Cold War, Part I

Completely Useless Information The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one-mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies. Ancient Egyptians shaved off their eyebrows to mourn the death of their cats. There is a town in Texas called Ding Dong.

The Two Superpowers Following World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union had different outlooks on the future, one democratic and the other communist. The Cold War began immediately after World War II and lasted until the fall of the Soviet Union in While the nations never directly fought, the Cold War was waged in a number of different battlefields: –Nuclear arms race –Space race –Countries emerging from colonial control (territory race)

Cold War Values The United States: Democratic political institutions. Free market economy (capitalism). A unified Germany. A stable Europe given self- determination (more markets for American goods). The Soviet Union: Establish totalitarian governments with communist (socialist) economies-spread communism. Use Eastern Europe to rebuild its economy. Control Eastern Europe to balance American influence in the West. Maintain a divided Germany- buffer zone.

World War II Outcomes After World War II: –The Soviet Union controlled most of Central and Eastern Europe. –Germany was split into two parts: West Germany-controlled by British, French, and United States (resumed self government). East Germany-controlled by the Soviet Union. Berlin also divided into East and West. –Japan was occupied by the United States: Emerged as a democratic ally of the United States. Limited size of Japanese military-led to an American military presence in the country.

World War II Outcomes (cont.) –The United Nations (UN) was established to maintain world peace. This was controlled by a collection of nations. The UN created Israel in –An issue both United States and Soviet Union agreed on. –Still a major source of conflict today.

Containment Immediately after the war, the Soviet Union established satellite governments (controlled by the Soviet Union) throughout Eastern Europe (Albania, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland). Europe was divided by an “Iron Curtain” (Churchill) into two political regions- the Democratic West and the Communist East.

Containment (cont.) George Kennan said that the United States must do whatever necessary to contain communism-prevent its spread into other countries. This policy of containment influenced American foreign policy throughout the Cold War.

Truman Doctrine The United States wanted to prevent the spread of communism into these countries. Truman declared that “it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” The United States provided $400 million in economic and military aid.

Marshall Plan Europe was in ruins both physically and economically after World War II. American Secretary of State George Marshall offered economic aid to all European countries that needed it- the Marshall Plan. –Provided $13 billion to 16 countries, helping revive their economies. –Made them strong allies of the United States. –American industrial and agricultural production increased in order to supply Europe=postwar economic boom in America. The Marshall Plan Great Britain$2.8 billion France$2.4 billion Italy$1.3 billion West Germany$1.2 billion Holland$877 million Austria$561 million Belgium/ Luxembourg $547 million Greece$515 million

Clip of Berlin Blockade Airlift

NATO Anxiety in Western Europe regarding Soviet expansion increased as a result of the Berlin blockade. In response, 10 Western European countries with the United States and Canada created the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). –These countries vowed to support one another in the event of an attack. When West Germany joined in 1955 the Soviet Union responded by forming the Warsaw Pact with seven Eastern European countries.