Origins of the Cold War The Cold War Begins

Learning Targets: Describe the era known as the Cold War. Compare and contrast the concerns of the United States and Soviet Union. Compare and contrast the wants of Truman and Stalin over Germany after WWII. List the events leading up to the Cold War.

A Clash of Interests The United States and the Soviet Union became increasingly hostile toward each other after the war : This era became known as the Cold War Soviet Security Concerns: They believed that communism was a superior economic system that would eventually replace capitalism and that the Soviet Union should encourage communism in other nations American Economic Concerns: Promote economic growth by increasing world trade Promote democracy and free enterprise

The Yalta Conference Before the end of WWII, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met to decide the fate of European countries after the war. Yalta-A Soviet Resort on the Black Sea Poland Roosevelt and Churchill had agreed to recognize the Polish government set up by the Soviets. Stalin agreed that the government would include members of the prewar Polish government and that free elections would be held as soon as possible Declaration of Liberated Europe (Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin agreement) Asserted the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they will live

Dividing Germany Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin agreed to divide Germany into four zones with the US, Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France each controlling a zone. Roosevelt and Stalin agreed that Germany should pay war reparations, but only as it was capable. Rather than paying with cash, Germany could pay with trade goods.

Tensions Begin to Rise After the Yalta Conference: The Soviets pressured the King of Romania into appointing a Communist government The United States accused the Soviets of violating the Declaration of Liberated Europe The Soviets refused to allow more than three non-Communist Poles to serve in the 18-member Polish government. There was no indication that the Soviets were going to hold free elections in Poland. Roosevelt informed the Soviets that their actions were unacceptable

Truman Takes Control Truman was strongly anti-communist: “We must stand up to the Russians (USSR)” Truman met with the Soviet Foreign Minister and demanded that Stalin immediately hold free elections in Poland.

The Potsdam Conference Truman met with Stalin at Potsdam, near Berlin, to work out a deal on Germany. Truman believed that German industry must be allowed to revive or the rest of Europe would suffer and turn to communism in desperation Stalin and his advisers were equally convinced that they needed reparations from Germany Truman made it known to Stalin that the U.S. had successfully tested an atomic bomb Stalin was forced to give in as the US, France, and Great Britain controlled the German industrial heartland This marked another increase in tensions.