The Cold War Begins Post War Tension

Even though steps were taken to ensure safety and security around the world, that could not ease the tensions between the U.S. and the Soviets…

Causes of the Cold War Ideological Differences War Conflict Soviet Union = communist; totalitarian dictatorship United States = democratic, republic, capitalism War Conflict Disagreement over military strategy in WWII  Stalin wanted a front opened in Europe much earlier Roosevelt did not trust Stalin U.S. secret development of the atomic bomb Post War Disagreements Americans feared what Stalin may do in Eastern Europe- had promised free elections  does not live up to promise

Soviet Action in Eastern Europe Stalin had promised free elections and self-determination (the right to decide how a nation should be ruled), but does not live up to that Stalin felt he was fully justified in wanting to control all of Eastern Europe (as a defense from Germany & others in Western Europe) – he wanted to create a buffer zone Stalin outlawed political parties that opposed communism, jailed opponents, and rigged elections

Soon, almost every Eastern European nation had Stalin or communist friendly leadership

Iron Curtain Falls Once communism had spread, a sharp and clear division between Western and Eastern Europe emerged…a democratic West and a communist East Winston Churchill coined this the “iron curtain”- a division of Europe along ideological lines “A shadow has fallen upon the scenes so lately lighted by the Allied victory. Nobody knows what Soviet Russia and its Communist International organization intends to do in the immediate future, or what are the limits, if any, to their expansive…tendencies…it is my duty to place before you certain facts about the present position of Europe. From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.”

Iron Curtain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2PUIQpAEAQ

U.S. Response to Soviet Action To combat and halt the spread of communism any further, the U.S. took action… Containment- policy that the U.S. should resist Soviet attempts to expand its power & influence Truman Doctrine 1947- a promise to provide economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism Greece & Turkey- U.S. intervened with $ to stop Soviet influence….it worked! Marshall Plan 1947- a U.S. policy that gave $13.4 billion in aid to help rebuild the economies of European countries devastated by WWII – in order to create stable democratic governments

Crisis in Berlin Tension that almost escalated the Cold War into a Hot War Disagreement over capital city of Berlin Western desire: free, democratic capital Soviet desire: communist capital

Crisis in Berlin Berlin Blockade Berlin Airlift Soviets were upset about the establishment of democracy so close to them June 1948- they set up a blockade of roads, rail, and river traffic into West Berlin West Berliners cut off of food, coal, and other necessities Berlin Airlift Despite risks of war, Western nations decided to drop supplies by air Planes flew everyday making deliveries Soviets finally lifted blockade in May 1949

Cold War Cold War will last for the next several decades Cold War: a time of tension and rivalry between the United States & Soviet Union Several small “hot spots”, but will never include direct conflict between Americans and Soviet Korea Vietnam Cuba

Alliances even form.. NATO- North Atlantic Treaty Organization Collection of 26 nations (US, UK, France, Belgium, Italy, Canada, Denmark, Portugal, etc) Agreement that an armed attack against one member nation would be considered an attack against all Warsaw Pact A direct result of the formation of NATO An alliance of Soviet Union and its eastern European satellites

Korean War Cold War gets hot..

A Divided Korea Korea was controlled by the Japanese before WWII Allied leaders decided Korea should be free of defeated Japanese control at Yalta Conference Meant to be temporary Koreans on both sides wanted a unified nation Decided to divide at 38th parallel North Korea- controlled by Soviet Union Democratic People’s Republic of Korea South Korea- controlled by America Republic of Korea

War Starts June 25, 1950- North Korea invaded South Korea in the hopes of unification Role of U.S. US had to take a stand against communism S. Korea “unable” to defend itself, had to show world the US was willing to help Role of United Nations Police Action: military involvement with no declaration of war 40,000 UN troops made up of 15 nations (most Americans)

Korean War Early in war, N.Korea was having tremendous success US general MacArthur planned an invasion of Inchon…worked great UN forces had success until Chinese troops entered conflict on side of N.K. (260,000 of them!) US military had to retreat (the largest in history) Regained success, but MacArthur wanted to move past 38th parallel while Truman did not…he was fired….Truman wanted to stop communism, but not continue with fighting.

Time to end this war Election of Eisenhower Negotiations for Peace 1952- Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president on promise of ending Korean War Negotiations for Peace Disagreement over a new settlement line Peace Treaty and Aftermath Agreement finally reached in 1953 Map of Korea remained almost exactly the same 37,000 Americans died 3 million Korean civilians killed