The Origins and Early Years of the Cold War Powerpoint Templates

The Cold War Definition The Cold War is a term used to describe the time period following WWII, in which a political hostility existed between the Soviet Union and the United States led Western powers. (1945-1990)

The Yalta Conference February 1945 Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin met at Soviet resort Met to plan post-war world Agreements made play an important role in the Cold War

The Yalta Conference Poland Poland was first item discussed Soviet liberators in WWII had set up communist government FDR and Churchill said people should get choice of governments. Stalin argued that neighbor governments needed to be friendly to Soviet Union FDR and Churchill finally allowed Communist government to remain in power Stalin agreed that the government would include members of the pre-war Polish government, and free elections would be held as soon as possible

The Yalta Conference The Declaration of Liberated Europe Asserted the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they would live Allies agreed that the people would be allowed to “create democratic institutions of their own choice”

The Yalta Conference Dividing Germany Big Three agreed to divide Germany into four zones Great Britain, USA, Soviet Union, and France would each control one zone The German capital of Berlin would also be broken into four zones, also controlled by these four countries Berlin was located in the middle of the Soviet zone of Germany

Tensions Begin to Rise Soviet violation of Yalta promises Two weeks after Yalta, Soviets pressured king of Romania to appoint a communist government Refused to allow more than three non-Communist Poles to serve on 18 member Polish government United States accused Soviet Union and Stalin of violating Declaration of Liberated Europe, and promises made

Truman Takes Control Truman becomes president when FDR dies in April 1945 Strongly anti-Communist Felt that WWII had been caused by appeasement of Hitler Refused to make the same mistake with Stalin Ten days after taking office demanded that Stalin hold free elections in Poland, as he had promised at Yalta Marked an important shift in Soviet-American relations

The Potsdam Conference Goal of meeting was to work out deal on Germany Stalin wanted Germany to pay heavy reparations- had already started stripping their zone of machinery and equipment and sending to USSR Truman insisted that heavy reparations had caused WWII- felt that German industry MUST be allowed to recover Suggested that Soviets use material from their zone (which was mainly agricultural) When Soviets refuse, Truman offers a little bit of machinery from other zones Truman also confronts Soviets about A-Bomb testing- hints US has bigger weapon Stalin reluctantly agrees to terms- unable to get reparations they wanted

Failures of Potsdam Soviets refuse to uphold the Declaration of Liberated Europe Pro-Soviet Communist governments will be set up in much of eastern Europe Become known as satellite nations because they were controlled by the Soviets live orbiting satellites Winston Churchill coins the term Iron Curtain in 1946 speech

Containment of Communism American diplomat in Russia sends explanation of what he sees as the reasons for Soviet behavior (Long Telegram) Claims soviets are afraid of west Argues that it is impossible to reach a permanent settlement Suggests that Americans focus on containment: stopping expansion of Russian communism to other countries

The Truman Doctrine Continued aggression by Soviets in Iran, the Dardanelles, and Greece in 1946 prompts president Truman to go before Congress Requests $400 Million to fight Communist aggression around the world Becomes known as the Truman Doctrine Goal was to “free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside forces” Pledged the United States to fight the spread of Communism

The Marshall Plan European Recovery Program- aka “The Marshall Plan” Pumped US money into European countries to help rebuild their economies Pushed capitalism, and weakened the appeal of Communism Further divided Communist and non-Communist nations

The Berlin Air Lift To combat Soviet influence in Germany, the US, France, and Great Britain decide to merge their zones, creating West Germany Also combined their zones within Berlin Soviets were still arguing for reparations from Germany, and the combinations of the zones made them realize they would never get them In late June 1948, Soviet troops cut off all road and railroad traffic to West Berlin Wanted the US to either change policies or abandon West Berlin Instead of provoking war by sending troops in, Truman ordered the air force to fly supplies into Berlin The Berlin Air Lift began in June 1948 and lasted through spring of 1949- Stalin lifts blockade on May 12, 1949