1. The first Soviet A-BombSoviet tanks on parade in Moscow Part I 1945-1970

2. “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of central and eastern Europe, Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in the Soviet Sphere and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and increasing measure of control from Moscow.” Winston Churchill After World War II, the differences between the United States and Soviet Union became very apparent, and the two powers became fierce rivals.

3. “... In substance, Mr. Churchill now stands in the position of a firebrand of war. And Mr. Churchill is not alone here. He has friends not only in England but also in the United States of America. In this respect, one is reminded remarkably of Hitler and his friends.” Joseph Stalin Churchill was speaking of the growing influence on the Soviet Union after World War II. The Communists had used Subterfuge to advance their cause in gaining power in Eastern Europe. Stalin’s reply to Churchill was swift and did not mince words:

4. Fearful of further Communist expansion, President Truman decided to support any nation fighting against communist takeover. The Truman Doctrine became US policy and the first recipient of aid was Greece. Harry Truman The Marshall Plan was unprecedented, no aid bill that large had ever been offered by any country. It helped to rebuild Europe after World War II. This kept those countries stable and they did not turn to Communism. The 13 billion dollar program was a big success and George Marshall won the Nobel Peace Prize as a result. George Marshall

5. “Much depends on health and vigor of our own society. World communism is like malignant parasite which feeds only on diseased tissue… we must have courage and self-confidence to cling to our own methods and conceptions of human society. After all, the greatest danger that can befall us in coping with this problem of Soviet communism is that we shall allow ourselves to become like those with whom we are coping.” George Kennan In 1947 an American Diplomat in Moscow named George Kennan (pictured here) sent a communication about the problems the West faced in dealing with the USSR. The “Long Telegram” outlined what would Become the US policy – Containment.

6. Trying to gain control over all of Berlin, the USSR tried to keep supplies from reaching west Berlin in 1948 and 1949. The West’s response was the Berlin Airlift. After a time the Soviets gave up on blocking supplies but Berlin would be divided for the next 40 years.

7. Perhaps the most important development of the Cold War was the Soviet development of the A-Bomb in 1949. The US responded by developing the H-Bomb, exponentially more powerful. But soon the USSR had developed their own H-Bomb as well. One thing that kept peace was the realization that an attack by one superpower on the other would result in mutual annihilation. MAD = Mutual Assured Destruction The first Soviet A-Bomb The first American H-Bomb

8. NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Located in Western Europe. SEATO – South East Asian Treaty Organization. Formed to stop the spread of communism In places like Vietnam. Warsaw Pact – The USSR’s Response to NATO. CENTO – Central Treaty Organization. It was formed to stop Soviet expansion in the Mideast, in places like Iran, Iraq, and Turkey.

10. Early US attempts to get into space met with failure, but the Soviet Union was successful and in 1957 put Sputnik into orbit. By the 1960’s the US began catching up and by 1969 they had put a man on the Moon! The Soviet Union had been surpassed. An American launch attempt Sputnik

11. In October of 1962 the US discovered Soviet missile sites on Cuba. This was a huge danger to the United States, and the resulting crisis nearly resulted in all-out nuclear war between the Super- powers. The crisis was re- solved peacefully but the world had Now experienced the dangers of the Cold War.

12. The Berlin Wall was created in 1961 because too many East Germans were escaping to the West. It became a symbol of the Cold War and was in place until 1989. Its removal signaled the end of the Cold War Construction Finished Form Escape!

13. “There are many people in the world who really don't understand what is the great issue between the free world and the communist world - let them come to Berlin! There are some who say in Europe and elsewhere we can work with the communists - let them come to Berlin! All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein Berliner' ['I am a Berliner'].” John F. Kennedy

14. “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” - June 12th, 1987

15. The Superpowers never engaged in direct combat; with nuclear weapons it was too dangerous. Regional conflicts such as Korea and Vietnam is how the conflict played itself out. The US believed in the Domino Theory – the idea that if one nation fell to Communism the rest of the world would soon fall as well.

16. Of Part I…