Download 6.1 Notes

Unit 6: The Cold War (1945-1991)
Lesson 1: Containment
Readings: 52abcdf
http://www.ushistory.org/us/
I.
Cold War
a. Time of political hostility that existed between the Soviet Union (and its allies)
and the United States (and our allies) from 1945-1991
i. Characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of
actual fighting
ii. Root of hostility was the Soviet desire to spread communism (and their
influence) and the United States’ desire to have a free and democratic
world
II.
Containment
a. Containment was a United States policy to prevent the spread of communism
abroad
i. Component of the Cold War
ii. Policy was a response to a series of aggressive moves by the Soviet Union
to spread communism in Eastern Europe, China, Korea, Africa, Vietnam
1. Ex. When Soviet Union supported communist forces in Korea and
Vietnam, U.S. sent weapons and troops to support democratic
parties
2. Policy started by Truman and every president after followed it
III.
Eastern Europe and China
a. After WWII, most of eastern Europe already under Soviet control
i. U.S. had no interest in starting another war to liberate these countries
1. Instead adopted containment to stop communism from spreading
any further
b. 1949- China also becomes communist
i. Mao Zedong led communist revolution
1. Fortunately for U.S., Chinese communism often clashed with
Soviet Communism
IV.
Containment efforts in Europe
a. Many western European countries were weakened by WWII
i. therefore more vulnerable to communist revolution
b. Marshall Plan- U.S. provided $17 billion ($160 billion in today’s money) to
finance the economic recovery of Europe between 1948-1951
i. Idea was to make these countries strong enough to resist communism on
their own
ii. Many Americans were upset at such a huge “handout”
1. Many changed their minds and supported after China turned
communist
c. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
i. Prospect of further communist expansion prompted U.S. and 11 other
Western nations to form NATO
1. Primarily a security pact- stated that a military attack against any
one country would be considered an attack against them all
a. Included Britain, France, and others
ii. In response, Soviet Union and its affiliated communist nations in Eastern
Europe formed their own alliance
1. Known as Warsaw Pact