Roots of the Cold War

Division of Germany Post WWII

Former Allies Clash US & USSR held different political views Economic policies State controlled property vs. private property Voting rights Communist party appointed vs. publicly elected

Stalin vs. United States Allegiance Stalin originally sided with Hitler until the violation of the Non-Aggression Pact Allegiance America chose to hold off on invading Europe until after Africa Secrets Stalin did not like that America kept the atomic bomb a secret

United Nations 50 nations met in San Francisco April 25, 1945 June 25, 1945 Delegates signed the charter establishing the UN First discussion – peaceful use of atomic power

Former Allies Clash Potsdam Conference (July 17 – August 7, 1945) Big Three (U.S., Great Britain, Soviet Union) discuss final war plans How to deal with Germany Only unconditional surrender from Japan Truman sees US and USSR are at odds No free elections Former Allies Clash

Former Allies Clash Potsdam Bargaining Take war reparations from own zones Democracy and free trade in West Germany Communism in East Germany and satellites

Tension Mounts Stalin declared another world war is inevitable US developed policy of containment Taking measures to prevent extension of Communist rule in other nations “Iron Curtain”

Soviets Stalin expanded his Communist rule Satellite nations Countries dominated by the Soviet Union Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Poland

Containment Taking measures to stop the spread of Communism Helped form Truman’s foreign policy

Cold War in Europe Truman Doctrine Declared US support for nations attempting to resist Communist control Gave economic and military aid

Cold War in Europe Marshall Plan (European Recovery Plan) Provided aid to European nations post WWII Reduced the threat of Communism spreading

Struggle Over Germany Berlin split in 4 zones Berlin Airlift Soviets close roads and RRs leading to Berlin in 1948 Berlin Airlift Flew food and supplies into West Berlin Boosted US prestige

Struggle Over Germany NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Defensive military alliance of democratic nations Warsaw Pact Defensive military alliance of Communist nations

The Cold War Heats Up

China Becomes Communist Competition for Control Chang Kai-shek led nationalists Aided by U.S. Weak, corrupt government Mao Zedong led Communists Appealed to peasants with improvements Controlled most of N. China

China Becomes Communist Civil War in China US only sent $ 2billion but no soldiers Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan in 1949 Communists take control of China US refused to recognize new government

China Becomes Communist Americans React to Communist China Outrage against Truman First clear failure of containment policy

The Korean War Korea Divided at 38th Parallel Democratic South (Republic of Korea) Communist North (Dem. People’s Rep.) Communist troops crossed 38th parallel UN and US gave military support to South Led by Gen. MacArthur

US Fights in Korea MacArthur’s Counterattack Trapped between Puson and Inchon Half surrender, Rest flee S. troops reach China-Korea border

US Fights in Korea China entered war to prevent invasion China and US became main opponents UN forces driven South of 38th parallel Communists captured Seoul

US Fights in Korea Stalemate for 2 years MacArthur recommends nuclear attacks Truman objects b/c of Soviet retaliation Results in MacArthur’s firing in 1951

US Fights in Korea USSR suggests cease fire in June 1951 Effects Created demilitarized zone War is viewed as stalemate Effects Republicans win 1952 presidential election Increased fear of Communism Dwight D. Eisenhower

Cold War Fears

Fear of Communist Influence Cold War renewed fears of Communists Growth of U.S. Communist Party USSR’s expansion Failures in China and Korea

Fear of Communist Influence House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) Investigated Communist activity in U.S. Target movie industry and “Hollywood Ten” “Blacklisted”

Spies in Government Loyalty Review Board Investigated gov’t employees Many see as violation of constitutional rights Many people accused Truman of letting spies into the government, so he created the reviews The LRB did not find any communists in the government Caused many other organizations and schools to start loyalty oaths

Spies in Government Alger Hiss State Department Employee Accused of giving gov’t documents to a spy Convicted of perjury Sent to jail for 5 years

Spy Cases Stun Nation Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Executed in 1953 for being Communist spies Public appeals for clemency

McCarthy’s Witch Hunt McCarthyism Accusations without evidence Lost power during Army-McCarthy hearings Bullying alienated Americans Condemned for improper behavior

Brinkmanship Rules US Policy Spurred by development of H-Bomb Willing to use nuclear weapons Prepared to go to the brink of war Increased arms race

Cold War Spreads Worldwide CIA used to fight Communism abroad Stalin’s death in 1953 caused temporary relief Gather intelligence Covert operations to overthrow govt’s Ex: Iran and Guatemala

Cold War Spreads Worldwide Suez Canal Crisis U.S. and USSR support different sides in a war over the Suez Canal Eisenhower Doctrine: US will defend Mid-East against Communism

Cold War Spreads Worldwide Hungary Democratic government elected USSR uses military aggression to kill reform movement US and UN do not offer aid

Cold War Takes to the Skies Nikita Khrushchev New Soviet leader Willing to use peaceful means USSR launched Sputnik in Oct. 1957 US attempt at satellite fails

Cold War Takes to the Skies U2 Incident Gary Powers shot down over USSR Part of CIA spy mission using U2s Released in exchange for USSR spy Hurts US ability to negotiate with USSR