The Cold War Read Pg. 821

Yalta Conference  February 1945  Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt  Yalta is costal Russia town on the Black Sea  Discussed the “World Security Council” that would later evolve into the United Nations  Argued over a post war free Poland  Divided Post-War Germany into two zones U.S.& England controlled one part and Russia the other part

continued…  The United States wanted an international organization to settle disputes  Russia wanted a layer of satellite nations to serve as a buffer to outside agression

FDR to Truman  FDR dies April 12, 1945  Harry Truman inherits the Presidency  Truman forced to make the decision about the bomb, and the early days of the Cold War  Truman did not trust Russia, but did not wish to fight them or China

China  By 1945 Mao Zedong controlled 1/4 th of the Chinese population, by 1950 they would run Chiang Kai-shek off the mainland and the communist would control the world’s most population nation

Truman Doctrine  The US would fight to support free governments (non-communist) with a policy of “Containment”  1947 National Security Act created the CIA, and the NSC  1948 the Selective Service Act started a new draft

Marshall Plan  Secretary of State George Marshall devised a plan for the rebuilding of Europe  It would support free governments, and would mean great profits for American business in Europe

Germany  June 1948 Stalin attempted to take full control of Berlin by placing a blockade around the city  The US responded by airlifting in supplies and keeping free Berlin free  In response to this aggression, the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization (N.A.T.O.) was formed  By 1949 Russia had atomic weapons and the Cold War was on

Post WWII Economy  Pent-up wartime savings and the power of Labor Unions created post war inflation  Thus it was a surprise that Truman won the election of 1948  The affluence of the late 50s and 1960s was just around the corner

Korea  Our “Containment” policy pulled us into war in Korea  North Koreas wished to made their nation communistic, South Koreans favored democracy  General McArthur who was overseeing the region from post war Japan lead American forces into North Korea

continued…  As we came in on the side of South Korea, China entered on the side of North Korea  Truman was unwilling to take on China  McArthur told the media that Truman was a wimp  Truman fired McArthur and had America fight a defensive war instead

Fighting Communism At Home  Senator Joe McCarthy began to call America’s attention to communist here at home  This created the “Red Scare”  Eventually McCarthyism was dismissed as a witch hunt, but thousands of public and private citizens were effected by his campaign

Grandpa Ike  In 1952 America turned to war hero General Dwight Eisenhower to become our President during the scary cold war years of the 1950s