Origins of the Cold War and Containment

Winston Churchill In 1946, Winston Churchill delivered his "Iron Curtain" speech. Although today it is regarded as one of the most influential speeches of the period, the speech was not well received at the time. Some thought Churchill was seeking an Anglo-Saxon alliance against the Soviet Union -- something the general American public felt unnecessary at the time.

George Kennan The single document that best illustrated American anti-communism and general suspicion of Soviet aspirations, was George Kennan's famous Long Telegram of The single document that best illustrated American anti-communism and general suspicion of Soviet aspirations, was George Kennan's famous Long Telegram of Kennan witnessed collectivization and the terror from close range Kennan witnessed collectivization and the terror from close range In 1946, Kennan was 44 years old, fluent in the Russian language and its affairs, and decidedly anti-communist. In 1946, Kennan was 44 years old, fluent in the Russian language and its affairs, and decidedly anti-communist. The essence of Kennan's telegram was published in Foreign Affairs in 1947 as "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" and circulated everywhere. The essence of Kennan's telegram was published in Foreign Affairs in 1947 as "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" and circulated everywhere. For Kennan, the Cold War gave the United States its historic opportunity to assume leadership of what would eventually be described as the "free world." For Kennan, the Cold War gave the United States its historic opportunity to assume leadership of what would eventually be described as the "free world."

Truman Doctrine Truman stressed the duty of the United States to combat totalitarian regimes worldwide. His March 12, 1947 speech specifically called for $400 million in aid to be delivered to Greece and Turkey. The Doctrine shifted American foreign policy as regards the Soviet Union from Détente to, as George F. Kennan phrased it, a policy of containment of Soviet expansion. Historians often use it to mark the starting date of the Cold War.

The Marshall Plan The Marshall Plan was proposed to help Europe begin its ascent from the ashes of World War II. The Plan took root in the Economic Cooperation Administration (ECA) created by Congress in April, Its official title was the European Recovery Program. This map shows aid received by European nations in a graphical format.

NATO Treaty and Warsaw Pact The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established as an international organization for defense collaboration established in 1949 which attempted to align nations opposed to Soviet expansion. Similarly, the Warsaw Pact was signed by eastern European nations in an effort to combat western alliances. This map shows the division of Europe between the NATO Treaty (green) and the Warsaw Pact (orange). The United States and Canada are also part of NATO.

Cold War Maps These two maps illustrate the shifting global alliances evident from 1959 to 1982 at the end of the Cold War

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