Today’s Warm Up

ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR

Today’s LEQ: How did the US and Soviet Union become Col d War adversaries?

Former Allies Clash

US and Soviet Union emerged from WWII as two “superpowers” with vastly different political and economic systems; very different aims for the futureDemocracy vs. Communism

Created icy tension, bitter rivalry lasted almost to the 21st century

Early Signs of Conflict

US well aware Stalin was former ally of Hitler, only supported Allies after Germany invaded in 1941

Stalin resented Allies’ delay in attacking Germans in Europe

Relations worsened after Stalin learned US tried to keep development of atomic bomb secret

United Nations Despite problems, hopes for world peace

high after WWII Most visible symbol was the United Nations

(UN) – international peacekeeping organization dreamed up by FDR

June 1945, delegates from 50 nations met and signed charter – UN was established!

Ironically, US and Soviet union used UN as forum to spread influence over others

Yalta Conference FDR (US), Stalin (SU), and Churchill

(GB) met in February 1945 to discuss fate of Germany

Stalin favored harsh treatment, Churchill strongly disagreed; FDR acted as mediator

Decided to temporarily divide Germany into four zones - one each for Americans, British, Soviets, and French

Soviet Union joined war against Japan and promised not to interfere with free elections in Poland and other Soviet occupied countries; also promised to join UN

Potsdam Conference Truman becomes prez when FDR dies, Attlee

replaced Churchill, Stalin still in power July 1945, “Big Three” met again at final

wartime conference decided Soviets, British, Americans, and French would take reparations mainly from their own occupation zones

By this time, Stalin broke promises from Yalta – prevented free elections in Poland, banned democratic parties

Truman convinced US and Soviet aims deeply at odds

Tension Mounts Soviets suffered 20 million deaths during

WWII; felt justified in claim to Eastern Europe Stalin installed communist gov’ts in Albania,

Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland – became known as satellite countries

Stalin gave speech stating communism and capitalism were incompatible, war inevitable

Activity: US Aims vs. Soviet Aims (page 604 in “The Americans” textbook)

U.S. Adopts Policy of Containment In Truman’s words, it was time to stop

“babying the Soviets” U.S. would take any measures to

prevent any extension of communist rule to other countries

This policy began to guide Truman administration’s foreign policy

Europe Divided by “Iron Curtain” Europe divided into two political regions,

mostly democratic Western Europe and a communist Eastern Europe

March 1946, Churchill coined term iron curtain to represent division

Cold War in Europe

Conflicting US and Soviet aims led to Cold War

Conflict in which neither nation directly confronted the other on the battlefield

Cold War dominated global affairs (and US foreign policy) from 1945 until breakup of Soviet Union 1991

Truman Doctrine

Truman declared “it must be the policy of the US to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.”

Congress agreed, sent $400 million in aid to Turkey and Greece, avoided communist takeover

Marshall Plan

After WWII, Western Europe in chaos June 1947, Secretary of State George

Marshall proposed US provide aid to all European nations that needed it

Said this move was directed “not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos.”

Revived European hopes – 16 countries received $13 billion in aid

Superpowers Struggle over Germany US and its allies clashed with Soviet Union

over reunification of Germany (view map of page 605)

West Berlin surrounded by Soviet-occupied territory ; June 1948, Stalin cut off all access

American and British officials started Berlin Airlift – flew in supplies and allowed West Berlin to survive

By May 1949, Soviets recognized defeat and lifted blockade

The NATO Alliance That same month, western part of Germany became

new nation – Federal Republic of Germany (aka West Germany)

Soviet Union created German Democratic Republic (aka West Germany)

Berlin blockade increased fear of Soviet aggression; Western European nations formed defensive military alliance called North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), pledged military support in case of attack

First ever alliance US joined during peacetime; NATO had standing military force of 500,000 troops as well as thousands of plans, tanks, and other equipment