The Beginning of the Cold War: 1945-1950s

• In 1945, the three big Allied nations of Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the USA met to discuss what to do with Germany after the war– This conference was called the Yalta

Conference• The Leaders:– Stalin– Churchill– Roosevelt

The Cold War starts before the end of WWII

Reconstruction in Germany

• The three powers agreed to divide up Germany between the three of them.– France would also get a part

• After Nazi controlled areas in E. Europe were liberated by the Allies – the Soviet Union took over the countries as a buffer between itself and Germany.—these countries became known as Soviet

satellite nations

Satellite Nations• The Soviet Satellites (including East Germany) were

forced to be Communist nations after WWII• The Long Telegram

– This was a message sent by George Kennan that advised the U.S. on how to deal with the Soviet Union• Conclusion: actions should be taken against the

Soviets • In response to the Long Telegram, Winston Churchill

gave a speech, saying an Iron Curtain had fallen in Europe– He meant that there was now a wall dividing the

West and democracy and the East and Communism

Truman Doctrine• The USA responded to the Long

Telegram differently.– Truman issued the “Truman Doctrine”

saying that the USA would follow a policy of containment in response to the spread of Communism

– Containment: an American policy to prevent the spread of Communism

The Policy of Containment

• Created by President Harry Truman

• Marshall Plan– Created by General

George Marshall– Plan to financially support

Europe in order to prevent the spread of Communism• 13 billion in food, cash, and

loans sent from USA to democratic European nations

– Satellite Nations could not accept aid

Two Superpowers: USA vs. USSRSuperpower Aims in Europe

United States Soviet UnionEncourage democracy in other countries to help prevent the rise of Communist governments

Encourage communism in other countries as part of a worldwide workers’ revolution

Gain access to raw materials and markets to fuel booming industries

Rebuild its war-ravaged economy using Eastern Europe’s industrial equipment and raw materials

Rebuild European governments to promote stability and create new markets for American goods

Control Eastern Europe to protect Soviet borders and balance the U.S. influence in W. Europe

Reunite Germany to stabilize it and increase the security of Europe

Keep Germany divided to prevent its waging war again

Soviet Reaction• The Soviets regarded the Marshall

Plan as an attempt by the Americans (and capitalists) to take over the world.

• So, they closed off their parts of Europe from the rest of the world– This included West Berlin, which was now

an island of democracy in Eastern Europe

The Importance of Berlin• The Soviets by 1948 blocked off their part of

the world from everyone else– Purpose was to block off the capitalists from the

USSR, including Berlin• Berlin Airlift– People were starving to death in West Berlin due

to the blockade– Truman had an airlift to keep people alive

• Berlin Wall– Built by the Soviets in 1961; separated East and

West Berlin for 28 years

Berlin: the island

The Berlin Airlift

The Berlin Airlift• Over 200,000 flights made in about a

year• 13,000,000 tons of food flown in – An elephant weighs about 8 tons

• Results: – Cold War worsens– East and West Germany split up officially– Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact

The Berlin Wall

The Formation of Mutual Defense Groups in the 1950s

• NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization– Goal: to prevent the spread of Communism

and protect each other– Members: USA, Great Britain, France, Italy,

Canada, and other democratic nations• Warsaw Pact: – Goal: to prevent the spread of Capitalism

and protect each other– Members: USSR and its satellites (countries

it owned in eastern Europe)

Nuclear Threats• USA has nuclear ability by 1945. • Soviets get it by 1949• 1950: H bomb in US • 1952: H bomb in USSR• Theory of Deterrence: Countries tell

everyone that they are willing to respond to any attacks with an equal counter-attack

The H-Bomb

• 1st explosion caused a hole a mile long and 175 feet deep in the ocean floor

• Radioactive cloud was 25 miles high

Competition Between the Superpowers

• 1953- Eisenhower’s administration coined the term brinkmanship– Willing to go to war at any minute

• Both the US and USSR were involved in an arms race

• Both countries wanted the best science and education programs– 1957 Soviet launched Sputnik, the first satellite– 1958- US launches satellite

• THIS WILL LEAD TO THE SPACE RACE• 1960 the CIA authorized spying missions over

the USSR

Soviet Union launched Sputnik on October 4, 1957.

So Now…• USA and the USSR: Superpowers on edge– Superpower: a state powerful enough to

influence events around the world• Mutual alliances will force the entire

world into war again if someone is attacked

• Coming up: China is falling to Communism

Memo to President Truman• Goal: As a group, you will write a memo to

President Truman advising for/against the development of the H bomb

• You Must: – Write in complete sentences– Use the information from today in order to provide at

least 4 reasons to support your stance– Why should the USA support or not support the

development of this weapon?• Ideas to consider: devastation caused by the less powerful

atomic bomb, containment, the actions of the USSR in recent years, the recent loss of China to Communism