Download 2. The Beginning of the Cold War (1945-1953

• A period of 46 years that revolved around heightened tensions
between the United States and the Soviet Union over nuclear
capability and the spreading of ideology.
• U.S.—no more military alliances; spheres of influence
• International organization to arbitrate disputes
between countries
• Nation’s right to self-determination
• Soviets and British—great powers control areas of
strategic importance
• Britain had many colonies that they did not want to
give independence
• Soviets wanted a sphere of influence in eastern
Europe
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United States
Stop the spread of
communism
United Germany
Independent nations in
Eastern Europe
Support free peoples who
are resisting subjugation
containment
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Soviet Union
Spread communism beyond
Eastern Europe
Weak, divided Germany
Eastern Europe under Soviet
control
World domination
• Nov. 1943—Tehran Conference (Iran)
• Soviets agreed to open a war against Japan
• U.S. and Britain agreed to second European front
• Question over future of Poland
• Installation of a pro-Soviet or pro-Western
government
• Feb. 1945—Yalta Conference
• FDR agreed to give SU certain land in Pacific
• Plan for the United Nations
• Uncertainty over a free Poland
• Stalin wanted to establish a pro-Soviet
government while U.S. and Britain wanted a
democratic government
• Stalin agreed to hold “free and unfettered
elections”would not occur for more than 40
years
• Germany will be divided into four spheres
• Berlin, inside of the Soviet sphere, will be divided
into four zones
• Stalin broke his Yalta promise and forced communism amongst
Eastern Europe nations
• Became known as satellite states
• Stalin outlawed political parties or newspapers that opposed
the Communists.
• The Soviets jailed or killed some political opponents.
• The Soviets rigged elections to ensure the success of
Communists.
• Yugoslavia was the one Eastern European nation that was not
under the direct control of Stalin and the Soviet Union.
• Josip Broz Tito, a Communist, refused to take orders from the
Soviet Union.
• Big Three—Stalin, Truman, and
Clement Atlee met outside of
Berlin
• Soviets were denied the rights to
claim reparations from German
zones not theirs
• Confirmed that “war criminals”
would be brought to justice swiftly.
• March 5, 1946 Winston
Churchill made his “iron
curtain” speech in
Missouri
• Clear division between
democracies and
communism has
descended upon Europe
The day after
Churchill gave his
“iron curtain”
speech, this
cartoon
appeared in a
British newspaper
Western Views of the Iron Curtain
• Winston Churchill attacked the Soviet Union for creating an
Iron Curtain.
• The term reflected Churchill’s belief that communism had
created a sharp division in Europe.
• Harry S Truman urged his secretary of state to get tough with
the Soviets.
Soviet Views of the Iron Curtain
• Stalin believed that the Iron Curtain was necessary to protect
the Soviet Union from western attacks.
• Stalin used Churchill’s words to help persuade his people that
the United States and Great Britain were their enemies.
• He also used this as an excuse to rebuild the military.