Cold War

The state of hostility, without actual warfare that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II until the collapse of the Soviet Union. The state of hostility, without actual warfare that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II until the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Roots of the Cold War

Philosophical Differences - Philosophical differences between the Soviet Union and the United States reached back to the 1920s. Philosophical differences between the Soviet Union and the United States reached back to the 1920s. Soviet Union: communism, totalitarian dictatorship Soviet Union: communism, totalitarian dictatorship United States: free-enterprise capitalism, republic United States: free-enterprise capitalism, republic World War II Conflicts Allies during the war, but not truly friends Allies during the war, but not truly friends Soviets wanted British and Americans to open a second European front earlier in the war. Soviets wanted British and Americans to open a second European front earlier in the war. U.S. atomic bomb plans worried Soviet Union. U.S. atomic bomb plans worried Soviet Union. Postwar Conflicts The Soviet Union refused to let Eastern Europe hold elections as promised at Yalta. The Soviet Union refused to let Eastern Europe hold elections as promised at Yalta. The United States resisted Soviet expansion. The United States resisted Soviet expansion.

The Iron Curtain Stalin wanted to retain political and economic control over Eastern Europe. Stalin wanted to retain political and economic control over Eastern Europe. The Soviets managed to install Communist governments throughout Eastern Europe. The Soviets managed to install Communist governments throughout Eastern Europe. Stalin outlawed political parties or newspapers that opposed the Communists. Stalin outlawed political parties or newspapers that opposed the Communists. The Soviets jailed or killed some political opponents. The Soviets jailed or killed some political opponents. The Soviets rigged elections to ensure the success of Communists. The Soviets rigged elections to ensure the success of Communists. Yugoslavia was the one Eastern European nation that was not under the direct control of Stalin and the Soviet Union. Yugoslavia was the one Eastern European nation that was not under the direct control of Stalin and the Soviet Union. Josip Broz Tito, a Communist, refused to take orders from the Soviet Union. Josip Broz Tito, a Communist, refused to take orders from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union relocated Germans living in Poland and other countries of Eastern Europe. The Soviet Union relocated Germans living in Poland and other countries of Eastern Europe.

Iron Curtain Winston Churchill’s term for the extension of Communist control over Eastern Europe. Winston Churchill’s term for the extension of Communist control over Eastern Europe.

Western Views of the Iron Curtain Winston Churchill attacked the Soviet Union for creating an Iron Curtain. The term reflected Churchill’s belief that communism had created a sharp division in Europe. Harry S Truman urged his secretary of state to get tough with the Soviets.

Soviet Views of the Iron Curtain Stalin believed that the Iron Curtain was necessary to protect the Soviet Union from western attacks. Stalin used Churchill’s words to help persuade his people that the United States and Great Britain were their enemies. He also used this as an excuse to rebuild the military.

How did the United States respond to Soviet actions in Europe?

Containment Containment George F. Kennan created a policy known as containment. This policy stated that the United States should resist Soviet attempts to expand its power. Containment included economic aid, sanctions, and military force.

Truman Doctrine Truman Doctrine Said that the United States would help people fight against oppressors Truman wanted to send aid to Greece and Turkey to help them fight Soviet pressure. Congress agreed to send millions of dollars to Greece and Turkey.

Marshall Plan An aid program to rebuild the economies of European countries to create stable conditions for democracies 17 countries received $13.4 billion dollars in aid. Helped build strong political support in Western Europe

Does this Cartoon apply today?

Crisis in Berlin With the start of the Cold War, it became clear that the Soviets planned to keep their German zone under Communist control. With the start of the Cold War, it became clear that the Soviets planned to keep their German zone under Communist control. The British, Americans, and French began to take steps to set up a free, democratic government within their German zones. The British, Americans, and French began to take steps to set up a free, democratic government within their German zones. The western zone eventually became known as the Federal Republic of Germany, or West Germany. The western zone eventually became known as the Federal Republic of Germany, or West Germany. The British, Americans, and French also tried to set up a democratic government in West Berlin. The British, Americans, and French also tried to set up a democratic government in West Berlin. The Soviets were not happy with the idea of a Western-style government and economy in the middle of the Soviet zone of occupation. The Soviets were not happy with the idea of a Western-style government and economy in the middle of the Soviet zone of occupation.

Soviets Bloc Traffic In June 1948 the Soviets announced that they would block any road, rail, or river traffic into West Berlin. West Berlin’s residents were cut off from food, coal, and other products. West Berlin was not completely cutoff because it had airstrips.

Who put up the wall?

The Berlin Airlift British and American planes began making deliveries to West Berlin. The Berlin Airlift continued for months and months. Finally, the Soviet Union lifted its blockade on May 12, 1949.

Berlin Airlift Supply of West Berlin by American and British planes during a Soviet blockade in Supply of West Berlin by American and British planes during a Soviet blockade in

NATO In 1949 the U.S. and 6 other nations joined Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the U.K. to form NATO. An armed attack against one would be considered an attack against all. Today, 26 countries belong to NATO.

Arms Race A contest between nations in which both expand their arms stockpiles in an effort to gain superiority. This was a very costly part of the Cold War. A contest between nations in which both expand their arms stockpiles in an effort to gain superiority. This was a very costly part of the Cold War.

Sputnik First artificial satellite to orbit Earth, launched by the Soviet Union in First artificial satellite to orbit Earth, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957.

Domino Theory Belief that if one country fell to communism neighboring countries would likely fall as well. Belief that if one country fell to communism neighboring countries would likely fall as well.

