TRUMAN, the Iron Curtain TRUMAN, the Iron Curtain AND CONTAINMENT IN AND CONTAINMENT IN EUROPE EUROPE

IB History of the IB History of the AmericasAmericas

GUIDING QUESTIONGUIDING QUESTION

Analyze the success and Analyze the success and failures of the United failures of the United States Cold War policy of States Cold War policy of containment during the containment during the period 1945-1953 in period 1945-1953 in Europe.Europe.

The Iron Curtain The Iron Curtain was

the symbolic, ideological, and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991

The Iron Curtain The Iron Curtain

took the shape of border defenses between the countries of Western and Eastern Europe, most notably the Berlin Wall, which served as a longtime symbol of the Curtain altogether.

Who came up with it? The term was first

used by Nazi Germany's Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, in a manifesto he published in the German newspaper Das Reich in February 1945, but was popularized by Winston Churchill's "Sinews of Peace" speech of March 5,1946

THE TRUMAN THE TRUMAN DOCTRINEDOCTRINE

What was it…..What was it…..

It was very simple…..

Whereas before WW2 the USA had been isolationist isolationist and not got involved in Europe….NOW……

Because of the fear of Communism the USA was prepared to intervene throughout the world to protect democracy against communism….

By lending equipment, advice etc ( and eventually military force)

The main aim was to stop communism spreading further

This policy was called CONTAINMENTCONTAINMENT

The Truman Doctrine March 12, 1947 Speech that became known as the

Truman doctrine. Truman mapped out the realities of the

world after WWII. He explained that the US should help any

country that was threatened by Communism The only choice is between “democracy” and

“totalitarianism” Idea of Containment Sent $400 million worth of war supplies to Sent $400 million worth of war supplies to

Greece and helped push out CommunismGreece and helped push out Communism The Truman Doctrine marked a new level of The Truman Doctrine marked a new level of

American commitment to a Cold War.American commitment to a Cold War.

Containment The idea of holding back the spread of

Communism This was the first time the American

Public heard of this idea of “containment”

Americans at this point were not too happy about an anti-communist crusade

Truman had to convince Americans that the threat from Soviets was real and increasing

Used terms “good v. evil”

What did the Truman Doctrine Imply? His speech meant that the US was ready

to take a major part in world affairs, and send money, weapons and advisors to any country in the world that felt threatened by Communism

He didn’t plan on sending troops but rather tackling the problem at the roots He saw misery and poverty nurturing the

seeds of Communism Truman believed that if he used the wealth of

the US to help Europe recover and regain prosperity, fewer countries would be tempted by Communism.

America’s ResponseBritain decided to withdraw troops

end aid in GreeceThis left it up to Americans to

restore democracy in Greece. Congress gave support of Truman

in giving $400 million to Greece and Turkey.

THE MARSHALL PLAN 1947THE MARSHALL PLAN 1947(Marshall Aid)(Marshall Aid)

What Was it?

• An American response to the poverty and hardship in post war Europe

• Who was Marshall?

•An American General and American Secretary of State, sent to assess the economic state of Europe

The Marshall PlanThe Marshall Plan was a program

announced by General George Marshall in June of 1947

It was a program of aid to war-torn Europe to re-equip its factories and revive agriculture and trade

This aid took the form of money, equipment, food, and technical assistance

Details

Economies in ruins

Shortages of goods

Bread still rationed

Coal shortages – in GB electricity cuts each day

It was thought that these were the conditions in which communism thrived

WHY?

What a nice gesture by the What a nice gesture by the Americans.Americans.Yes BUT…..Yes BUT…..The aid came in the form of goods The aid came in the form of goods

made by American firmsmade by American firmsSo there was an element of So there was an element of

American self-interest to prevent American self-interest to prevent another depression in USAanother depression in USA

Europe’s Reaction European leaders confronted with

economic hardships and no resources were in no position to say no

They quickly accepted.

And StalinAnd Stalin He hated Marshall Aid!!He hated Marshall Aid!! Forbade Eastern European countries Forbade Eastern European countries

from having anything to do with itfrom having anything to do with it Regarded as anti-CommunistRegarded as anti-Communist Feared that it might weaken his hold on Feared that it might weaken his hold on

Eastern BlocEastern Bloc And Eastern countries would swing to And Eastern countries would swing to

the US dollar.the US dollar.

USSR v. US Truman saw the Marshall Plan as one of

America’s greatest contributions to world peace

The Soviets saw it as aiming to unite countries against Communism

Russia’s reply: Create the Cominform: an attempt to

consolidate control over the Soviet satellites and bring conformity to Eastern bloc

The Marshall Plan in ActionIn April 1948, the US Congress

allocated $5.3 billion to implement the Marshall Plan.

By the time the plan had come to an end in 1951, over $13 billion had been spent and this money had enabled European countries to develop their economies and improve their standards of living

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Marshall_Plan.png

Two sides to every story… One Side:

“The most unselfish act by any great power in history” –Winston Churchill on the Marshall Plan

Another Side: It also protected American interests Enabled the US to dominate Europe

economically Often it was given in the form of goods which

allowed the US to control its use better than giving dollars