The Cold War Abroad and at Home Angela Brown Chapter 26 Section 2

WWII Costs WWII in Europe left 21 million people homeless. 20% Poland’s population died. 1 out of 5 houses in France and Belgium damaged. Across Europe, Industry and transportation in ruin (livestock and equipment lost).

Turning Point: The Marshall Plan The U.S. would help restore the war torn nations of Europe to create stable democracies and achieve economic recovery in order to avoid mistakes of Post-WWI. Truman Doctrine was one of two fundamental shifts in foreign policy - the Marshall Plan was the other.

The Marshall Plan called for nations of Europe to draw up a program for economic recovery – The U.S. would then support the program with financial aid Unveiled by Sec of State George C. Marshall in 1947 Soviet Union was invited to participate but refused and pressured satellite nations to do so.

Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov called Marshall plan a scheme to “buy its way” into European Affairs. 17 Western European nations joined plan: 1948 Congress approved Marshall Plan – Known in Europe as recovery program U.S. sent $13 billion in grants and loans to Western Europe over next four years.

The Berlin Airlift By 1948 America, Great Britain, and France convinced Stalin would not allow reunification of Germany – joined their three occupation zones to create Federal Republic of Germany or West Germany Hundreds of thousands of Eastern Europeans left their homes in Communist-dominated nations, fled to East Berlin – crossed into West Berlin – booked passage to freedom

Stalin tried to close route by forcing Western powers to abandon West Berlin 1948 – dispute developed over using West German money in West Berlin – Soviets blocked all shipments through East Berlin – threatened to create severe shortages of food and supplies Truman did not want to risk war by using the military or give up West Berlin so began the Berlin Airlift – moving supplies into West Berlin by plane.

For 15 months, U.S. and Great Britain military aircraft made more than 200,000 flights – 13,000 tons of food arrived in West Berlin daily Soviets gave up blockade in May 1949 – airlift ended in September Had achieved economic stability in Western Europe Berlin remained a focal point of East-West conflict

Pilot, Gail Halvorsen, began to make airdrops of chocolate bars and chewing gum to crowds of West Berlin’s children. He was called “Uncle Wigglywings – signaled the children by rocking his planes wings as he approached the city.

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NATO Soviet Unions frequent use of its veto power in the Security Council prevented the UN from effectively dealing with a number of postwar problems. Clear that Western Europe would have to look beyond U.N. for protection In 1946,Canadian foreign Minister Louis St. Laurent proposed creating an “association of democratic peace-loving states “to defend Western Europe.

Truman did not want the U.S. to be the only nation in Western Hemisphere pledged to defend Western Europe April 1949 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed “an attack against one = an attack against all” Collective Security – principle of mutual military assistance = U.S. actively involved in European Affairs

1955 – Soviet Union responded to formation of NATO by creating the Warsaw Pact – a military alliance with satellites in Eastern Europe In 1955, The Civil Defense Administration (CDA) staged first nationwide nuclear air raid drill, dubbed “Operation Alert 55”. 60 cities underwent mock hydrogen bomb attacks and were evacuated.

Communist Advances The Soviet Atomic Threat September 1949 Truman announced Soviets successful test of atomic bomb jolted Americans. Truman responded in 1950 by approving development of hydrogen or thermonuclear bomb. First successful thermonuclear test in 1952 Federal Civil Defense Administration – flooded nation with posters and other info. to survive a nuclear attack

Included plans for building bomb shelters and instructions for holding air raid drills in school. Privately experts ridiculed these programs as almost totally ineffective. People built backyard bomb shelters – students had “duck and cover” drills at school.

China Falls to the Communists Civil War between Communist Mao Zedong and Jiang Jieshi prewar leader Mao forces occupied most of countryside – Jieshi ask Truman for additional aid – Truman considered China lost – focused on Western Europe 1949 Capital Peking (now Beijing) fell to communists. Mao proclaimed creation of People’s Republic of China.

Jiang and followers withdrew to island of Taiwan, off Chinese mainland. They continued as the Republic of China – claiming to be the legitimate government of the entire Chinese nation. With U.S. support, the Republic of China held on to China’s seats in the UN’s General Assembly and Security Council.