The Cold War 1945-The Cold War 1945-19911991

YALTA (in the USSR)YALTA (in the USSR)Date: Feb 1945Date: Feb 1945

Present: Churchill, Present: Churchill, Roosevelt and StalinRoosevelt and Stalin

POTSDAM (Germany)POTSDAM (Germany)Date: July 1945Date: July 1945

Present: Churchill, Present: Churchill, Truman and StalinTruman and Stalin

Iron CurtainIron Curtain – – A term used by A term used by Winston Winston

Churchill Churchill to describe the to describe the separating of separating of Those Those

communistcommunistlands of East lands of East Europe from Europe from

the the West. West.

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• The nuclear bomb gave America a lead which was expected to last at least 5 years. The rapid Russian development of nuclear technology, helped by the work of the “atom spies” was a shock.

Significantly, Russia hurriedly declared war against Japan at the beginning of August 1945 and rushed to advance into Asia to stake out a position for the post-war settlement. This helped make both the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts more likely.

The ‘Truman Doctrine’• Truman had been horrified at the

pre-war Allied policy of appeasement and was determined to stand up to any Soviet intimidation.

• The Truman Doctrine in March 1947 promised that the USA “would support free peoples who are resisting communism”

•It signalled the end of “isolationist” policies.

The ‘Marshall Plan’

• The Marshall Plan offered $13 billion to help the economies of Western and Southern Europe to rebuild after World War II, and, by generating prosperity, to reject the appeal of Communism.

• The Soviet Union (USSR) prevented Eastern European countries from receiving American money.

Berlin• West Berlin, was an outpost of Western

democracy and economic success deep within the communist zone – like a capitalist island within communist East Germany

• The Berlin Blockade by Stalin, was an attempt to starve West Berlin into submitting [giving up] to the communists

• The Allied airlift signalled the West’s determination to use all resources to defend West Berlin. (Berlin Airlift)

• It was felt by both sides that Berlin could act as the trigger for general war between capitalist and communist countries

Korean War[1950-1953]

Syngman Rhee

Kim Il-Sung

“Domino Theory”

Korean War

• June 1950: North Korea invades South Korea & is very successful early on in the campaign

• The U.S. (trying to enforce their theory of containment) gets the United Nations together and they go to war under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.

• South Korea then pushes North Korea all the way back to the 38th Parallel.

• MacArthur gets permission to push into North Korea and pushes all the way up to China.

Korean War

• China (communist) feels threatened and attacks the U.S. pushing them back into South Korea.

• MacArthur wants to retaliate and drop atomic bombs on China, but President Truman (not wanting to start WWIII) says NO!!! MacArthur publicly criticizes Truman & gets himself fired.

• Both sides come to a draw and eventually the 38th parallel is again the divider between North & South Korea.

The Shifting Map of Korea[1950-1953]