L14: The Cold War Begins 1945-1953American Foreign Policy Agenda

Objective:1. To understand and

analyze the theory of containment, the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and the Berlin Blockade & Airlift and their role in setting the tone of the early Cold War period.

Schedule: 2. Video Clips & Discussion

Homework:1. Civic Literacy:

Last Day Tues 6/10

2. Facilitation Prep – Cold War Discussion:

Green: Wed 5/28Yellow: Thurs 5/29

The Cold War Begins 1945-1953• Today we will begin the next

“chapter” in our study of American Foreign Policy

• American Foreign Policy form 1945 to 1990 can all be subsumed under the heading “Cold War Era”– Including our study of the Korean War

and the Vietnam War

The Cold War Begins 1945-1953

• Today we will want to look at the earliest years of the Cold War from about 1945 to 1953.

• In particular we will explore several important policies and events that happened during this time period:– The Theory of Containment– The Truman Doctrine– The Marshall Plan– The Berlin Blockade & Airlift

The Theory of Containment• Throughout the 1950s, the

United States governing philosophy of how to deal with the potential spread of communism was the policy of containment.

• Video Clip• Discussion:– What is containment?– How is containment

consistent with/departure from past themes in American foreign policy?

The Truman Doctrine & The Marshall Plan

• The Truman Doctrine was an international relations policy for how the United States would prevent the spread of communism outlined by President Truman.

• The Marshall Plan was a specific economic program through which the United States would intervene in Europe in order to prevent the spread of communism.

• Video• Discussion?

– What was the Truman Doctrine?– Do you think the Truman Doctrine represents

a “dramatic change” in US foreign policy as the film clip suggests?

– What was the Marshall Plan?– How did the Marshall Plan help make the

United States the world’s leading economic superpower?

– How are the Truman Doctrine & The Marshall Plan consistent with the U.S. foreign relations philosophy of Containment?

Containment (Philosophy)

The Truman Doctrine (Policy)

The Marshall Plan(Program)

The Berlin Blockade & Airlift• June 1948-May 1949• First major international

crisis of the Cold War.• Video• Discussion

– What was the Berlin Blockade?

– What was the Berlin Airlift?– What is the significance of

NATO & the Warsaw Pact?– What does the Berlin

Blockade & Airlift portend about the Cold War?

Closing Discussion• How would you characterize the Cold

War in its beginnings?• Where might we expect to see the

Cold War go from here?