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THE COLD WAR

THE COLD WAR. The Cold War (1945-1990?). Definition: An ongoing conflict between the world’s two superpowers—the US (Capitalism) and the USSR (Communism) Why “Cold”? Both sides had nuclear weapons, but never used US & USSR never went directly to war Never direct fighting between US & USSR.

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THE COLD WAR

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  1. THE COLD WAR

  2. The Cold War (1945-1990?) • Definition: • An ongoing conflict between the world’s two superpowers—the US (Capitalism) and the USSR (Communism) • Why “Cold”? • Both sides had nuclear weapons, but never used • US & USSR never went directly to war • Never direct fighting between US & USSR

  3. Causes of the Cold War • Economic Differences • Political Differences • “Business as Usual” Nationalism

  4. Economic Differences • Capitalism • Individual profit & private enterprise • “Free trade” • Communism • Government planning & control • Tightened control over international trade & production • Each country wants the rest of the world to follow its system for economic reasons

  5. Political Differences • Capitalism • Emphasis on democracy & individual choice • Importance of voting • Importance of limiting government intervention • Overall freedom = welfare of the individual • Communism • Emphasis on common good • Lesser importance of voting • Strong government as “voice of the people” • “dictatorship of the proletariat” • Overall freedom = welfare of the society

  6. Nationalism • Is the Cold War simply two powerful countries competing for power? • Conflict & wars began looooooong before advents of Communism & Capitalism!

  7. Postwar Agreements • Yalta (February of 1945) • Stalin (USSR), FDR (US), Churchill (Eng) • Agreements • United Nations set up • Stalin to get “influence” in Eastern Europe • USSR to invade Japan 3 months after Germany • Potsdam (July, 1945) • Stalin (USSR), Truman (US), Atlee (Eng) • Clear that Stalin planned to stay in Eastern Europe

  8. US troops in Russia after WW I Long wait for 2nd Front in WW II Russia attacked in both WW I & WW II Russia lost 20 million people in WW II Only US had A-Bomb Hatred of Capitalism Russia had pulled out of WW I Stalin’s nonaggression pact with Hitler Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe Soviet anti-capitalism statements Fear of Soviet interest in Western Europe Hatred of communist ideas and brutality Why Both Sides Distrusted Other USSR USA

  9. Post WW II Europe

  10. The United Nations (UN) • Formed in April 1945 • Much like the League of Nations before • Except US joins • Organization of UN: • General Assembly • All nations with equal vote • Security Council • Five major countries, all with veto power over any resolution • US, USSR, China, France, England

  11. CONTAINMENT

  12. Containment • Name for US foreign policy after WW II • Definition • Not to defeat communism • But to stop it from spreading

  13. Cold War Time Line

  14. Harry Truman • President from 1945-1953

  15. The Truman Doctrine (March 1947) • President Truman’s statement that • The US must provide aid to “support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures” • (US will provide financial aid to all anti-communists) • The US should provide $400 million to help fight communism in Turkey & Greece • Means: A small amount of (only) money to prevent communism from spreading in one particular area

  16. The “Domino Theory” • If one country goes Communist, its neighbors will follow • “Countries will fall like dominoes

  17. The Marshall Plan • US Secretary of State George Marshall’s Plan to give $13 billion to rebuild the economies of Western Europe • Why? • Genuine humanitarian concern • Prevent instability that could let communism spread • Build up trading partners for US economy • Means: A lot of (only) money to prevent communism from spreading all over Europe

  18. Sec. of State George Marshall

  19. Berlin Blockade (June 1948) • USSR tries to close off West Berlin • Attempt to take it over • Truman’s options: • Let Berlin go • Not a lot of love for Germans! • Attack Soviet Union • Risk of WW III? • Find a way to supply West Berlin • This is the one chosen

  20. Berlin Airlift (June 1948 – May 1949) • Code named “Operation Vittles”! • US planes flew 2,500 tons of supplies into Berlin each day for eleven months • Why did Stalin not shoot down the planes? • Truman said he had 60 A-Bombs ready to use • He did not! • Soviets end blockade in May, 1949

  21. North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO (1949) • Mutual protection treaty signed by US, Canada, & countries of Western Europe • England, France, West Germany, Italy, Norway, Netherlands, etc • “An attack on one, is an attack on all” • Means: US will protect Europe BY FORCE IF NECESSARY • 1955—Soviets create the Warsaw Pact • Same as NATO w/Eastern Europe • Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany, etc.

  22. Truman Signing the NATO Treaty

  23. The Traumas of 1949 • September • Russians test their own A-Bomb • November • Mao Tse-Tung & Communists take over China • US now fears that Communism is really spreading • Wants to take more drastic precautions

  24. Josef Stalin

  25. Mao Tse-tung’s Ride to Power

  26. National Security Act of 1947 • Set up the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) • Responsible for gathering info on enemies and spying • Set up the National Security Council (NSC) • Group of “experts” to advise US government on foreign policy

  27. NSC-68 (April of 1950) • NSC report • 4 Suggestions • Only the US can contain communism • We must use force if necessary • We must prevent communism EVERYWHERE (not just in Europe) • US must increase military spending by 4X • Means: US will use FORCE to fight communism ANYWHERE it threatens

  28. Korean War Begins (June 1950) • Communist North Korea attacks the South • US sends troops in a three year war • Two months after NSC-68

  29. THE RED SCARE

  30. Post-War Red Scare • Fear that communists were taking over America • Not just in foreign countries • Fear of Soviet Union & Stalin • Suspicion that spies were at work to subvert America

  31. The House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC) • Created in 1947 • To investigate reports of communist infiltration • Of government • Of Hollywood • Hearings accused hundreds • Ruined many lives & careers • Truman set up a “loyalty program”

  32. The Red Scare Alger Hiss Ethel and Julius Rosenberg Sen. Joe McCarthy

  33. Alger Hiss • Government official accused of being a communist agent • No proof found • But given five years for lying under oath (perjury)

  34. Ethel & Julius Rosenberg • Couple accused of being communist spies • Charged with giving Russians H-Bomb secrets • Executed in 1953 • Much doubt about their guilt

  35. Senator Joseph McCarthy • Insane anti-communist Senator from Wisconsin • Led Senate hearings to expose communists • Claimed he had a list of “known communists” • Destroyed many lives • Finally discredited & died of alcoholism in 1957

  36. The “Hollywood Ten”—movie folk accused of Communist Party ties

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