The Cold War

1945-1960The Cold War

What is a Cold War?a state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare, in particular.

Start of the Cold WarAlthough the US and Soviets were allies (common threat) during WWII, as soon as the war ended, different goals for a postwar world caused conflicts to developThese conflicts centered around how each nation envisioned a post-war Europe and were based upon suspicions and distrust.Satellite NationsThe US saw a Europe of free, democratic nations. The Soviet Union (Stalin), in control of much of Eastern Europe at wars end, wished to create a buffer of satellite nations nations controlled by a more powerful neighborThis buffer would protect the USSR from any future attacks from Germany!!

The United Nations (UN)Even though major problems were developing, both did agree on the formation of the United Nations as an international peacekeeping organization (Cordell Hull)The UN would provide members with an opportunity to settle their differences peacefully and would promote cooperation in solving world problems.Communist ExpansionThe Soviet Union tightened its hold on nations in Middle and Eastern Europe by forcing those nations to adopt communismStalin also installed a repressive govt in the eastern part of Germany and declared that communism would triumph over capitalism. (US = capitalism)The Iron CurtainIn response to Stalins declaration of the death of capitalism, Winston Churchill, former prime minister of UK, declared in a speech, that an iron curtain has descended across the Continent [Europe]These two speeches in 1946 set the tone for the Cold War competition between the US and SU for power and influence in the world

The Cold WarFor nearly 50 years, until 1991, the Cold War was characterized by political, economic, and military tensions a state of war that did NOT involve bloodshed, or actual fightingChurchill knew, and tried to get Truman to see, that Stalin and communism was the antithesis of good the enemy of democracy

The Appeal of CommunismCommunism was a system in which society (represented by the Party) owns and controls property and the means of productionPromised to abolish poverty, privilege, and private propertyGuaranteed work, shelter, education, and health carePeople gladly listened to these promisesContainmentTo respond to the expansion of communism in Europe, Truman responded with a policy of containment preventing the further spread of communismWas very successful although some said it was too soft on communismBecame THE CORNERSTONE of American Cold War foreign policy

Aid to EuropeThe first opportunity for Truman to use containment came in Turkey and Greece in 1947 Great Britain could no longer support Turkey against the SU and pulled out its help this increased the fear of spread of communism.

Truman proclaimed the US would act known as the Truman Doctrine.Truman Doctrinean international relations policy set forth by the U.S. PresidentHarry Truman, in 1947, which stated that the U.S. would supportGreeceandTurkeywith economic and military aid to prevent them from falling into theSoviet control.Historians often consider it as the start of theCold War, and the start of thecontainmentpolicy to stop Soviet expansion.PresidentHarry S. Trumantold Congress the Doctrine was "to support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.Truman reasoned, because these "totalitarian regimes" coerced "free peoples", they represented a threat to international peace and the national security of the United States.Truman DoctrineThe US would provide military and economic aid to Greece and TurkeyOver $400 million in aid shifted the US away from peacetime isolationism and proclaimed that we could not nor would not pull back from the worldWe had a commitment and responsibility to protect the world from the spread of communismTruman Doctrine to Marshall PlanThis general principle was applied to Western Europe as a whole. In June 1947, SecretaryGeorge C. Marshallproposed the extension of massive economic assistance to the devastated nations of Europe.He said that the policy of the United States was not directed against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos. Its purpose should be the revival of a working economy in the world so as to permit the existence of political and social conditions in which free institutions can exist.Marshall PlanWhen the war ended, Europe was in ruinsThe US is called upon to help repair the damages and chooses to use aid to help nations resist communismThrough the Marshall Plan, the US agreed to give financial aid to Europe, gaining allies and valuable trading partners

Marshall PlanThe MP recognized the economic problems might lead to support of communism and with US aid, it would help end Europes hunger, poverty, depression, and chaosThe MP was offered to all nations (even Soviets) but believing that the MP would promote capitalism, the SU and Eastern Europe turned down the helpMarshall PlanThe MP was a enormous success over $13 billion in loans and grants helped stabilize Europe after the warThe Allies (SU, US, GB, FR) had agreed to joint occupation of Germany after the war each had control of a zone with Berlin (capital) in the Russian sectorW/O Russia, the other 3 nations agreed to join their zones into one unified zone

Berlin is Closed by RussiaWith this joining in 1948, West Germany was formed and thousands flee from East to WestIn response, Russia formed a communist state, and shut off Berlin Truman saw this as a test of determination rejected idea of forced opening and began policy of airlifts into Berlin

Berlin AirliftEvery day and night, for 10 months, US and GB planes carried food, medicine, clothing, raw materials, and even coal, into BerlinThe Berlin Airlift causes Stalin to end the blockade in May 1949Nothing better describes/illustrates the differences of US and SU better than Germany/Berlin over the next 50 yearsUN Becomes IneffectiveIt becomes very clear by 1948, that the UN was not be effective because the SU often uses its veto power.In order to strengthen European alliances and deal with postwar problems, the US, Canada, and some Western European nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)Collective Security NATONATO was a collection of nations based upon the idea of collective security mutual military assistanceAn attack on one nation would be perceived as an attack on allThe Soviets responded with the creation of the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance with its satellite nations (Soviet controlled)Red Scare RenewedIn Sept 1949, the Soviet Union successfully tested an atomic bomb, and Communists finally took control of China under their leader Mao ZedongThese two events convinced many Americans that communism was a serious domestic threat, and a new Red Scare threatened civil rights of all Americans