POST WAR GOALS IN EUROPE: US

All nations have right to self determination Access to markets and raw materials for US

industries Rebuild European gov’ts to ensure stability

and new markets for US goods Reunite Germany, believing Europe would be

more secure with a productive Germany

USSR Encourage the spread of communism in other

countries as part of worldwide struggle between workers and wealthy

Use Eastern Europe to rebuild Soviet economy Control Eastern Europe as a “buffer” from US

influenced Western Europe Keep Germany divided and weak so it can’t

attack again

CONTAINMENT: Stop the further spread of Communism….

• 1950:

TRUMAN DOCTRINE: Communist uprisings in Greece and Turkey…. U.S. will “support free peoples…”

CONTAINMENT

Step on it, Doc!

1. Why is Communism represented by a vulture?2. What is the vulture carrying?3. Why is the U.S. Congress represented by a doctor?4. Where are the doctor and the vulture going?5. What does the caption mean?6. What is the main idea of this cartoon?

US policy of trying to keep the Soviet Union from expanding its area of influence and dominance; to confine communism to the area in which it already existed

Marshall Plan

An economic aid program to western European countries to help them jumpstart consumer production and to build prosperous economies so that they would not seek solutions to these problems through the Communist party.

Berlin Blockade & Berlin Airlift

On June 24, 1948, the Soviets cut off all access to West Berlin by road – they hoped it would force the western powers out of the city.

In response, the western powers airlifted food, clothing, coal, medicine, and other supplies to the city. Nearly one year later, the Soviets ended their blockade.

NATO & Warsaw PactIn April 1949, the US and eleven other nations signed a collective security agreement called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This bound the nations to act together for their common defense; an attack on one would be considered an attack on all.

The Soviets formed an opposing alliance with seven Eastern European nations under the Warsaw Pact.