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The Cold War

The Cold War. American Studies. The Cold War Era: US vs. USSR. Two opposing world views dominate international relations: US believes whole world should model itself after us D emocracy: Free elections, multiple parties to choose for C apitalism: Free market, consumerism and materialism

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The Cold War

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  1. The Cold War American Studies

  2. The Cold War Era: US vs. USSR • Two opposing world views dominate international relations: • US believes whole world should model itself after us • Democracy: Free elections, multiple parties to choose for • Capitalism: Free market, consumerism and materialism • Individualism: Your needs and wants are most important • Religious expression: Mostly Christianity (1954 added “under God”) • USSR believes their way is better • Communism: One party system • Planned economy: Everyone contributes and gets the same back • Collectivism: The group’s needs and wants are most important • Atheism: Religion should not effect govt or divide citizen groups • Cold War: No “hot” violent conflict between these two nations • Both sides use propaganda, military expansion, threats, espionage, and economic influence to achieve goals

  3. USSR After WWII • USSR wants to be a world power and spread Communism • Soviets lost about 20million during WWII • Afterward, 25 million are homeless and hungry • They need to expand in order to recover • European leaders want to protect borders from any further invasions • Establish buffer zone or “satellite nations” along western border • US wants to help foster democracy there • US emerges more powerful than ever

  4. Practice Question • What were the goals of the Soviet Union in the Cold War? • a. To not get involved . • b. Spread Democracy and build friendships. • c. Create satellite nations and spread communism. • d. To create capitalistic economies for all nations.

  5. 1945: Yalta Conference • Feb. 1945: Meeting of Big 3 Allied leaders: FDR, Churchill and Stalin • We agree to give USSR Poland and territory in the Balkans in exchange for help with Japan • Establish idea for the United Nations: International council to help nations solve problems without war • Soviets will occupy Eastern Europe until free elections can be held in the near future (never happens) • Soviets want Germans to pay high reparations • Other Allies know they won’t be able to and want to occupy Germany and help them instead • Agree to split Germany into “spheres of influence” in order to help them recover • Seeds of the Cold War: Creates severe tension

  6. Potsdam Conference • 1945: US is the only one with atomic bomb and uses it to take a strong negotiation stance • The New Big 3 Allies: Truman, Stalin, and Attlee • Meeting to finalize all plans made at Yalta Conference: • War crimes trials in Nuremburg and Tokyo after the war • The Potsdam Declaration: They agree that we should use the bomb on Japan

  7. Practice Question • In the United Nations Charter, member nations pledge to “unite our strength to maintain international peace and security.” Since ratification of its charter following World War II, the primary goal of the United Nations has been to • A. restore world trade disrupted by World War II. • B. encourage industrial growth begun during World War II. • C. establish policies to help nations pay World War II debts. • D. intervene in world conflicts to prevent another war such as World War II.

  8. The Iron Curtain Speech • Feb. 1946: Stalin announces he will break off trade with all western nations and build up his weapons systems • March 1946, Winston Churchill gives a speech at a college in Fulton, Missouri • “A shadow has fallen upon the scene so lately lighted by the Allied Victory…an iron curtain has descended acrossthe continent” • Metaphor: NOT a real wall or curtain! • Churchill says western nations must join together to fight communist aggression

  9. Iron Curtain Metaphor “There is nothing the Communists admire so much as strength and nothing for which they have less respect than for military weakness.”

  10. Iron Curtain

  11. Practice Question • In the years following World War II, the countries of communist Eastern Europe were often referred to as being “behind the iron curtain.” These countries were perceived as a single region based on • A. a common cultural heritage • B. unique physical features • C. economic and political characteristics • D. widespread immigration from other regions

  12. Containment • “Communism must be confronted and contained whenever and wherever it seeks to extend influence.” • US Diplomat in Moscow George Kennan: Expert on the USSR, says they will avoid confrontation • Containment Policy: • The US won’t fight Communism where it already exists • The US will try to stop all further communist expansion • 1947: Becomes the Truman Doctrine: US foreign policy for next 45 years • Uses it to justify providing aid to Greece and Turkey so that they could fight against communist influence

  13. The Truman Doctrine - 1947

  14. The Truman Doctrine - 1947 • “At the present moment every nation must choose between alternative ways of life. The choice is often not a free one.” • “One way of life is based upon the will of the majority and is distinguished by free institutions, representative government, free elections, guarantees of individual liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and freedom from political oppression.”

  15. The Truman Doctrine - 1947 • “The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and oppression, a controlled press and radio, fixed elections and the suppression of personal freedom.” • “I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures.”

