1. Cold War: The Early Years
Chapter 26 Section 2

2. The Long Telegram
Long Telegram – American Embassy in Moscow attempt to explain Soviet b/h
Written by George Kennan – explained his views of Soviet goals
Long Telegram stated:
Soviet views came from a traditional Russian sense of insecurity and fear of the West
Intensified by the ideas of Lenin and Stalin
B/l they were in a long term struggle against capitalism
It was impossible to reach any permanent settlement w/ the Soviets

3. The Long Telegram
Kennan proposed what b/c the basic American policy throughout the Cold War
A long term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies
If the US could keep the Soviets from expanding their power it was only a matter of time until the Soviet system would fall apart
Communism could be beaten w/o going to war
The Long Telegram gave rise to the policy of containment
Containment – keeping communism w/i its present territory through the use of diplomatic, economic, and military actions

4. The Truman Doctrine
March 1947 – Truman went b/f congress to ask for $400 million to fight Communist aggression in Greece and Turkey
Goals of the Truman Doctrine
Aid free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures
Immediate effect – to stabilize the Greek govt. and ease Soviet demands in Turkey
Long run effect – it pledged the US to fight communism world wide

5. The Marshall Plan
June 1947 – Secretary of State George C. Marshall proposed the European Recovery Program
B/c known as the Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan
Give European nations American aid to rebuild their economies after the destruction of WWII
To prevent them from b/c communist out of desperation
Soviet Union and it’s satellite nations in E. Europe rejected the offer and developed their own economic program
While America pumped money into Western Europe
Western Europe’s recovery weakened the appeal of communism and opened new markets for trade

6. The Formation of West Germany
The US, Britain, and France announce they were merging their zones of Germany and allowing the Germans to have their own govt.
They also merged their zones in Berlin
Which was located in the Soviet zone of Germany
New nation – Federal Republic of Germany
B/c known as West Germany
Economy completely separate from the SU zone
Not allowed to have a military, but other than that it was independent
The Soviet zone of Germany b/c known as East Germany

7. The Berlin Crisis
June 1948 – Stalin cut all road and rail traffic to West Berlin
The creation of West Germany had convinced Stalin that he would never get the reparations he wanted
Truman then sent long-range bombers w/ atomic weapons to bases in Britain
The challenge – to keep West Berlin alive w/o provoking war w/ the Soviet Union
June 1948 – Truman ordered the Berlin Air Lift to b/g
For 11 months cargo planes supplied Berliners w/ food, medicine, and coal
Stalin finally lifted the blockade in May of 1949
America was determined to stand by Berlin

8. The Creation of NATO
Berlin blockade convinced many Americans that the Soviets were bent on conquest
April 1949 – agreement to create the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
A mutual defense alliance
NATO members agreed to come to the aid of any member who was attacked
1st time America had committed itself to maintaining peace in Europe
6 years later NATO allowed West Germany to rearm themselves and join its organization

9. Soviet Response to NATO
Allowing West Germany to rearm and join NATO upset the Soviets
The Soviet Union responded by organizing the Warsaw Pact
Alliance b/w Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, etc
Now Europe was once again divided into hostile alliances

10. The Korean War
At the end of WWII US and Soviet forces entered Korea to disarm the Japanese troops stationed there
Korea was divided at the 38th parallel line of latitude
The Soviet Union controlled the North
North Korea had a communist govt.
The US controlled the South
South Korea had an American-backed govt.
Both govt. claimed authority over all of Korea
June 25, 1950 – N. Korean troops invaded S. Korea
They quickly drove back the poorly equipped S. Korean forces

11. Korean War: US Intervenes
Truman saw the invasion of S. Korea as a test to America’s containment policy
Truman ordered the US navy and airpower into action
Truman then called on the UN to act
He succeeded b/c the Soviet delegate was boycotting the Security Council
Under the leadership of General MacArthur, American troops were sent from Japan to the Korean peninsula
The troops fought the N. Koreans back across the 38th parallel and beyond all the way to the border w/ China

12. Korean War: China Enters
The Chinese saw the advancing UN troops as a threat and warned forces to halt their advance
UN troops ignored the warning
China launched a massive attack across the border driving the UN forces back across the 38th parallel
MacArthur then demanded approval to expand the war against China, he asked for…
A blockade against Chinese ports
The use of Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist forces
Bombing of Chinese cities w/ atomic weapons

13. Korean War: MacArthur is Fired
Truman refuses MacArthur’s demands b/c he did not want to expand the war into China or to use the atomic bomb
MacArthur publicly criticized the president
Truman fires MacArthur for insubordination
Truman remained committed to limited war
Such as containing communism

14. The Korean War: Cools down
Truman chose General Matthew Ridgway to replace MacArthur
By mid 1951, UN forces had pushed the Chinese and N. Korean forces back across the 38th parallel
The war settled into a series of small battles
November 1951 – peace negotiations b/g but an armistice would not be signed until July 1953

15. Armistice Finally Signed
When Eisenhower becomes president in 1953 he was committed to ending the costly and unpopular war in Korea
Ike quietly let the Chinese know that the US might continue the war “under circumstances of our own choosing”
A hint at nuclear attack – Ike’s use of brinkmanship!!!

16. Korean War: The Ending July 1953 – negotiators sign an armistice
The battle line b/w the two sides b/c the border b/w N. and S. Korea
Very near the prewar boundary
A demilitarized zone separated them
There was no real victory but…
The war had stopped the spread of communism in Korea
The goal of containment is reached!!!

17. The Korean War: Effects
33,600 American soldiers died in action
2,800 American soldiers died from accidents or from disease
The Korean war…
1st time the US went to war to contain communism
After the Korean war the US b/g to buildup the military
Expanded the Cold War to Asia
American aid b/g to flow to the French forces fighting Communist guerillas in Vietnam