Cold War History Origins of the Cold War

Atlantic Charter 1) self-government for all peoples 1) self-government for all peoples 2) no territorial gains were to be sought by the United States or the United Kingdom 2) no territorial gains were to be sought by the United States or the United Kingdom 3) territorial adjustments must be in accord with the wishes of the peoples concerned 3) territorial adjustments must be in accord with the wishes of the peoples concerned 4) the participants would work for freedom of the seas 4) the participants would work for freedom of the seas 5) trade barriers were to be lowered 5) trade barriers were to be lowered

Teheran Conference meeting between U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in Tehran, Iran, between November 28 and December 1, meeting between U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in Tehran, Iran, between November 28 and December 1, discussion centred on the opening of a “second front” in western Europe discussion centred on the opening of a “second front” in western Europe German Question German Question

Yalta Conference shape of the post-war world shape of the post-war world Germany devided into four occupation zones Germany devided into four occupation zones Soviet Union kept the Polish territory it had occupied between 1939 and 1941 and suggested compensating Poland for its losses with German lands in the west Soviet Union kept the Polish territory it had occupied between 1939 and 1941 and suggested compensating Poland for its losses with German lands in the west Stalin confirmed at Yalta that the Soviet Union would declare war on Japan two or three months after Germany’s surrender Stalin confirmed at Yalta that the Soviet Union would declare war on Japan two or three months after Germany’s surrender the Declaration on Liberated Europe pledged the three governments to aid all peoples liberated from Nazi German control; free elections the Declaration on Liberated Europe pledged the three governments to aid all peoples liberated from Nazi German control; free elections

Potsdam Conference The conferees discussed the substance and procedures of the peace settlements in Europe but did not attempt to write peace treaties The conferees discussed the substance and procedures of the peace settlements in Europe but did not attempt to write peace treaties Each Allied power was to seize reparations from its own occupation zones Each Allied power was to seize reparations from its own occupation zones Poland’s boundary became the Oder and Neisse rivers in the west, and the country received part of former East Prussia. This necessitated moving millions of Germans in those areas to Germany Poland’s boundary became the Oder and Neisse rivers in the west, and the country received part of former East Prussia. This necessitated moving millions of Germans in those areas to Germany Atomic bomb Atomic bomb

World after WWII All the major west European powers were exhausted either from defeat, occupation or the strain of six year of war All the major west European powers were exhausted either from defeat, occupation or the strain of six year of war The pre-war power balance had been destroyed. Resulting vacuum was filled by two new superpowers: The United States The pre-war power balance had been destroyed. Resulting vacuum was filled by two new superpowers: The United States The Soviet Union Started ideological and economic struggle between the opposing blocs Started ideological and economic struggle between the opposing blocs

Origins of the Cold War Throughout 1946 differences between the representatives of the Soviet Union and the West deepened Throughout 1946 differences between the representatives of the Soviet Union and the West deepened The State Department cabled the US Embassy in Moscow for a background study of Soviet Union’s foreign policy The State Department cabled the US Embassy in Moscow for a background study of Soviet Union’s foreign policy George Kennan composed an eight-thousand word response (“The Long Telegram”) George Kennan composed an eight-thousand word response (“The Long Telegram”) It predicted struggle between democracy of Western powers and expansionism of Soviet Union It predicted struggle between democracy of Western powers and expansionism of Soviet Union

Long Telegram Kennan wrote in February 1946 from Moscow: “…it is desirable and necessary that the internal harmony of our society be disrupted, our traditional way of life be destroyed, the international authority of our state be broken, if Soviet power is to be secure.” Kennan wrote in February 1946 from Moscow: “…it is desirable and necessary that the internal harmony of our society be disrupted, our traditional way of life be destroyed, the international authority of our state be broken, if Soviet power is to be secure.” The Long Telegram was basic of new US foreign policy – “policy of containment” The Long Telegram was basic of new US foreign policy – “policy of containment” George F. Kennan

Harry. S Truman (1945–1953) Truman became President with the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945 Truman became President with the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945 Truman's policies abroad, and especially toward the Soviet Union in the emerging Cold War, would become staples of American foreign policy for generations Truman's policies abroad, and especially toward the Soviet Union in the emerging Cold War, would become staples of American foreign policy for generations In response to what it viewed as Soviet threats, the Truman administration constructed foreign policies to contain the Soviet Union's political power and counter its military strength In response to what it viewed as Soviet threats, the Truman administration constructed foreign policies to contain the Soviet Union's political power and counter its military strength Elected in 1948 Elected in 1948 Truman's popularity sank during his second term (soft on communism) Truman's popularity sank during his second term (soft on communism)