  16. Practice Question • During the Cold War the United States was involved in different conflicts because they assured the world that • the U.S. would help in any way to stop the spread of communism. What was this policy of containment called? a. Marshall Plan b. Domino Theory c. Isolationism d. Truman Doctrine

  17. The Marshall Plan - 1948 • Europe was devastated by WW II: Depression • Cities, farms, factories, roads, etc. = destroyed • Millions are homeless and hungry • The conditions were ripe for the spread of Communism • Gaining support in France and Italy • US economy needs Europe to be stable in order for all nations to grow and benefit

  18. The Marshall Plan • George Marshall • Truman’s Secretary of State • Army Chief of Staff in WW II • Later will be Secretary of Defense • Served in WW I and WW II • 5 Star General • 2 Distinguished Service Crosses and a silver star • Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the Marshall Plan • Sends Herbert Hoover over to find out what Europe needs so that we can help them

  19. The Marshall Plan - 1948 • US will help rebuild the European nations • In exchange, they agree to spend a portion of the $ on US goods • The US will spend $13 Billion helping 16 countries • Soviets refuse to participate say it’s a US plot to take over Europe. • However, in 1948 it was the USSR that seized control of Czechoslovakia • Very Successful: Europe recovers quickly, world economies benefit, US business prospers • Gains us allies and eliminates appeal of communism

  20. Practice Question • At the end of World War II, Soviet armies liberated the countries of Eastern Europe from Nazi Germany. The occupation of these countries by the Soviet Union contributed to the development of the Cold War by • A. contributing to conflict in the Middle East • B. bringing about the reunification of Germany • C. strengthening the authority of the United Nations • D. dividing Europe into communist and non-communist spheres

  21. Berlin Crisis • Berlin is located 100 miles inside East Germany • Berlin was divided into West and East • West Berlin was part of Allied West Germany • US desired economically strong Germany to contribute to western recovery and contain Soviets

  22. Berlin Crisis • Supplies reached West Berlin on road and rail lines connecting it to W. Germany • In 1948 the Allies disagree on several issues involving Germany, including a new currency

  23. Berlin Crisis • In June 1948 the Soviets blockade the border, cutting West Berlin off from West Germany. • Communications, supplies, and electricity were cut off • 2 million citizens of West Berlin are trapped, 100 miles inside Communist East Germany. They have no access to supplies necessary for their survival. • They have 35 days of food and 45 days of coal

  24. Berlin Crisis • Truman’s Options 1. Do nothing – Let it fall to the Communists 2. Send armored convoys across the border and risk going to war 3. Find a way to resupply that doesn’t result in war Introducing the Berlin Airlift

  25. The Berlin Airlift • US and British aircrews will have to bring in everything that the West Berliners need to survive. • Everything will come by air - food, medicine, fuel, etc. • It was the largest continuous airlift in history • 324 days: 277,000 flights delivered 2 million tons of supplies • 10 minutes to unload 10 tons of supplies

  26. At its peak, a plane landed in Berlin every 30 seconds

  27. Practice Question • How did President Truman respond to the Soviet blockade of Berlin in 1948? • A. By escalating the conflict with a counter-blockade of Soviet Positions • B. By sending American tanks through the blockade • C. The Soviets never blockaded Berlin • D. By airlifting supplies into West Berlin

  28. Berlin Airlift • Soviets lift blockade in May 1949: Humiliating defeat • Flights continued until September to build up supplies • US won the first “battle” of the Cold War • Allies agree to unite to form Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) prevents Soviet blockade • Stalin retaliated forming German Democratic Republic (East Germany) • 1961: Berlin Wall built to split East and West Berlin • Torn down in 1989

  29. NATO • 1949: Soviet Union detonates their 1st atomic bomb = tensions rise • China becomes Communist • Chairman Mao Zedong takes over • US feels we “lost” China • NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization was an alliance created to defend the West against Soviet aggression • Mutual defense agreement where nations promised to consider an attack on one member an attack on all, go to aid of any member • Initially 12 nations were members

  30. Practice Question • During World War II, Japanese troops occupied much of China. This weakened the Chinese government, and in 1949, communist forces overthrew the government and established a communist state. What effect did the Chinese Communist Revolution have on the development of the Cold War? • A. It decreased tensions, because it led to the formation of the Warsaw Pact. • B. It increased tensions, because it strengthened the independence movement in India. • C. It increased tensions, because it increased Western fears of communist expansion. • D. It decreased tensions, because it led to the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union.

