Download Cold War in Europe- US provides aid to help rebuild Europe after

Cold War in Europe- US provides aid to help rebuild Europe
after WWI and prevent the spread of Communism
*US is no longer isolated
• I can explain the expanding international role of the
United States by identifying several events where the
United States took an active role in providing aid in
Europe, as well as, defining and explaining the impact
of United States involvement.
• Focus Topics
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Marshall Plan
Containment
Truman Doctrine
Berlin Airlift
NATO
United Nations
Germany- split into 4 zones controlled by US, Eng., France,
and USSR
• Germany is divided into two countries
– West Germany-(Democratic) 3 zones controlled by US, Eng. and France
become one country
– East Germany (Communist) controlled by Russia
• Berlin- split into 4 zones too
– West Berlin (Dem.) part of West Germany but located in East
Germany
» ?What is so unique about West Berlin?
» *island of democracy surrounded by communism
– East Berlin (Communist)
Confronting CommunismHow should the US try to stop the spread of Communism
• Containment- US should use force every time communists try to
expand
– *US believes Communists will avoid war because Com. believe
they will eventually take over the world
– Evaluate who is the aggressor in the Cold War, USA or Soviet
Union? Explain (think what your idea of the US has always been
in regards to American values and think of what Americans feel
are Communist values, is that true?)
Marshall Plan- US aid/$ to help Europe rebuild
• *idea- Europe would spend the money on US products, European
countries buying US products will not want to be Communist
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?Why would they buy US products? Why not German,
Japanese, or Chinese?
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?How would Europe been different if the US had gone back to
isolationism?
– * avoids mistake of WWI making Germany pay reparations and
punishing Germany (instead US helps rebuild Germany, our enemy in
WWII)
Truman Doctrine- stated US will help any country threatened
by Communism
• Turkey and Greece- Soviets tried to take over but US aid prevented
Communist takeover
• Why would be the strategic reason the Soviet’s would want Greece and
Turkey? (Look at above map, Red is Soviet controlled, Blue US allies)
• ?How is the Truman Doctrine different from past US foreign policy?
• What problems might arise with continued enforcement of the Truman
Doctrine?
Berlin Blockade
– Soviets upset US helping Germany rebuild,
– Why would the Soviet’s want to make sure Germany never rebuilt and
became prosperous?
• Blockade- Soviets close all traffic to West Berlin preventing supplies from
reaching Berlin
– Airlift- US flies food and aid to Berlin for 1 year
– ?What does the Berlin Airlift say about the US attitude towards
Communism (Esp. right after WWII)
• *Symbol of US commitment to stop Communist expansion
NATO- military alliance of 12 European countries,
Canada, and US
– *US pledges to protect Western Europe from Russia
• Soviet Response
• *Warsaw Pact- Soviet Alliance with Eastern European Countries
– Atomic Bomb- Russia explodes their own in 1949
– ?How has the Cold War changed? What would a war b/t US and Russia
look like? What should be the US response?
• *US develops Hydrogen Bomb (20xs bigger than Atomic Bomb)