The Cold War

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Setting The Scene

FDR thought he could “personally handle Stalin”.

Churchill had a better understanding, “Germany is finished. The real problem Russia.”

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Points of Contention

• During communist revolt Wilson sends troops to help communist resistance.

• Stalin wanted Allies to begin a front in Europe sooner.

• U.S. angered by Nonaggression Pact.

Alta Conference 1945

FDR, Churchill, Stalin

• Agree to division of Germany

• Russia wants $20 million in war damages from Germany

• Stressed Russia to go to war with Japan

• Poland in dispute

The United Nations

• International Peace Keeping Organization• April 1945, 50 nations meet to form an

organization that will try to prevent wars or try to stop wars

• United State, France, China, Soviet Union have permanent seats on the Security Council with veto powers

Truman Takes CommandApril 12, 1945

• Unexpected death shocks the nation.

• Vice President only a few months.

• Never involved in major policy decisions.

• At first willing to compromise with Soviets, but soon that changed.

Potsdam ConferenceJuly 1945

• First meeting with Stalin for Truman and Attlee.• Stalin insist on war damage payments.• Truman insist on free elections for Poland.• Truman informed A-bomb works and tells

Stalin.• Stalin knows by way of spies.

America vs. Soviet Views

• America fought for democracy, economic opportunity, and free trade; all capitalist advantages.

• Soviets loose 17 million and want to protect own interest.

• Soviets want spread of communism, remove capitalism.

Soviet’s Control Eastern Europe• Poland, Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary,

Romania, and East Germany all become part of the Soviet Block through force and intimidation.

The Iron Curtain:Two Speeches Set Stage for the Cold War

• Feb. 1946, Stalin calls for spread of communism by way of Cominform; agency to organize communist.

• March of 1946, Churchill responds in Missouri with Iron Curtain Speech.

• From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe.

Containment• George Kennan 1946: Soviets have no desire for a

relationship with capitalism, but rather the overthrow.• He suggest a policy of Containment.• Critics say it’s too moderate.• Kennan believes Soviets, “bears within it the seeds of

its own decay.” This proves to be visionary.

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The Truman Doctrine• 1947 Soviets have eyes on Turkey and Greece which

would give them ports to the Mediterranean.• G.B. says it can no longer support the two, and ask

U.S. to take over the burden.• “I believe that it must be the policy of the United States

to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.”

Listen to the entire speech by clicking on the picture