Important People and Events of the Early Cold War Mr. Wickersham APUSH C

The Cold War [1945-1991]: An Ideological Struggle Soviet & Eastern Bloc Nations [“Iron Curtain”] US & the Western Democracies GOAL  “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist world. [George Kennan] GOAL  spread world-wide Communism METHODOLOGIES: Espionage [KGB vs. CIA] Arms Race [nuclear escalation] Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts of Third World peoples [Communist govt. & command economy vs. democratic govt. & capitalist economy]  “proxy wars” Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]

The Division of Berlin / Germany

Famous American Leaders Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower – President, 1953-1961 – tried to keep America’s army from growing too big. The Eisenhower Doctrine pledged America to protect the Middle East from Communist encroachment. John Foster Dulles – Ike’s Secretary of State; his nuclear strategy, massive retaliation, threatened a disproportionate attack as way of deterring any Communist aggression. George Kennan – author of “The Long Telegram” who developed the concept of containment – isolate the Soviet Union and limit the spread of communism. Harry Truman – President, 1945-53 – issued the Truman Doctrine which stated that America would aid any country that was being threatened by Communists inside and out. George Marshall – Truman’s Secretary of State (47-49) and Secretary of Defense (50-51); also instrumental in rebuilding most of Europe with the Marshall Plan (1947).

The Long Telegram, 1946 George Kennan, a Soviet analyst who had studied Russian history, sent an 8,000 word telegram to the U.S. from Moscow that talked about how the Soviets would not be able to live with the U.S. in “cooperation and harmony” because of its need to extend communist ideology to other nations. Russia’s policy was “to undermine the general and strategic potential of major western powers...”

The Iron Curtain Speech, 1946 Winston Churchill gave a speech in March 1946 in which he stated that “an iron curtain” had fallen across Europe. Behind the curtain the Soviets expanded their influence and installed Communist governments.

British Abdication of Greece in 1947 Britain’s recovery from the war, despite loans from the U.S., was still very slow. During the harsh winter of 1946-47, British leaders decided to let go of their overseas commitments like India and Palestine. They also gave up on aid to Greece and Turkey, which led to the Truman Doctrine.

The Truman Doctrine In January 1947, Britain was broke and had to withdraw aid from Greece and Turkey. So, the U.S. pledged $400 million to help Greece fight off Communist rebels in March 1947. In many ways, the Truman Doctrine – fighting communism wherever it popped up – marked the beginning of the Cold War.

The plan spent $13 billion over 4 yrs to rebuild European countries so they wouldn’t become Communist. - $12 billion had already been spent between 1945 -47. - Much of the $$ went to rebuild infrastructure (bridges, roads, etc.), factories, and homes / apartments. Industry grew 35%, farming rose beyond pre-war levels. The MP allowed nations to ease rationing and reduced discontent. - The Soviets and EE nations rejected the aid. Marshall Plan Expenditures by European nation. Marshall Plan Poster

Berlin Blockade, 1948-49 Britain, France, and U.S. merged their German zones into one government, West Germany in 1947. Stalin refused to unite Germany. Stalin imposed a tight blockade around West Berlin on June 24, 1948. West Berliners needed supplies that the Allies provided over the next year (2.5 million tons of supplies). 1949, the division of Germany was complete.

China becomes Communist -1949 The U.S. supported Nationalist Chiang Kai-Shek’s corrupt and unpopular Chinese gov’t. during WW2 and the Chinese civil war. Mao Zedong led the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by appealing to the peasants in the north and eventually won in 1949. Chiang’s Nationalist group fled to Taiwan and claimed to be THE ruler of China. From 1949 – 1971, Taiwan held China’s place in the U.N.

National Defense Budget [1940-1964] 1949 – Joe 1 detonated. 1950 - NSC – 68 increases defense spending 4x current levels. U.S. would lead fight vs. Communism.

Korean War [1950-1953]

Korean War [1950-1953] Kim Il-Sung Syngman Rhee “Domino Theory”

The Shifting Map of Korea [1950-1953]