Warm up: Write 3-5 sentences describing the image above Warm up: Write 3-5 sentences describing the image above. What does it mean to you? If you have no idea, describe what you see and predict what it might mean.

The Cold War The Early Years

What is the Cold War? Years of tension & hostility between 2 superpowers U.S. vs. USSR War of ideas Communism vs. Democracy Capitalism vs. command Arms Race, Space Race, etc.

The End of WWII Eastern Europe occupied by armies of USSR Democracy restored to nations of Western Europe Aided by U.S. & Great Britain Stalin supported establishment of pro-communist governments in the region

Yalta Conference, Feb. 1945 Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin Plan for post war: Germany would be divided into zones of occupation Stalin promises Eastern European countries will have free elections

Potsdam Conference, July 1945 Stalin, Truman, Churchill (Attlee) Stalin refuses free elections in Eastern European countries Establishes satellite nations (pro communist governments) in occupied countries Stalin’s goal: Spread communism

“An Iron Curtain has descended across Europe”- W. Churchill 1946

“The Iron Curtain” Symbol of Cold War Expressed growing fear of communism Described the division of Europe into “eastern” & “western” blocs East: Soviet dominated communist countries of Eastern Europe West: Western democracies

The Cold War Continues

US Response Truman Doctrine: U.S. supported (money & military aid) countries that rejected communism Policy of containment: limiting communism to the areas already under Soviet control (prevent spread of communism) Domino theory: if one nation fell to Communism, all surrounding nations would fall too

Truman Doctrine (1947) Example-U.S. sent military & financial aid to Turkey & Greece $400 Million Helping them resist communist forces Proved successful

Marshall Plan (June 1947) Massive economic aid package for European Recovery Truman offered aid to EVERYONE (including the Soviet Union & its satellite states) Stalin refused aid Strengthened democracies in Europe Lessened the appeal of communism

Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948) Berlin - Located in East Germany but occupied by all 4 nations Soviet Union held W. Berlin hostage - stopped allowing supplies in (tried to force west out) USA & British planes flew supplies, fuel, meds and food into W. Berlin (1 year) In 1949 Soviet Union lifted blockade

Brinkmanship Willingness to go to the brink, or edge, of war Arms Race-Both sides build deadly weapons (nuclear) Development of the H-bomb, much stronger than A- bomb Space Race:1950’s Sputnik-1st successful Soviet space satellite

The Berlin Wall 1961-East Germany constructed a wall that separated East from West Berlin Known as the “wall of death” The Wall’s destruction in 1989 symbolizes the fall of communism

Opposing Alliances NATO Warsaw Pact North Atlantic Treaty Organization Defensive alliance 10 Western European nations w/ US & Canada Pledged to support each other if attacked Soviet Response to NATO Alliance between USSR &7 of its Eastern European satellites countries