Download Chapter 19.2: The Cold War Heats Up

Mrs. Faatoafe
United States History
Unit 7

The end of WWII caused a profound change in the
way world leaders and ordinary citizens thought
about war.
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Devastation caused by atomic bomb.
Fear from Soviet testing of an atomic bomb.
“We have entered the atomic age and war has
undergone a technological change which makes it
a very different thing from what it used to be. War
today between the Soviet empire and the free
nations might dig the grave not only of our
Stalinist opponents, but of our own society, our
world as well as theirs…Such a war is not a
possible policy for rational men.”
 President Harry S. Truman.
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American policy makers determined not to
repeat mistakes from WWI.
WWII had devastated Europe to a degree never
seen before.
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21 million people made homeless.
20% of Polish population had died.
Nearly 1 of every 5 houses in France & Belgium were
damaged or destroyed.
Industries, transportation, and agriculture in ruins.
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Called for the nations of Europe to draw up a
program for economic recovery from the war.
The United States would then support the
program with financial aid.
It was a response to American concern that
Communist parties were growing stronger
across Europe, and that the Soviet Union might
intervene to support more of these Communist
movements in the war ravaged countries.

“It is logical that the United States should do whatever
it is able to assist in the return of normal economic
health in the world, without which there can be no
political stability and no assured peace. Our policy is
directed not against any country or doctrine but
against hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos. Its
purpose should be the revival of a working economy in
the world so as to permit the emergence of political
and social conditions in which free institutions can
exist.”
 Marshall Plan speech, George C. Marshall, June 5, 1947

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Formally known as the European Recovery Program.
U.S. allocated $13 billion in grants and loans to
Western Europe.
WEST GERMANY

Occupied by the United
States, Great Britain,
and France


Capitalist / Democracy
These countries also
occupied West Berlin
(capital city of
Germany)

Surrounded by
Communist control
EAST GERMANY

Occupied by the Soviet
Union


Communist
The Soviet Union also
occupied East Berlin
(capital city of
Germany)

They controlled all the
land around the city of
Berlin

American, British, and French leaders were
planning on merging West Germany to create a
new country: The Federal Republic of Germany.


West Berlin was going to be part of this new country even
though they were surrounded by communism.
Residents of West Berlin began to flee to West
Germany…Stalin responded by cutting off all
highway, railway, and waterways into and out of
West Berlin.

He was literally trying to “starve” West Berlin into giving
up to communism.
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The blockade threatened to create severe
shortages of food and other supplies needed by
the 2.5 million people in West Berlin.
Truman did not want to risk starting a war by
using military force to open the transportation
routes so he decided on an airlift.

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During the next 15 months, British and American
military aircraft made more than 200,000 flights to
deliver food, fuel, medicine, and even Christmas
gifts.
Soviets finally gave up the blockade in May
1949.

The Berlin Airlift showed that the United States
was willing to support countries in their fight
against communism.

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Canadian foreign minister, Louis St. Laurent,
proposed creating an “association of democratic
peace-loving states” to defend Western Europe
against attack by the Soviet Union.
April 1949 Canada, the U.S., Belgium, Britain,
Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal formed the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Agreed that “an armed attack against one or more of
them…shall be considered an attack against them all.”
 Known as collective security

Soviets create their own atomic bomb in
September 1949.
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U.S. was not longer the sole nuclear superpower.
U.S. started plans for the Hydrogen Bomb
China falls to Communism

Mao defeated Jiang Jieshi, who then retreated to the
island of Taiwan with his followers and created the
Republic of China
 This was the only Chinese government that the U.S.
recognized.
THE LOYALTY PROGRAM
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All new employees hired
by the federal government
were to be investigated to
see if they were
communist.
Accusations were brought
before the Loyalty Review
Board.
Accusations made it hard
for people to ever clear
their name.
HUAC
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House Un-American
Activities Committee.
Established in 1938 to
investigate disloyalty.
Charged that many
Hollywood figures had
Communist ties that
affected their film
making.
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In September and October of 1947 HUAC
called a number of Hollywood writers,
directors, actors, and producers to testify.
The Hollywood Ten declined to answer the
HUAC questions and were cited for contempt
of Congress and served jail terms ranging from
6 months to a year.
A blacklist was circulated among studios with
a list of names who should not be hired
ALGER HISS
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He was a high ranking
State Department
official.
Accused him being
communist in the 30s.
He was convicted of
perjury for lying.
Spent four years in jail.
JULIUS AND ETHEL
ROSENBERG
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Accused of passing
atomic secrets to the
Soviets during WWII.
Convicted of espionage
and executed in 1953.
Later it was found that
Ethel was not guilty of
espionage.