Download Roots of the Cold War

Chapter 21, Section 1
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Though they had been allies during WWII
against Nazi Germany, the relationship
between the Soviet Union and the U.S. had
been steadily breaking down since Stalin
seized power.
The following 46 year conflict (1945-1991)
would become known as the Cold War. It was
‘cold’ because the two countries never
engaged in active combat.
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Throughout the 46 years of the Cold War,
both countries saw new leaders.
 Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy,
Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush all
served during the Cold War.
 The U.S. remained militarily with democratic
countries such as Great Britain and France.
▪ The Soviet Union aligned with other communist nations
such as China, Cuba and North Korea.
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The two countries differed politically and
economically.
 The U.S. has a capitalist gov. believing in free
elections, economic and religious freedom, and
the ability to own private property.
 The Soviet Union had a communist gov. in which
citizens could not worship as they pleased, own
private property or express their opinions.
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When these government styles are applied to
economics, they look as follows:
 U.S. (capitalism) people can own their own
business and property; competition is promoted;
free market system in which citizens can decide
how to spend their money.
 Soviet Union (communism) government has
complete control over the economy; gov. controls
means of production; few choices and everyone
shares goods and services equally.
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Both countries also disagreed at the Yalta
conference on how post-war Europe should be
structured.
 Stalin wanted a divided Germany to keep it weak and
for the Soviet Union to occupy Eastern Europe.
▪ These Eastern European nations would become satellite
states, or ‘spheres of influence’.
 The U.S. and Great Britain wanted a stronger, united
Germany and independent nations in Eastern Europe.
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While delivering a speech at Fulton College in
Missouri, Truman remarked that an ‘iron
curtain’ had descended upon Europe,
dividing democratic and communist
countries.
 On one side, you had Eastern Europe, the other,
Western Europe.
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Eastern Europe, led by the Soviet Union, had
a communist ‘sphere of influence’.
 They did not allow democratic elections like they
had promised at the Yalta Conference.
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Western Europe, led by Great Britain with the
U.S. as an ally, had a democratic sphere of
influence.
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Truman stood by the motto ‘The buck stops
here.’ meaning that the president made
tough decisions, and thus was accountable
for them.
Truman agreed with American diplomat
George F. Kennan’s policy of containment to
stop the spread of communism in Europe and
around the world.
 This would require the biggest resource of the
U.S.– money!
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Truman’s first response to communism
became known as the Truman Doctrine. It
stated that the U.S. would supply money to
any nation struggling against communism.
Secondly, for the Truman Doctrine to work,
the U.S. had to provide the money.
 In 1948, Congress approved the Marshall Plan,
which gave countries in Europe over $13 billion in
aid to stop communism.
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Although Germany and Berlin had been
divided between the U.S., Soviet Union,
Britain and France after WWII, the divisions
were not on complete opposite sides.
 West Berlin (US, Britain and France) was situated
within East Germany.
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In June of 1948, the Soviets blockaded all
access points into West Berlin (roads,
railroads and waterways).
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The one method of transportation not
controlled by Stalin was the air.
So, for a year, Britain and the U.S. airlifted
food, fuel, medical supplies and clothing into
Berlin.
 This was known as the Berlin airlift.
▪ It demonstrated how far the U.S. was willing to go to
protect other countries from the ‘communist threat’.
The Berlin airlift demonstrated that if western
countries joined together, they could contain
Stalin.
 In 1949, Western countries formed NATO–
North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
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 The 12 countries were: the United States, the Great
Britain, Canada, France, Denmark, Iceland, Italy,
Norway, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, and
Luxembourg.
 They declared that an attack against one would be
considered an attack against all.
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In response to West Germany’s joining of
NATO in 1955, the Soviet Union formed the
Warsaw Pact.
Similar to NATO, it included all of Eastern
Europe (except Yugoslovia). They all agreed
to defend one another and not meddle in one
another’s affairs, but the Soviet Union
continued to control the other, weaker
countries.