The Cold WarThe Cold War

American History (B)American History (B)

C. SimmonsC. Simmons

Clash of InterestClash of Interest

After WWII, the U.S. and Soviet Union After WWII, the U.S. and Soviet Union became increasingly hostile, era became increasingly hostile, era lasted from 1946-1990, known as the lasted from 1946-1990, known as the Cold WarCold War

Communism over Capitalism Communism over Capitalism Fear of future attacksFear of future attacks FDR concerned with economic FDR concerned with economic

concerns, world would stay peaceful if concerns, world would stay peaceful if economies were prosperiouseconomies were prosperious

The Yalta ConferenceThe Yalta Conference

FDR, Churchill, and Stalin met in YaltaFDR, Churchill, and Stalin met in Yalta Agreements would later lead to what Agreements would later lead to what

is called the Cold Waris called the Cold War Declaration of Liberated Europe – Declaration of Liberated Europe –

people have the right to choose their people have the right to choose their own governmentsown governments

Division of Germany – four sections Division of Germany – four sections b/t Soviets, British, French, Americansb/t Soviets, British, French, Americans

Soviets did not follow agreementsSoviets did not follow agreements

Truman Takes controlTruman Takes control

Tensions at Postdam, threat from Tensions at Postdam, threat from Truman about atomic-bomb testTruman about atomic-bomb test

Spread of Communism – satellite Spread of Communism – satellite nationsnations

Communists took over Eastern Communists took over Eastern Europe, Churchill coined the term Europe, Churchill coined the term iron curtain, that separated east and iron curtain, that separated east and west Europewest Europe

DiscussionDiscussion

Why was the Cold War named that?Why was the Cold War named that? What was the main goal for the What was the main goal for the

Soviet Union after WWII?Soviet Union after WWII?

Containing CommunismContaining Communism

George Kennan and the Long Telegram, George Kennan and the Long Telegram, proposed containment policy – keeping proposed containment policy – keeping Communism within its present bordersCommunism within its present borders

1947 Truman Doctrine – asked for 1947 Truman Doctrine – asked for money to defend against Communism, money to defend against Communism, U.S. pledge to stop spread of U.S. pledge to stop spread of CommunismCommunism

Marshall plan – economic recovery in Marshall plan – economic recovery in Western Europe, lessened appeal of Western Europe, lessened appeal of CommunismCommunism

Cold War SpreadsCold War Spreads

Berlin Crisis – split Germany into two Berlin Crisis – split Germany into two separate nations (W & E Germany)separate nations (W & E Germany)

Berlin airlift – Truman ordered aid to Berlin Berlin airlift – Truman ordered aid to Berlin and West Germanyand West Germany

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in 1949 – allowed Western was created in 1949 – allowed Western Germany to rearm, East Germany Germany to rearm, East Germany countered with Warsaw Pactcountered with Warsaw Pact

1950, Rise of Red China – People’s 1950, Rise of Red China – People’s Republic of ChinaRepublic of China

The Korean WarThe Korean War Division of Korea after war (38Division of Korea after war (38thth Parallel) Parallel) Soviet aid to the north, building of massive Soviet aid to the north, building of massive

militarymilitary June 1950 North Korea invaded the SouthJune 1950 North Korea invaded the South Chinese threat – and “limited war”Chinese threat – and “limited war” MacArthur v. TrumanMacArthur v. Truman Armistice signed on July 1953Armistice signed on July 1953 Korean War was turning point – first time Korean War was turning point – first time

US used military to “contain” communismUS used military to “contain” communism

DiscussionDiscussion

What type of place is North Korea What type of place is North Korea today?today?

What was the point of the idea of What was the point of the idea of containment?containment?

A New Red ScareA New Red Scare

Fear of Communism at home led to Fear of Communism at home led to Communist subversion – secretly Communist subversion – secretly weaken society and overthrow weaken society and overthrow governmentgovernment

J. Edgar Hoover - FBIJ. Edgar Hoover - FBI Loyalty tests, HUAC – House Un-Loyalty tests, HUAC – House Un-

American Activities CommitteeAmerican Activities Committee The Alger Hiss CaseThe Alger Hiss Case Julius and Ethel Rosenberg caseJulius and Ethel Rosenberg case Fear of EspionageFear of Espionage

““A Conspiracy so Immense”A Conspiracy so Immense” Continuous fear that Communist Continuous fear that Communist

have infiltrated the governmenthave infiltrated the government McCarthyism – Senator Joseph McCarthyism – Senator Joseph

McCarthy, claimed he had list of McCarthy, claimed he had list of known communistknown communist

McCarren Act (1950) – illegal to be McCarren Act (1950) – illegal to be linked in any way to totalitarian govlinked in any way to totalitarian gov

McCarthy’s investigations (witch McCarthy’s investigations (witch hunt)hunt)

1954 McCarthy and his tactics fell 1954 McCarthy and his tactics fell out of favor with most Americansout of favor with most Americans

Life During the Early Cold WarLife During the Early Cold War

Communism and the fear/threat of Communism and the fear/threat of atomic bomb dominated American atomic bomb dominated American Life in the 1950’sLife in the 1950’s

Building of fallout shelters, fear of Building of fallout shelters, fear of radiation falloutradiation fallout

Contrast – Fear of Communism, Contrast – Fear of Communism, Prosperity and optimismProsperity and optimism

DiscussionDiscussion

Why was McCarthyism so successful?Why was McCarthyism so successful? Was there a good reason for people Was there a good reason for people

to be scared?to be scared?

Eisenhower’s New LookEisenhower’s New Look

(R) Won by landslide in 1952, Why?(R) Won by landslide in 1952, Why? Pushed massive retaliation – threat Pushed massive retaliation – threat

of use of nuclear weaponsof use of nuclear weapons New B-52 Bombers, submarinesNew B-52 Bombers, submarines 1957 1957 SputnikSputnik was launched into was launched into

space, America was falling behind in space, America was falling behind in technologytechnology

1958 (NASA) was created1958 (NASA) was created

BrinksmanshipBrinksmanship

Some Americans feared Eisenhower’s Some Americans feared Eisenhower’s use of brinksmanship – willingness to use of brinksmanship – willingness to go to war to get other side to back go to war to get other side to back downdown

1953 armistice in Korea stopped 1953 armistice in Korea stopped communism from spreadingcommunism from spreading

Threat toward ChinaThreat toward China Battle at Suez CanalBattle at Suez Canal

Fighting Communism CovertlyFighting Communism Covertly

Covert (secret) operations carried out by Covert (secret) operations carried out by CIACIA

Usually took place in developing nations Usually took place in developing nations who blamed imperialism for their despairwho blamed imperialism for their despair

Some covert operations worked and others Some covert operations worked and others did notdid not

Nikita Khrushchev took power after Stalin's Nikita Khrushchev took power after Stalin's deathdeath

Peace Summit stopped b/c of U.S. spy plan Peace Summit stopped b/c of U.S. spy plan being shot downbeing shot down

DiscussionDiscussion

What was brinksmanship?What was brinksmanship? What was America's goal during the What was America's goal during the

Cold War?Cold War?