A Changing and Trouble World Tens of millions of Europeans were homeless Imperialism was falling in Asia, Africa, India –The British gave up India and withdraw from Palestine –The French spend years trying to hold onto Indochina and North Africa The British vote for change: Winston Churchill to Clement Attlee

United Nations “We the people of the United Nations (are) determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind.”

United Nations Purpose: to bring the nations of the world together to work for peace and development based on the principles of: justice, human dignity, and well being of all people. Head quarters: New York City (on international territory) Preventive diplomacy Peace-making Peace-keeping Peace-building

Nuremberg Trials 22 of the Nazi leaders were put on trial for “crimes against humanity”. –12 Nazis were sentenced to death –7 received long prison sentences –3 were acquitted

East vs. West Communism vs. Democracy

The Iron Curtain

The Iron Curtain Speech In 1946, Winston Churchill visited Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri During his visit he gave what is known as the Iron Curtain Speech. –Europe is divided: East vs. West –Eastern Europe was the buffer zone between the West (democracy) and the USSR (communism)

Soviet Aggression and Occupation At the end of the war the Soviets occupied Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Eastern Germany Communists gained control of the police, newspapers, and radio stations. Stalin was to hold “free elections” in these Eastern European countries…it didn’t happen By 1948, these countries were known as Soviet “satellites”

Containment George Kennan held that the U.S. should respond to the Soviet threat with a policy of containment—take actions that would prevent the spread of communism As Greece and Turkey were threatened by the spread of communism Pres.Truman went to Congress seeking funds to prevent the spread of communism.

The Truman Doctrine March 12, 1947 “It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressure.” Greece and Turkey received portions of the $400 million for military and economic aid to prevent the spread of communism.

The Marshall Plan As many other European countries were struggling economically, the Marshall Plan sought to help the economies recover to prevent the spread of communism. In the course of 4 years, the U.S. would pour $17 billion dollars into Western European Countries –Yugoslavia also received aid Effects: –Western European economies boom by 41% –U.S. has new market for goods, causing it’s economy to continue to boom post-WWII

Molotov Plan USSR rejected participation in the Marshall Plan Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheshev Molotov created an communist economic plan to rebuild war-torn Eastern European economies Nations included: Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, & Romania

Cold War turns HOT? U.S. continued draft NATO Alliance: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Members pledge military support to one another if war was to break out Kept a standing military of 500,000 troops Soviet Union and satellites kept a standing army USSR saw the threat of NATO, thus formed the Warsaw Pact Included the USSR and 7 Eastern European countries

Germany: East-West Split

Berlin Blockade Soviets saw the Western influence in Berlin as a threat, especially after they united June 1948: The Soviets enacted a blockade that would prevent supplies from flying into Western Berlin Options: leave Berlin for Soviet control or open closed roads

Decision: Berlin Airlift Operation Vittles June 24, 1948: A massive airlift of 4,500 tons of food, fuel, and supplies to West Berlin The number of supplies reached 5,000 tons a day and would continue through May of 1949 This success caused Stalin to reopen the roads from Berlin to Western Germany

Berlin Airlift

Who has nukes? China: About 240 total warheads. France: Fewer than 300 operational warheads. Russia: Approximately 2,600 operational strategic warheads, approximately 2,000 operational tactical warheads, and approximately 8,000 stockpiled strategic and tactical warheads. United Kingdom: Fewer than 160 deployed strategic warheads, total stockpile of up to 225. United States: 5,113 active and inactive nuclear warheads and approximately 4,500 warheads retired and awaiting dismantlement. The 5,113 active and inactive nuclear warhead stockpile includes 1,968 strategic warheads, approximately 500 operational tactical weapons, and approximately 2,645 inactive warheads.

Who has nukes? India: Up to 100 nuclear warheads. Israel: Between 75 to 200 nuclear warheads. Pakistan: Between 70 to 90 nuclear warheads.

Who is close to having nukes? Iran Syria North Korea