  31. NATO vs. The Warsaw Pact • In 1955 the Soviets and their allies formed the Warsaw Pact: Communist version of NATO alliance • NATO nations trained and prepared throughout the Cold War to fight WW III

  32. NATO Today • NATO forces are actively serving in Afghanistan • Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia are now members of NATO In 1949 they were Communist!

  33. Practice Question • In the years following World War II, there emerged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Warsaw Pact nations. These are examples of • A. regional economic cooperative efforts. • B. military alliance systems • C. environmental impact studies. • D. international tribunals.

  34. The Cold War at Home: 1950s-1960s • After WWII: Feared it would be hard to re-absorb all the troops at home • The G.I. Bill of Rights: Provided funds for servicemen/women to go to college or get other job training • Health and unemployment benefits and housing loans • Baby Boom: Couples start families as troops return (1946-1964) • A baby every 10 seconds! • Suburbs rapidly expandalong with interstate highways • New economic prosperity: Time/labor saving appliances • Everyone is buying cars and televisions • Story of Us video

  35. The Red Scare Returns • Fear of Soviet aggression and subversion changed the way the US saw the world and each other • Causes era of hysteria, suspicion and accusation of disloyalty due to fear of Communism • If you criticize the govt, you must be Communist • Federal Employee Loyalty Program (FELP): to conduct security checks on over 2 million govt employees • People could be fired for being a potential threat without evidence • Large number resigned and 200 fired • State/Local govts do the same • Make employees take loyalty oaths

  36. The 2nd Red Scare in the US • McCarran Internal Security Act (1950) Required Communist organizations/members to register with attorney general • Prohibited defense industries from hiring known commies • Legalized internment of certain people during national emergencies • Truman vetoed saying it was violation of constitutional rights by Congress overruled • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw60 • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWeZ5SKXvj8

  37. The McCarthy Era • Joseph McCarthy: House Rep. who exploited US fear of Communism for his own political gain • Sparked national frenzy by claiming that he had a list of 205 known communists employed by US State Dept • Never offered any evidence and eventually discredited • Many disapproved but not publically because of fear of being accused of sympathizing with Commies • Loses credibility in 1954: Investigated US Army • Televised hearings: Show lack of evidence • Dec. 1954: His influence came to an end, climate of fear gradually declined but never disappeared

  38. The Red Scare • House Un-American Activities Committee (1938, 1947) HUAC investigated allegations of Communist influence in Hollywood movie industry • Wanted to prove that Communists in Screen Writers Guild inserted subversive propaganda into Hollywood films • 10 witnesses refused to testify exercising 5th amendment protection against self-incrimination • Hollywood Ten were found guilty of contempt of Congress and served up to 12 months in jail • Blacklisted so other studios would not hire them • 1948: Alger Hiss, who attended Yalta and helped organize UN, accused of spying for Soviets during 1930s • Fought for innocence but sentenced to 5 years in jail

  39. Practice Question • Which was a common factor in the United States that caused the Red Scare following World War I and McCarthyism following World War II? • A. racial tension in major cities • B. signs of economic downturn • C. fear of communist expansion • D. the counterculture movement

  40. The Cold War • Constant Arms Race between US and USSR • 1950: Truman order comprehensive investigation of US military strength • NSC-68 report says US should operate under assumption that USSR desires world domination • Truman thought to guarantee security US must increase nuclear arsenal and enlarge its capacity to fight wars against Soviets • Should be a source of encouragement to all nations to resist • Need to be ready for rapid mobilization • Congress doesn’t want to raise taxes for bigger military, but then…

  41. The Korean War (1950-1953) • North and South Korea split at the end of WWII • South Korea: Democratic supported by US • North Korea: Communist supported by USSR • Stop at 38th parallel in the middle

  42. The Korean War: “The Forgotten War” • 1950: Northern troops invade South Korea in order to unite the nation under Communism • Led by Kim Il Sung • China supports them • UN Security Council: Condemns the invasion and authorizes use of military to expel the invading North • Police Action: US did not officially declare war but participated to contain communist expansion • US sends naval and air support, then ground troops • Sets precedent for undeclared involvement in the future • US spent over $64 billion, lost over 33,000 American soldiers • 3 million Koreans and Chinese killed: Majority were civilians • Scorched Earth policy: Destroy everything so they can’t rebuild • US drops more bombs here than all Allied bombs in WWII

  43. The Korean War (1950-1953) • Korea remained divided at the end of the war • Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on both sides of the border (38th parallel) • Did not solve any long-term issues in Asia • DID allow for massive US military build-up • SEATO: Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, like NATO alliance • Korea today: Still divided, with democratic South Korea and Communist dictatorship in North Korea

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