The Beginning of the Cold War

The sides United States: Capitalist Democratic Republic Goals: Encourage democracy in world, prevent totalitarian governments Gain access to raw materials to help industry Rebuild European governments and create new markets for US goods Reunite Germany- don’t give them a reason to be bitter about defeat

The sides Soviet Union: Communist Totalitarian Dictatorship Goals: Encourage communism in other countries as world struggle between workers and wealthy Use Eastern Europe to resupply the Soviet Union and balance out US influence in Western Europe Keep Germany divided and weak to prevent any further aggression. The two previous wars in 30 years cost 20 million Soviet lives.

Division of Europe

Eastern Europe Soviet Union were determined to stay in Eastern Europe. They believed they earned it from the war They set up satellite nations in Eastern Europe Nations that are dependent on the dominate nation (Soviet Union) This also helped provide the Soviets with needed resources from Eastern Europe to support their industry.

The Iron Curtain “an ‘Iron Curtain’ has descended across the continent” –Winston Churchill Iron Curtain: the border that divided Eastern and Western Europe.

US Response to the Iron Curtain Containment: effort to block the Soviet’s attempts to spread their influence by creating alliances and supporting weaker countries.

US Response continued Truman Doctrine: President Truman issued a statement pledging economic and military support to ensure that Greece and Turkey remained free of Soviet control. Many view this as the true beginning of the Cold War.

Germany in dispute Germany was the split between Soviets and the US. Berlin laid in Soviet territory but half of it was controlled by US and the West. The Soviets decide after tension to close off Berlin to help from the West. To counter this, the US began the Berlin airlift. This was fly over missions to drop supplies to the people of West Berlin.

Berlin Airlift

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defensive Alliance between the US and Western Europe Formed in response to fear of Soviet aggression An attack on one member nation would be considered an attack on all member nations.

Warsaw Pact Soviet Response to NATO. Warsaw Pact: Response by Soviets out of fear of the prospect of fighting NATO Heightened tension which seemed to have calmed after the death of Stalin

Eisenhower’s Plan Frm. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower is elected President in 1952. His Sec. of State John Foster Dulles, an extreme anti-communist pushes the policy of brinkmanship. Brinkmanship: willingness to go to the brink (edge) of war to ensure peace. This led to the beginning of the nuclear arms race

Eisenhower Doctrine Eisenhower Doctrine: issued by President Eisenhower laying out that the US would defend the Middle East against any communist threats. This further expanded involvement in the world.

Chinese Civil War Mao Zedong- Chinese Communists- Soviet backed Chiang Kai-shek- Chinese Nationalists- US backed Communists defeat the Nationalists and force them to Taiwan. China becoming communist shocked the American public and showed the failure of containment

Korean War After Japan’s defeat in WWII, they gave the northern part of Korea to the Soviets and the southern part to the Americans. The Soviets and Americans obviously pushed their influence onto their controlled parts of Korea

Korean War North Korea leader Kim Il Sung wished to unite all of Korea under communist control Kim Il Sung invades South Korea and Truman orders US troops to the aid of the South Koreans. North Korea pushes US forces to Pusan.

US Push The UN decides to assist the US forces. Put Gen. MacArthur in command. MacArthur launches a counterattack send troops to Inchon, a port near S. Korean capital Seoul. This counter is extremely effective.

Chinese Involvement Chinese viewed UN/US push as threat to them and they send troops to assist North Korea. These Communist forces push the UN troops back to roughly the original division line. Gen. MacArthur encourages an attack on China utilizing the worlds new weapon, the Atomic bomb

Truman v. MacArthur Truman rejects MacArthur’s suggestion MacArthur attempted to go over Truman’s head and spark public support for an all out war in China. Truman doesn’t allow this and MacArthur is removed from his post as commander in Korea.

Korean War ends in Stalemate Once MacArthur was removed, the Soviets surprised many by suggesting a cease-fire The two sides came to an agreement on a truce and stood down from warfare. In the end, nearly 1 million soldiers had combined between both sides. Note: March 8, 2013, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended the truce and threatened war against both South Korea and the US