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Transcript
Origins of The Cold War Mr. White’s US History 2 Big Questions Why did relations between the United States and the Soviet Union break down after World War II? Was the US response to the spread of communism appropriate? Did they do too little or too much? Soviet-US Relations During World War II Stalin had originally been an ally of Hitler (non-aggression pact) – only became an ally with US after Hitler attacked him – US distrustful of him Soviet Union thought US took too long to open a second front and attack Hitler – Stalin distrustful of US Stalin also upset that US had kept secret building the atomic bomb United Nations After World War II, hopes for peace were high United Nations was established as a peacekeeping body in 1945 Intention was to promote peace, but it would become a place of competition for the US and the Soviet Union Potsdam Conference A conference was held between the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union called the Potsdam Conference Stalin promised to Truman (US) and the United Kingdom that he would give free elections in the countries that the Soviet Union had taken from Germany (Poland, for instance) The United States soon realized that Stalin didn’t plan on doing this Post-War Goals United States • Wanted nations to have selfdetermination • Get access to raw materials and markets for goods • Rebuild Europe to make it stable and create new markets • Reunite Germany Soviet Union • Encourage communism around the world • Rebuild its country using Eastern Europe’s resources • Control Eastern Europe to balance US • Keep Germany divided so it wouldn’t threaten Soviet Union Economic Soviets wanted to take war reparations from Germany to help pay their losses Truman wanted to spread US economically around the globe – US was strongest economy in the world US wanted to get raw materials in Eastern Europe and sell goods there Soviets Control Eastern Europe Soviet Union had suffered heavy devastation from the war Around 25 million people dead; Soviets felt like it was pay-back for their losses to take from Europe Soviets installed communist governments in Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland – satellite nations Stalin said that communism and capitalism were incompatible, and another war was inevitable Containment 1946 – Truman thought it was time to stop “babying the Soviets.” United States adopted a policy of containment – prevent expansion of communism into any more countries The Iron Curtain Europe divided into capitalist-democratic west (blue) and communist east (red) Churchill said that an “iron curtain” had descended over Europe Stalin called Churchill’s words a “call to war.” Truman Doctrine Truman was afraid that Greece and Turkey might become communist; they were doing poorly and there were communists in their countries Truman declared that the United States should support countries that were resisting communism – Truman doctrine Between 1947 and 1950, US sent $400 million in aide to Greece and Turkey Europe After World War II After the war, Western Europe was in chaos • Factories destroyed • People out of homes and jobs • Winter of 1946-1957 coldest in several centuries If something was not done to help solve these problems, many in the US thought these countries would become communist The Marshall Plan Secretary of State George C. Marshall (left) suggested United States give help to any European country that needed it Helped provide food, shelter, clothing, etc. US gave over $13 billion to 16 European countries Communism lost its appeal to many in Europe Struggle for Germany Germany divided between part controlled by US and Allies (blue) and Soviet Union (red) Berlin, Germany’s capital (yellow), was divided, also, and surrounded by Sovietcontrolled territory US and Soviet Union would struggle to control Germany The Berlin Airlift There was no agreement between Stalin and the Allies about use of the roads into Berlin – Stalin saw this as an opportunity to control Berlin Stalin shut down roads going into Berlin – stopped any food or fuel from going in Stalin would try to starve city into submission The Berlin Airlift (continued) The United States and Britain started flying food and supplies into Berlin to keep the people supplied For 327 days, planes took off and landed every few minutes Over 2.3 million tons of supplies flown into Berlin By 1949, Stalin lifted the blockade and allowed food and fuel to come back in to Berlin NATO Blockade made western European countries distrustful of Stalin These countries, along with the US and Canada, formed NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization These countries would support each other if attacked by the Soviet Union NATO kept military of 500,000 troops ready to go