The Beginning of the Cold War: 1945-1950s

The Cold War starts before the end of WWII In 1945, the three big Allied nations of Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the USA met to discuss what to do with Germany after the war This conference was called the Yalta Conference The Leaders: Stalin Churchill Roosevelt

Reconstruction in Germany The three powers agreed to divide up Germany between the three of them. France would also get a part After Nazi controlled areas in E. Europe were liberated by the Allies – the Soviet Union took over the countries as a buffer between itself and Germany. —these countries became known as Soviet satellite nations

Satellite Nations The Soviet Satellites (including East Germany) were forced to be Communist nations after WWII The Long Telegram This was a message sent by George Kennan that advised the U.S. on how to deal with the Soviet Union Conclusion: actions should be taken against the Soviets In response to the Long Telegram, Winston Churchill gave a speech, saying an Iron Curtain had fallen in Europe He meant that there was now a wall dividing the West and democracy and the East and Communism

Truman Doctrine The USA responded to the Long Telegram differently. Truman issued the “Truman Doctrine” saying that the USA would follow a policy of containment in response to the spread of Communism Containment: an American policy to prevent the spread of Communism

The Policy of Containment Created by President Harry Truman Marshall Plan Created by General George Marshall Plan to financially support Europe in order to prevent the spread of Communism 13 billion in food, cash, and loans sent from USA to democratic European nations Satellite Nations could not accept aid

Two Superpowers: USA vs. USSR Superpower Aims in Europe United States Soviet Union Encourage democracy in other countries to help prevent the rise of Communist governments Encourage communism in other countries as part of a worldwide workers’ revolution Gain access to raw materials and markets to fuel booming industries Rebuild its war-ravaged economy using Eastern Europe’s industrial equipment and raw materials Rebuild European governments to promote stability and create new markets for American goods Control Eastern Europe to protect Soviet borders and balance the U.S. influence in W. Europe Reunite Germany to stabilize it and increase the security of Europe Keep Germany divided to prevent its waging war again

Soviet Reaction The Soviets regarded the Marshall Plan as an attempt by the Americans (and capitalists) to take over the world. So, they closed off their parts of Europe from the rest of the world This included West Berlin, which was now an island of democracy in Eastern Europe

The Importance of Berlin The Soviets by 1948 blocked off their part of the world from everyone else Purpose was to block off the capitalists from the USSR, including Berlin Berlin Airlift People were starving to death in West Berlin due to the blockade Truman had an airlift to keep people alive Berlin Wall Built by the Soviets in 1961; separated East and West Berlin for 28 years

Berlin: the island

The Berlin Airlift

The Berlin Airlift Over 200,000 flights made in about a year 13,000,000 tons of food flown in An elephant weighs about 8 tons Results: Cold War worsens East and West Germany split up officially Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact

The Berlin Wall

The Formation of Mutual Defense Groups in the 1950s NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Goal: to prevent the spread of Communism and protect each other Members: USA, Great Britain, France, Italy, Canada, and other democratic nations Warsaw Pact: Goal: to prevent the spread of Capitalism and protect each other Members: USSR and its satellites (countries it owned in eastern Europe)

Nuclear Threats USA has nuclear ability by 1945. Soviets get it by 1949 1950: H bomb in US 1952: H bomb in USSR Theory of Deterrence: Countries tell everyone that they are willing to respond to any attacks with an equal counter-attack

The H-Bomb 1st explosion caused a hole a mile long and 175 feet deep in the ocean floor Radioactive cloud was 25 miles high

Competition Between the Superpowers 1953- Eisenhower’s administration coined the term brinkmanship Willing to go to war at any minute Both the US and USSR were involved in an arms race Both countries wanted the best science and education programs 1957 Soviet launched Sputnik, the first satellite 1958- US launches satellite THIS WILL LEAD TO THE SPACE RACE 1960 the CIA authorized spying missions over the USSR

Soviet Union launched Sputnik on October 4, 1957.

So Now… USA and the USSR: Superpowers on edge Superpower: a state powerful enough to influence events around the world Mutual alliances will force the entire world into war again if someone is attacked Coming up: China is falling to Communism

Memo to President Truman Goal: you will write a memo to President Truman advising for/against the development of the H bomb You Must: Write in complete sentences Use the information from today in order to provide at least 4 reasons to support your stance Why should the USA support or not support the development of this weapon? Ideas to consider: devastation caused by the less powerful atomic bomb, containment, the actions of the USSR in recent years, the recent loss of China to Communism