Download United States

What does this slide
mean by “free
elections”?

From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron
curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lies
the ancient capitals of Central and Eastern Europe.
-- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946


What does this
slide mean by
“superpowers”?
Why would these
superpowers
struggle over who
has influence in the
third world
countries?
The US and USSR competed intensely over everything:
Who had more nuclear weapons?
… had the most advanced technology?
… would be the first in space?
… would be the first to the moon?
… had the biggest tanks?
… had the fastest airplanes?
… won more Olympic gold medals?
… had better spies?
… had more allies?
Why would the USA
& the USSR be so
competitive over who
won the most Olympic
gold medals?

Analyze the image to
the right. What does
it mean by “Russian
Sphere of Influence”?
What does the chain
represent?


The United States was
concerned that communism
would spread throughout the
free world if left unchecked
Like a series of dominos
(domino theory)
The Domino Theory as stated
by President Harry Truman
meant that if one country fell
to Communism then another
country would follow like a
line of "dominoes“



The Cold War led to widespread
fear that Communists had
infiltrated the United States
government.
Senator Joseph R. McCarthy
charged that hundreds of
communists were in high
government positions. This created
a massive “Red Scare.”
During the Red Scare, several
government employees and other
citizens were analyzed and
investigated to see if they were
spies.
1.
2.
3.
4.
There was a civil war in Greece over
communism vs. capitalism.
Turkey was under pressure from the
USSR for concessions (territory) in the
Dardanelles.
The Truman Doctrine said that “The U.
S. should support free peoples
throughout the world who were resisting
takeovers by armed minorities or
outside pressures…We must assist free
peoples to work out their own destinies
in their own way.”
The U.S. gave Greece & Turkey $400
million in aid.
The Dardanelles is a narrow strait
(narrow body of water). USSR
wanted control of the Dardanelles
because it provided access to the
Black Sea


In June 1947, the US
started the Marshall
Plan to rebuild wartorn Europe.
What war was
Europe recovering
from?

European recovery programed
planned by Secretary of State
George Marshall
“The U. S. should provide aid to all European
nations
that need it. This move is not against any country
or doctrine, but against hunger, poverty,
desperation, and chaos.”
$12.5 billion of US aid to Western
Europe extended to Eastern Europe &
USSR, [but this was rejected].
The Soviet Union and its economically and politically dependent Eastern European
satellite states refused to participate in the Marshall Plan.
By 1948, Britain, the
US, and France
worked to unify the
three western sections
of Germany and
Berlin and create a
West German
government.
The Soviets opposed the creation of a West German state, so they tried to prevent
it by setting up a blockade of West Berlin.
The United States and Great Britain used
the Berlin Air Lift to fly in supplies to West Berlin.
The Soviets ended the blockade in May 1949.
Based on the context of this
slide, what do you think
“blockade” means?
The economy of the Soviet Union was devastated by World War II.
By 1950, the Soviet Union had built new power plants, canals, and giant factories.
Heavy industry had recovered.
The Soviet Union tightened its grip on Eastern Europe.
After World War II, Soviet-controlled Communist governments took
control of these satellite states.
What do you think
“satellite” means?
Between 1948 and 1953, Soviets set up five-year plans that were
introduced with emphasis on heavy industry.
They began to collectivize agriculture.
They set up secret police and military forces.
“Collectivize”
means to make all
things the same.
In August 1945, the Soviet Union and
the United States agreed to divide
Korea into two zones at the 38th
parallel.
The Korean War began in 1950 when
the Communist government of North
Korea, supported by the Soviet Union,
tried to take over South Korea.
In 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea.
President Truman, with the support of the United Nations,
sent US troops to repel the invaders.
In 1951, the Chinese sent troops into North Korea and pushed
the UN forces back, south of the 38th parallel.
An armistice was signed in 1953.
The 38th parallel remains the border between North and South Korea today.