rebuilding European Economies

The U.S. had the strongest economy in the world

Marshall Plan Offered European nations money to

rebuild their economies, as long as the money was spent on goods made in the U.S.▪ Would further boost the U.S. economy▪ Strong European economies would be

in better shape to defend against communism

US vs. Soviets

Cold War = Power struggle and hostility between

the United States and the Soviet Union…

BUT it never led to direct armed conflict

Espionage

Spies, secret agents, hidden cameras and recording devices, etc.

U-2 spy plane Photograph Soviet military installations

from 60,000+ feet Shot down over the Soviet Union = cold

war intensified

Czechoslovakia

After WWII set-up an elected government Dominated by communists

Feb. 1948 Soviets send troops to the Czech border Demand an all communist government

Germany

Divided into 4 zones of occupation U.S., France, Britain, Soviet Union

Berlin also divided 1948 U.S., France, and Britain made plans to reunite their zones

Democratic government Capitalist economy This angered the Soviet Union

Germany

Berlin Blockade- June 1948 Soviets stopped all land travel to Berlin thought this would force the 3 to either give up

Berlin, or give up the plans for West Germany Berlin Airlift

Instead the U.S. flew in supplies Food, fuel, etc. = 2.5 million tons of supplies 10+ months Eventually Soviets gave up Germany Split▪ East Germany = communist, West Germany =

democratic

Europe Divided

NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization Members agreed to view an attack on any

member as an attack on all Formed a standing army supported by all

members▪ U.S. , Canada, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the

Netherlands, Iceland, Italy, Britain, Denmark, Norway, Portugal

▪ Greece, Turkey, and West Germany joined later Warsaw Pact

▪ The Soviet Union, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania

Hungary Tests Containment Hungary – Communist Oct 1956

1000+ of Hungarians revolted against the communist government

Wanted to free Hungary from Soviet control Wanted to withdraw from Warsaw Pact and become a

neutral country Soviet Red Army moved in and killed many protesters

The protesters had thought the U.S. would come to their aid…but no Eisenhower was unwilling to risk a war with the

Soviet Union

Cold War turns Hot

China Nationalist – Chiang Kai-shek (U.S.

supported) Communist – Mao Zedong…he won▪ The U.S. cut off all trade with China

U.S. needed a new ally in Asia = Japan The U.S. helped Japan become an

economic powerhouse

Cold War turns Hot

Korean War – 1950-1953 During WWII Soviet troops had been in

the northern part of Korea▪ Following WWII they installed a pro-Soviet

communist government During WWII U.S. troops had been in the

southern part of Korea A UN force was sent to try to unify

North and South Korea

Cold War turns Hot

Korean War – 1950-1953 UN forces were able to push North

Korean forces back – almost to China China sent thousands of troops to push

back UN army was pushed back to the 38th

parallel▪ Final 2 years of the war was a stalemate

Ended with a buffer zone Demilitarized zone = no military

forces from either side in the DMZ…still today

The World Divided

First World =Developed, capitalist countries U.S. , Canada, Western Europe, Japan

Second World = communist countries Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, China

Third World = poor, developing nations Latin America, Africa, India U.S. and Soviet Union competed for

these countries

Influencing Nations

U.S. used: Propaganda- raise fears of communism,

benefits of capitalism/democracy▪ Radio broadcasts – into Eastern Europe and

Soviet Union Foreign Aid- money and assistance▪ Agriculture, health care, military

Covert Action – CIA; secret political, economic, military operations▪ Most were attempts to overthrow communist

leaders Soviet Union had similar programs

Arms Race

1949 – Soviets have Atomic bombs U.S. feels the need to develop

more/bigger weapons 1952 – H-Bomb = Hydrogen 1960s – both countries have long

range missiles, nuclear subs Brinksmanship = policy of being

willing to go edge of war…BUT make the other side think you are

ACTUALLY willing to go to war

Arms Race

Deterrence = developing weapons that were so deadly no one would risk war by challenging

Mutual Assured Destruction = either side would respond to an attack with nuclear weapons…so devastating for both sides May have kept the cold war form

becoming a full out war But made for stressful years

Cold War at Home

Fear of Communism here: Remember during the Depression

communism had some support here Communist sympathizers = people who

believed in the ideas of communism, but did not join the Communist Party

Loyalty Oaths = pledges of loyalty to the United States▪ Also background checks into federal employees

who had POSSIBLE connections to communism

Cold War at Home

HUAC – House Un-American Activities Committee Congressional committee that

looked into communism▪ Hollywood was the main target▪ Executives created a blacklist = people believed to be communist/communist sympathizers…they could no longer find work

▪ Labor unions too

Cold War at Home

Alger Hiss Case U.S. State Department official accused of

spying for the Soviets Ethel and Julius Rosenberg

Tried, convicted, and executed for passing atomic secrets to the Soviets

Raised fears that the federal government was full of communist spies

Cold War at Home

Joseph McCarthy Senator from Wisconsin Launched a campaign to rid the U.S. of

subversives NEVER made a solid case against ANYONE▪ But thousands of people lost their jobs

McCarthyism = reckless practice of publicly accusing someone WITHOUT evidence

Created a society of FEAR Went too far when he accused the Army and

President Eisenhower

Cold War at Home

More Fear Living during the Atomic Age

Civil Defense = training citizens to work with armed forces during times of crisis (natural disaster, war)

Focus on preparedness…for an atomic attack▪ Bomb shelters, emergency food, warning

sirens, etc.▪ Bert the Turtle▪ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg9scNl9h4Q

Cold War at Home

1950s-1960s H-Bomb raised questions about the

effectiveness of preparedness…how could you protect yourself

Drills to evacuate large cities…not smooth

Moved to the mindset that a war could no longer be “won”