The Cold War (1946-52) From Containment to the Korean War

What is a cold war? A cold war is an intense economic, political, military, and ideological rivalry between nations that stops short of military conflict.

How are cold wars fought?

Incompatible Economic Systems USA - Capitalism Private ownership of resources and businesses. The majority of economic decisions are made by consumers and businesses. USSR – Communism Public ownership of resources. Businesses are controlled by the government. All economic decisions are made by the government.

Incompatible Political Systems USA – Democracy (Liberty) Individual rights are protected and celebrated. Citizens elect their governing leaders from multiple political parties. Systems built into governing documents to protect citizens’ rights. Ultimate source of governing power = people. USSR – Communism (Equality) One party rule. The Communist Party elects its leaders. The government decides what’s best for the people, nominally in pursuit of equality and fairness. The government does not allow individual rights like free speech and free press. Ultimate source of governing power = state/government.

Incompatible Ideological Systems CAPITALISM COMMUNISM People need freedom When people compete against one another, they achieve greater things Some people have more than others because they make better use of their abilities Governments should not interfere with the rights of individuals to make their own living The government should interfere in the economy as little as possible People need one another When people work together as equals, they achieve greater things No-one should have more than anyone else - everybody's needs are equally important Governments should make sure that everyone's needs are being met There is central control of the economy

Who does communism appeal to? historically poor working class who feel exploited masses that live under oppressive colonial rule those who might be desperate, hopeless

Origins of the Cold War Ideological incompatibility (Communism vs. Capitalism) Treatment of leftists in the US US intervention during the Russian Civil War Failure to recognize the USSR Soviet Non-Aggression Pact with Hitler Strained ties during WWII – esp over opening a 2nd front US A-Bomb intimidation Soviet occupation of E. Europe Reconstruction of West Germany Soviet test A-Bomb in 1949 Stalin remembers…..

The situation after World War II Large parts of Europe are destroyed. Many European countries are facing economic collapse. People are desperate and frustrated. European empires are crumbling – esp. British & French. The Soviet Red Army occupies Eastern Europe.

The Soviet Occupation of Eastern Europe

“An iron curtain has descended across Europe…” 1945-46 Soviets allow elections to be held in the occupied Eastern European Nations. These so-called “free elections” bring to power communist leaders under the control of the USSR 1946 Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAyXXepUgrE

George Kennan’s Long Telegram George F. Kennan: U.S. Diplomat to the USSR (Soviet Expert) In 1946 he sent the “Long Telegram” to Washington, in which he presented his theory on how to address communism: Russians have a traditional insecurity about foreign threats Soviet foreign policy is driven by Stalin, who uses a threat like capitalist encirclement to justify his brutal regime Kennan recommended that if the USSR was contained, and communism prevented from spreading, it would collapse. George F. Kennan

Truman & the Cold War *Important to remember that Truman faced intense political pressure after WWII from Republicans to get tough on Communism & reign in taxes. The Cold War was to be fought on the cheap.

Truman & US Cold War Policy The Truman Doctrine: Influenced by Kennan and Sec. of State George Marshall, Truman announces the Truman Doctrine, which declared the US policy to “help the free peoples of Europe to resist communist aggression” by providing them with military and economic aid.

Truman & US Cold War Policy Marshall Plan: Truman-Marshall-Kennan initially sought to use US soft power to counter communism in post-war Western Europe. The best example of this was the 1948 Marshall Plan, which was a massive effort to prop-up international capitalism via a massive recovery of Western Europe. *This was also coupled with a concentrated effort to rebuild West Germany, which was created in 1949.

Truman & US Cold War Policy The Cold War Heats Up: 1948 Western Allies plan to create West Germany 1948 The Soviets blockade Berlin (Berlin Airlift) 1949 The Soviets test an atomic bomb 1949 Communists in China declare the People’s Republic of China (Red China) 1950 NSC-68 report issued 1950 Korean War begins

The 1947 National Security Act This act was a major restructuring of the United States government's military and intelligence agencies following World War II. This act created: The Department of Defense The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) The National Security Council The US Air Force *Strengthened the executive branch’s control of foreign policy.

Truman & US Cold War Policy NSC-68 changes US policy: Truman-Acheson-Nitze radically change US policy toward the USSR. Favoring military over diplomatic action, NSC-68 recommended a policy of “calculated and gradual coercion” to address Soviet communism. significant increase in peace-time military spending ($13 billion $46.5 billion) expansion of conventional & nuclear forces military aid to allies expand world-wide covert operations *NSC-68 ultimate goal = US hegemony, US dominant in the world **Charges of being soft on communism and the beginning of the Korean War forced Truman to make NSC-68 official policy.

The Korean War