Transcript Post World War II - ESC-20

Post World War II
Communism and the Cold War
Post World War II
What is the COLD WAR?
• Longest Era of American History: 19461990
• Clash of ideology that never led to a
direct war between the United States
and the Soviet Union.
Soviet Goals Post WWII
• Both US and Soviet Union had
different goals after World War
II
• Soviets concerned about
security (Germany had invaded
them twice in the last 30 years).
• Soviets want to keep the
Germans weak.
• Soviets believe that
Communism is superior to
capitalism.
• They believed that Capitalists
would try and destroy
Communism.
American Goals Post WWII
•
American leaders were focusing
on economic problems.
•
Roosevelt believed that
economic growth was the key to
world peace.
•
Americans blamed the
Depression for World War II
– When there are economic
problems, dictators like Hitler
come to power.
•
Democratic governments made
for more peaceful people and
economic growth.
•
Free enterprise with limited
government interference brings
economic growth to a country.
Yalta Conference
•
Feb. 1945-Resort town in
Russia
•
Polish leaders fled to Britain
when Germany invaded Poland.
•
Russians liberated Poland in
1945 and encouraged Polish
communists to setup
Communist governments.
•
Now two governments claiming
control of Poland.
•
Roosevelt and Churchill agree
to recognize Polish communist
government.
•
Stalin agrees that the
government will include
members of the pre-war Polish
government and free elections.
Declaration of a Liberated Europe
• European governments can
choose their own governments
freely
• Germany to be divided into four
military zones.
– Each zone maintained by US,
USSR, Great Britain, and France.
– Berlin divided
• Germany to pay reparations
– Ability to pay basis
– Industrial machinery removed
from Germany
– Increases tensions between the
US and USSR in the long run.
Truman takes control
• Strongly antiCommunist and
suspicious of
Stalin.
• Determined that
Stalin would live
up to his
agreements.
Potsdam Conference
 Stalin wants heavy
reparations from
Germany
 Reparations would come
from all military zones
 Truman wants economic
growth for Germany and
opposes heavy
reparations.
 Truman learns about
successful testing of
atomic bomb.
 Shares with Stalin

Truman agrees to some
industrial machinery to
go to Russia
 Truman agrees to accept
Russian-Polish border.
 Stalin agrees to pay for
machinery with food
production.
Industrial Areas
Agricultural area
The Iron Curtain
• Soviets refuse to uphold
Declaration of Liberated Europe
– Agreement to allow European
governments to choose their own
governments.
• Soviet troops stationed in various
East European countries
• Poland, Romania,
Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria,
Hungary, and East Germany
become Communist satellite
nations.
Review
Disagreements over Germany
Events leading to
Cold War
Soviet refusal to honor Declaration of Liberated
Europe.
Soviet action in Poland
(before Yalta Conference)
Potsdam Conference
(Stalin and Truman Relations)
Review Questions
• Why did tensions grow between the
US and Soviet Union following World
War II?
• What agreement did the Yalta
Conference produce concerning
Germany?
• Do you think the Cold War could
have been avoided? Why or Why
Not?
Cold War
Early Years
• Truman Doctrine
• Marshall Plan
• NATO
Truman Doctrine
•
Containment: Early Cold War policy
– Keep Communism within its present
territories using, economic, military,
and diplomatic action.
•
Iran
– Soviet Union tries to takeover oil
supply in Iran but fails because of
American military pressure.
•
Turkey
– Soviets pressure Turkish
government for control of
Dardanelles.
– US again applies military pressure
on USSR.
•
Greece
– Communist uprising in Greece
– British send troops
– US sends money to fight the
Communists
Communist fighters in Greece
1948
Truman Doctrine/Marshall Plan
• “Two halves of the
same walnut.”
– Harry S. Truman
• Marshall Plan
– Proposed by General
George Marshall to
rebuild Europe after WW
II and rebuild European
economies.
• Long term effect of
Truman Doctrine and
Marshall Plan
– Stabilised democracy in
Greece
– Solidified US
commitment to resist
Communism worldwide!
In other words…
Truman Doctrine:
Shaped US foreign
policy until the end of
the Cold War!!!!
-Committed to end
Communism
worldwide!
Creation of West Germany
Berlin Airlift
• West Germany formed by
merging French, British,
and American sectors
together.
• West Berlin made part of
the new republic
• Soviets believe they will
never get reparations
• 1948 Soviet troops cutoff
road/rail traffic.
• Truman orders Berlin
Airlift
Berlin Airlift
• To keep the city alive,
the airlift lasted 11
months
• brought 2 million tons
of supplies.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• First mutual defense alliance
• Still exists today
• Originally included 12 members
• NATO members agree to come
to the aid of other member
countries.
• Allowed West Germany to rearm
and join NATO
• USSR responds by creating
Warsaw Pact (alliance of
Communist countries)
China falls to Communism
• China falls into the hands
of Communists under
leadership of Mao Tse
Dong (Chairman Mao)
• USSR succesfully tests
atomic bomb
Review
• How did the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan
attempt to stop the spread of Communism?
• What long term Cold War Strategy did the United
States plan to follow?
• What was NATO’s purpose?
• How did the USSR respond to NATO?
• What was the USSR’s greatest fear of Germany?
• What was the Iron Curtain?
Korean War Powerpoint
The Cold War and American Society
Life at Home during the Cold War
Second Red Scare
• Great, WIDESPREAD, fear of
Communism in the early 1950’s
• Surpassed that of the 1920’s
• Started in 1945
• Gouzenko Affair:
– Igor Gouzenko walked out of Soviet
Embassy in Ottawa, Canada with
secret documents of USSR
– Documents show how Soviets are
trying to infiltrate government
agencies in Canada and the US to
get information on the atomic
bomb.
– Sends American public into scare.
Loyalty Review Program
• Truman screens all federal
employees for loyalty to US.
• Truman’s action seemed to
confirm to many that spies
had infiltrated the
government.
• Screened for:
– Books they read
– If they travelled overseas
– Seeing certain foreign films
House UnAmerican Activities Committee
(HUAC)