The Cold War

Part One: Origins and Escalation

Learning Targets

• I can trace the development and manifestations of the Cold War.

• I can analyze Truman’s and Eisenhower’s leadership during The Cold War.

• I can explain the causes and consequences of the Korean War.

Questions

• To what extent was The Cold War inevitable?• To what extent were Cold War tensions

exacerbated by misunderstandings and mistakes?

• What role did personalities play in escalating the conflict?

• How did The Cold War affect US culture?• What role did democracy play in the escalation

of the Cold War?

What is The Cold War?

• cold war: a state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare, in particular.

• The Cold War: period of tension between the US and Soviet Union lasting from the end of WWII to the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 90s.

Origins: Competing Philosophies

Marxism, Leninism, & Stalin

• Free Market Capitalism• Keynesian Economics &

New Deal Capitalism• Key to world peace:

economic prosperity & trade– Wilson– Roosevelt

• Free Trade

American Capitalism

• View of history– Proletariat– Bourgeoisie

• Communism • Linen & Bolshevik

Revolution• Stalin

– Rise to power– 5 Year Plans

Origins: Competing Personalities

Truman• Background• Vice President• Death of Roosevelt• Personality

Stalin• Background• Politician• Ruthless dictatorship• Sought Soviet sphere’s of

influence in E. Europe

Origins

• US support for White Army during the Bolshevik Revolution

• Disagreements during WWII– Western front– Yalta (45)– Potsdam (46)

Origins

• Stalin’s rhetoric (• “The Iron Curtain” speech• George Kennan-

“containment”

Origins

• Greek Civil War (46-7)• Turkish instability• Truman Doctrine • Aid package• Marshall Plan

– US v. Soviet view

Escalation

• Soviets cut off Berlin (4/48)• Berlin Airlift (48-49)• Some other stuff going on– Creation of Israel (48)– Election of 48

Escalation

• Creation of NATO

Escalation

• “Losing China”• Mao Tse-tung (Mao Zedong) v. Chaing Kai-shek

Escalation

• The Soviets test a bomb (49)• National Security Act (47)– Creates National Security Council– NSC 68

Getting Hotter: Korea

• Background– 1910– Division– Kim Il-sung

• June 1950

Korean War

• UN resolution• “police action”• Douglas MacArthur• Pusan Perimeter• Inchon Landing• Approach to the Yalu• Firing MacArthur• Negotiations begin (51)• End of the war