Download Adaptation of Winston Churchill`s “Iron Curtain Speech” of 1946

Document Response Section: Answer the questions underneath each document and underline where you found the answer to the question in the
document. Then, draw a line from the question to the location of the answer.
Document 1: Harry S. Truman at the Potsdam Conference
(Memoirs)
Document 2: Marshal Georgii Konstantinovich Zhukov at the
Potsdam Conference (Memoirs)
On July 24 I casually mentioned to Stalin that we had a new weapon of unusual
destructive force. The Russian Premier showed no special interest. All he said was he
was glad to hear it and hoped we would make "good use of it against the Japanese."
I do not recall the exact date, but after the close of one of the formal meetings
Truman informed Stalin that the United States now possessed a bomb of exceptional
power, without, however, naming it the atomic bomb.
Harry S. Truman, Year of Decisions (Garden City, NY: Doubleday and
Company, 1955) p. 416.
As was later written abroad, at that moment Churchill fixed his gaze on Stalin's
face, closely observing his reaction. However, Stalin did not betray his feelings and
pretended that he saw nothing special in what Truman had imparted to him. Both
Churchill and many other Anglo-American authors subsequently assumed that
Stalin had really failed to fathom the significance of what he had heard.
1. According to Truman, how did Stalin react to Truman's confession
about this new weapon?
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In actual fact, on returning to his quarters after this meeting Stalin, in my presence,
told Molotov about his conversation with Truman. The latter reacted amost
immediately. "We'll have to talk it over with Kurchatov and get him to speed things
up."
I realized that they were talking about research on the atomic bomb.
Georgii Konstantinovich Zhukov, The Memoirs of Marshal Zhukov (New
York: Delacorte Press, 1971) pp. 674-675.
1. According to Zhukov, what did many Anglo-American writers
incorrectly assume about Stalin?
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2. What did Stalin want Kurchatov ‘to speed up”?
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Document 3:
Adaptation of Winston Churchill's
“Iron Curtain Speech” of 1946
(Winston Churchill was British Prime Minister 1940-1955)
Document 4:
Adaptation of Joseph Stalin’s “Reply to Churchill” 1946
A shadow has fallen upon the lands just lit by the Allied victory.
Nobody knows what Soviet Russia and its Communist international
organization intends to do in the immediate future, or what are the
limits, if any, to their desire to expand.
We do understand the Russian need to be secure on her western
frontiers by the removal of all possibility of German aggression.
But…An iron curtain has descended across Europe. Behind the line of
that iron curtain lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and
Eastern Europe. All these famous cities and the populations around
them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject in
some form to Soviet influence and a very high degree of Soviet
control…
Except in Britain and the United States, Communist parties are
a growing challenge and danger to Christian civilization.
I do not believe that Soviet Russia desires war. What they desire
are the fruits of war and the expansion of their power and ideas. But
what we have to consider is the permanent prevention of war and the
establishment of conditions of freedom and democracy as quickly as
possible in all countries.
Mr. Churchill is basically trying to start a war. Like Hitler, Mr.
Churchill begins to set war loose with a racial theory. Churchill’s theory
is that only nations speaking the English language are fully valuable
nations, and that they should decide the destinies of the entire world.
As a result of the German invasion, the Soviet Union lost about
7,000,000 people, several times more men than Britain and the United
States together. It may be that some people are trying to forget the
sacrifices of the Soviet people, which insured the liberation of Europe
from Hitler. But the Soviet Union cannot forget.
So can it really be a surprise the Soviet Union, in a desire to
ensure its security for the future, wants to make sure that its
neighboring countries are loyal? How can you call these peaceful wishes
of the Soviet Union "desires to expand"?
Mr. Churchill claims to be a friend of the common people. But
common people are not as simple as many think, and they know how to
stand up for themselves. They are the ones who support Communist
parties in Europe.
1. What does Churchill say has descended across Europe?
1. What does Stalin accuse Churchill of doing?
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2. What two things does Churchill argue must be established in all
countries?
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2. Who does Stalin claim support the Communist parties in Europe?
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Document 5: The Truman Doctrine
PRESIDENT TRUMAN’S ADDRESS BEFORE CONGRESS, MARCH 12, 1947
One of the primary objectives of the foreign policy of the United States is the creation of conditions in which we and other nations will be able to work
out a way of life free from aggression. Our victory was won over countries which sought to impose their will, and their way of life, upon other nations.
We shall not realize our objectives, however, unless we are willing to help free peoples to maintain their free institutions and their national integrity
against aggressive movements that seek to impose upon them totalitarian regimes.
The peoples of a number of countries of the world have recently had totalitarian regimes forced upon them against their will. The Government of the
United States has made frequent protests against coercion and intimidation, in violation of the Yalta agreement.
I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted conquest by armed minorities or by outside
pressures.
I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way.
I believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid which is essential to economic stability and orderly political processes.
The free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms. If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the
world -- and we shall surely endanger the welfare of our own nation.
Great responsibilities have been placed upon us. I am confident that the Congress will face these responsibilities squarely.
1. According to Truman, what should America’s foreign policy goals be?
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2. How does President Truman plan to achieve his goals?
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Document 6: The Marshall Plan
After World War Two, much of Europe was in ruins. On top of the destruction of the war, Europe experienced a series of unusually cold, harsh
winters, high unemployment, a lack of food, and economic upheaval.
In 1947 U.S. secretary of state George Marshall proposed a plan to rebuild European economies by providing $13 billion in food, machines, and money
to any European country that needed it. For those countries that accepted the aid, the plan was very successful. Below is a chart of the aid received by
European countries through the Marshall Plan
1. Which countries received the most aid from the
U.S.? Which countries received the least? How
much did they receive?
Aid Provided by the Marshall Plan
Millions of Dollars Provided
3000 2826
2500
2445
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2000
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1316 1297
1500
877
1000
561 547 515
500
257 237
153 146 119
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3. Does the Marshall Plan support the Truman Doctrine? If so, how?
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2. Were any communist countries aided by the
Marshall Plan? If so, which one(s) and how much
aid did they receive?
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Document 7: The Division of Berlin
1. Which countries controlled zones in Germany after
WWII?
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2. Which country’s zone was Berlin located in? How was
Berlin divided?
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Writing: DBQ on The Cold War—Who Caused the Cold War?
Historical Background:
Between 1945 and 1950, the wartime alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union broke down and the Cold War began. For the next
40 years, relations between the two superpowers swung between confrontation and détente. Each tried to increase its worldwide influence and
spread its competing economic and political systems. At times during this period the competitors were at the brink of war. How was the Cold War
fought?
Task:
Who caused the Cold War? Did the Harry Truman cause the Cold War by threatening the Josef Stalin with nuclear weapons? Did
Winston Churchill cause the Cold War with his intolerance for Communism? Did Stalin cause the Cold War by dominating Eastern
Europe after World War II? Did the postwar resolutions, plans and policies of the United States and Soviet Union cause the Cold War?
You decide—and write a DBQ paragraph that supports your position.