Early Cold War Events and Policy

Background The Two Superpowers U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. were the two most powerful countries politically and economically, but with totally opposite political and economic systems. U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. were the two most powerful countries politically and economically, but with totally opposite political and economic systems. U.S.A U.S.S.R. U.S.A U.S.S.R. Democracy Dictatorship Democracy Dictatorship Capitalist Communist Capitalist Communist All other powerful countries were either defeated and dismantled (Germany, Italy, Japan) or devastated from the war although greatly concerned with the future of their national security and prosperity (France and Great Britain) All other powerful countries were either defeated and dismantled (Germany, Italy, Japan) or devastated from the war although greatly concerned with the future of their national security and prosperity (France and Great Britain)

March 1946 Churchill warns in a speech in Fulton, Missouri that a Russian “Iron Curtain” has descended across Europe - a symbol of Soviet control in Eastern Europe Churchill warns in a speech in Fulton, Missouri that a Russian “Iron Curtain” has descended across Europe - a symbol of Soviet control in Eastern Europe

February 1947 Great Britain cuts off aid to Greece and Turkey. Great Britain cuts off aid to Greece and Turkey. It is feared that Communists will gain power in each country. It is feared that Communists will gain power in each country.

Truman Doctrine Truman requests from Congress $400 million dollars in aid for Greece and Turkey and the authority to send military and economic missions. Truman requests from Congress $400 million dollars in aid for Greece and Turkey and the authority to send military and economic missions. Known as Policy of Containment Known as Policy of Containment

Marshall Plan European countries needed help rebuilding. European countries needed help rebuilding. Secretary of State, George Marshall proposed to provide $13 billion to prevent the spread of Communism Secretary of State, George Marshall proposed to provide $13 billion to prevent the spread of Communism All European countries were allowed to take advantage of the aid. All European countries were allowed to take advantage of the aid.

Soviet Reaction The Soviets rejected the Marshall Plan The Soviets rejected the Marshall Plan Proposed the Molotov Plan to provide economic aid to countries within the Soviet sphere of influence. Proposed the Molotov Plan to provide economic aid to countries within the Soviet sphere of influence.

Potsdam Conference July 1945 Defeated Germany was divided into four zones to be occupied by the four wartime allies (U.S., G.B., France, U.S.S.R.) Defeated Germany was divided into four zones to be occupied by the four wartime allies (U.S., G.B., France, U.S.S.R.) The capital, Berlin, was in the Soviet zone but was also divided into four zones. The capital, Berlin, was in the Soviet zone but was also divided into four zones.

The Western Countries all supported democracy in their respective zones, while the U.S.S.R. supported communism

Germany Split The Western Allies move to organize West Germany as a separate nation The Western Allies move to organize West Germany as a separate nation The Soviets block roads and rail lines that connected West Germany to the Western-held sections of Berlin cutting off their food and fuel to 2 million people. The Soviets block roads and rail lines that connected West Germany to the Western-held sections of Berlin cutting off their food and fuel to 2 million people.

Berlin Airlift Over the next 15 months, U.S. and British pilots airlifted 2.3 million tons of goods to sustain West Berliners. Over the next 15 months, U.S. and British pilots airlifted 2.3 million tons of goods to sustain West Berliners.

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) designed to counter Soviet threats in Western Europe North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) designed to counter Soviet threats in Western Europe

Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Pact was established to counter the alleged threat from the NATO alliance. The Warsaw Pact was established to counter the alleged threat from the NATO alliance.

NATO and Warsaw Pact Countries NATO and Warsaw Pact Countries

China The Chinese Civil War resumes at the end of WWII The Chinese Civil War resumes at the end of WWII Chinese Communists, led by Mao Zedong, fight the official Chinese Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek Chinese Communists, led by Mao Zedong, fight the official Chinese Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek

Communist China The United States provided almost $3 billion in aid to the Chinese Nationalists The United States provided almost $3 billion in aid to the Chinese Nationalists But the Chinese Communists won the war (without the help of Soviet troops) But the Chinese Communists won the war (without the help of Soviet troops) Americans were shocked and believed “we lost China.” Americans were shocked and believed “we lost China.”

August 1949 The Soviet Union successfully tests their first atomic bomb The Soviet Union successfully tests their first atomic bomb

The U.S. is shocked again! The U.S. is shocked again! U.S. begins to try to develop the Hydrogen bomb—500 times more powerful than the first atomic weapons U.S. begins to try to develop the Hydrogen bomb—500 times more powerful than the first atomic weapons

Korea North Korea, backed by the Soviet Union, attacks South Korea North Korea, backed by the Soviet Union, attacks South Korea

June 1950 Truman commits U.S. ground troops to (as part of a UN police action) to “put up a fight [against communism] right now” Truman commits U.S. ground troops to (as part of a UN police action) to “put up a fight [against communism] right now” American leaders adhered to the “domino theory” to justify intervention American leaders adhered to the “domino theory” to justify intervention

The course of the Korean War ( )

General MacArthur’s plan to end the war 1. Blockading China’s coast 2. Bombing China’s interior 3. Unleashing China’s Nationalist forces led by Chang Kai-Shek 4. Using atomic weapons to drive back the Communists

Truman Fires MacArthur Truman didn’t approve of MacArthur’s plan. Truman didn’t approve of MacArthur’s plan. MacArthur took his case to the public. MacArthur took his case to the public. Truman fired MacArthur in April 1951 for insubordination. Truman fired MacArthur in April 1951 for insubordination. The war remained a war for containment, not victory. The war remained a war for containment, not victory.

The Result In July 1953 both sides agreed to an armistice In July 1953 both sides agreed to an armistice The armistice line was almost the exact same line that existed before the war The armistice line was almost the exact same line that existed before the war 36,000 Americans died in the Korean War 36,000 Americans died in the Korean War It is known as the forgotten war in the U.S. It is known as the forgotten war in the U.S.