Blacklist List that is circulated among employers containing names of those who should not be hired. List that is circulated among employers containing names of those who should not be hired.

U-2 Incident The shooting down of an American spy plane over the Soviet Union in The shooting down of an American spy plane over the Soviet Union in 1960.

Warsaw Pact Military alliance between the Soviet Union and nations of Eastern Europe, formed in Military alliance between the Soviet Union and nations of Eastern Europe, formed in 1955.

HUAC House Un-American Activities Committee – congressional committee that investigated Communist influence in the United States in the 1940’s and 1950’s. House Un-American Activities Committee – congressional committee that investigated Communist influence in the United States in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

Brinkmanship Brinkmanship - refers to the policy or practice, especially in international politics and foreign policy, of pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of disaster (to the limits of safety) in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome by forcing the opposition to make concessions. This might be achieved through diplomatic maneuvers by creating the impression that one is willing to use extreme methods rather than concede. During the Cold War, the threat of nuclear force was often used as such a deterrent. The fact that strikes do occur in real life is a sober reminder of the risks of nuclear brinkmanship. Brinkmanship - refers to the policy or practice, especially in international politics and foreign policy, of pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of disaster (to the limits of safety) in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome by forcing the opposition to make concessions. This might be achieved through diplomatic maneuvers by creating the impression that one is willing to use extreme methods rather than concede. During the Cold War, the threat of nuclear force was often used as such a deterrent. The fact that strikes do occur in real life is a sober reminder of the risks of nuclear brinkmanship.

Satellite Nation A country dominated politically and economically by another nation, especially by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. A country dominated politically and economically by another nation, especially by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The Growing Fear of Communism Soviet Atomic Weapons In September 1949 Truman announced that the Soviet Union had detonated an atomic bomb. In September 1949 Truman announced that the Soviet Union had detonated an atomic bomb. This was a shock to the nation. This was a shock to the nation. Truman began to strengthen the nation’s military against a possible Soviet nuclear threat. Truman began to strengthen the nation’s military against a possible Soviet nuclear threat.

The Growing Fear of Communism Communist China Communists in China had gained nearly full control of the country. Communists in China had gained nearly full control of the country. The Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan The Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan China was in the hands of the Communist Party under the leadership of Mao Zedong. China was in the hands of the Communist Party under the leadership of Mao Zedong. Americans worried that China increased the Communist threat to the United States. Americans worried that China increased the Communist threat to the United States.

Communism in the United States The House Un-American Activities Committee investigated the full range of radical groups in the United States, including Fascists and Communists. The House Un-American Activities Committee investigated the full range of radical groups in the United States, including Fascists and Communists. Truman created a plan to investigate all federal employees. Those found to be disloyal to the United States were barred from federal employment. Truman created a plan to investigate all federal employees. Those found to be disloyal to the United States were barred from federal employment. The Smith Act made it a crime to call for the overthrow of the U.S. government or belong to an organization that did so. The Smith Act made it a crime to call for the overthrow of the U.S. government or belong to an organization that did so. The McCarran Act limited the rights of Communist organizations. The McCarran Act limited the rights of Communist organizations. Several spy cases in the late 1940s fueled fears of communism Several spy cases in the late 1940s fueled fears of communism

Fighting Communism at Home Investigating Communism – The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) explored the possible Communist influence in the American film industry. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) explored the possible Communist influence in the American film industry. The Hollywood Ten refused to answer HUAC questions about their beliefs or those of their colleagues. The Hollywood Ten refused to answer HUAC questions about their beliefs or those of their colleagues. Many others in Hollywood did testify, for if they didn’t their names were placed on a blacklist. Many others in Hollywood did testify, for if they didn’t their names were placed on a blacklist. Truman and Loyalty – Truman investigated all federal employees to ensure the loyalty of government officials. Truman investigated all federal employees to ensure the loyalty of government officials. The investigations turned up little evidence of disloyalty. The investigations turned up little evidence of disloyalty. This investigation made clear that Truman was serious about fighting communism. This investigation made clear that Truman was serious about fighting communism.

Joseph McCarthy and the Second Red Scare Joseph McCarthy was a senator who claimed that there were 205 known Communists working for the U.S. Department of State. Joseph McCarthy was a senator who claimed that there were 205 known Communists working for the U.S. Department of State. Truman dismissed him as a “ballyhoo artist.” Truman dismissed him as a “ballyhoo artist.” A political cartoonist dubbed McCarthy’s tactic of spreading fear and making baseless charges McCarthyism. A political cartoonist dubbed McCarthy’s tactic of spreading fear and making baseless charges McCarthyism. McCarthy’s claims were rarely backed up with any evidence, but this didn’t stop him from gaining a reputation as being the nation’s top Communist fighter. McCarthy’s claims were rarely backed up with any evidence, but this didn’t stop him from gaining a reputation as being the nation’s top Communist fighter. McCarthy succeeded when he made a special effort to defeat Maryland senator Millard Tydings. McCarthy succeeded when he made a special effort to defeat Maryland senator Millard Tydings. McCarthyism spread beyond the Senate into other branches of government, into universities, into labor unions, and into private businesses. McCarthyism spread beyond the Senate into other branches of government, into universities, into labor unions, and into private businesses.

McCarthy’s Fall McCarthy continued his campaign from the Senate but became increasingly wild in his accusations. In 1952 he began to go after fellow Republicans. In 1954 he attacked the U.S. Army, claiming that it was protecting Communists. The public came to view McCarthy’s tactics as unfair. The fear of communism remained, but Senator McCarthy and McCarthyism faded away.