U.S. Tries to Contain the Soviets Truman adopts a foreign policy of containment The Truman Doctrine was support to countries that rejected communism Congress authorizes $400 million to aid Greece & Turkey Many felt that the U.S. could not lead this campaign against communism

Berlin

Marshall Plan Assistance program to provide food, machinery and other materials to rebuild Europe Established by Sec. of State George Marshall

What’s the problem with Berlin?

Berlin Airlift Soviet Union began to cut off supplies to Berlin by closing the main highway into Berlin. Stalin’s hope that the Allies would surrender West Berlin. U.S. and British officials began to fly goods into the city (lasted 11 months)

Berlin Airlift

Cold War Begins By 1949, both sides begin to use spying, propaganda, diplomacy and secret operations The two powers influenced world alliances

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Forms in 1949 when western European nations feared Soviet strikes. Soviets form their own alliances in 1955 with the Warsaw Pact Not every country sided with the U.S. or the Soviets

Berlin Wall Goes Up in 1961

Berlin Wall East Germany builds the wall to separate West Berlin from East Berlin No longer people could cross the border to visit family or friends

Berlin Wall

Threat of Nuclear War By 1949, the Soviets began testing their own atomic weapons Truman wanted to stay one step ahead of the Soviets by building more deadly weapons By the 1952, the U.S. is testing the H-Bomb U.S. uses brinkmanship (willingness to go to war at a moments time) 1957 Soviets develop ICBM (Intercontinental ballistic missile)