1. Chapter 18 Section 1 Notes Origins of The Cold War (lasts from 1945 – 1991) Diplomacy and Tension between U.S. and Soviet Union

2. Differences between U.S. and Soviet Union
Belief in Communism
Govt. controls economy
Very little Freedom
Govt. controls all private property
More equal distribution of wealth
Global trade discouraged
One Party Political System
No competition (Totalitarianism)
Punished for speaking against govt
United States
Belief in Capitalism
People control economy
Little Govt. interference (Freedom)
People can acquire private property
Unequal Distribution of wealth
Global trade encouraged
Multi Party Political System
Free elections (Democracy)
Freedom to speak against govt.

3. The end of WWII increases tensions
3 Major reasons for distrust between the 2 countries
U.S. knew the only reason Soviets entered the war is because Hitler broke nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union
The Soviets were mad the U.S. didn’t attack Germans in Europe quicker than they did.
U.S. tried to keep atomic bomb secret

4. Leaders of the 2 Countries
Harry Truman
Became leader when FDR died
1945 (less experience)
Joseph Stalin
Became leader when Lenin died
1924 (more experience)
The 2 meet at Potsdam

5. A Chance for Peace after WWII Formation of the United Nations (UN)
Formed in June 1945
Headquarters in NY
Intended to Promote
Global Peace
Becomes a Diplomatic
Battleground for US/Soviets
to try to spread influence
around the world
50 countries involved at 1st
Now 193 (almost all)

6. Potsdam Conference (July 1945)
follow up to the Yalta Conference in February
determined how Eastern Europe would look after WWII
Major differences between what Soviets and U.S. wanted
1. Spread of Capitalism/Democracy vs.
Spread of Communism/Totalitarianism
2. Reunite Germany vs. Keep Germany divided
3. Who would have the most access to trade?
4. Should Germany pay damages for the war?
Germany
(and Berlin)
Split into
4 Sections

7. Soviet military in Eastern Europe at end of WWII
Ordered by Stalin to stay
Felt entitled to land
25 million Soviets died during WWII
Needed buffer against future aggression
from Germany or Western Europe
Establish Satellite Nations
Formation of Communist Govts.
Stalin had promised free elections earlier

8. U.S. response to spread of Communism
Containment = preventing it from spreading elsewhere
How? = Main Ways: Spend $$$ and Military (threaten or real)
Iron Curtain = nickname for boundary between E. and W.
Europe
Winston Churchill (former PM of England) came up with name

9. The Truman Doctrine 1st attempt by U.S. at containment
provided economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey
Needed help rebuilding after WWII
Communism started to look appealing
U.S. gave $400 million (started March 1947)
Criticized by many here… waste of $$$
Britain & France couldn’t afford to help
Busy rebuilding their own countries

10. Marshall Plan (June 1947 - 1951) Main Goal
Proposed by U.S. Secretary of State
Main Goal
Wants to provide aid in Europe
help rebuild the countries
provide food/clothing/shelter
Rejected by Eastern Europe (Stalin)
Accepted by Western Europe
U.S. provides $13 billion to
16 countries affected by WWII
England, France, Italy, and
West Germany got 65% of it.
Successful
Contained spread of communism
Economies in great shape by 1952
George Marshall received the
Nobel Peace Prize for coming
up with and organizing this idea (1953)

11. Marshall Plan Cartoons

12. Germany goes from 4 zones to 2 zones (1948)
England, France, and U.S. decide to combine zones
Saves $$$
Becomes known as West Germany
Still control Western part of Berlin
Soviet Union’s zone
Becomes known as East Germany
Controls Eastern part of Berlin
Surrounds the capital city

13. Berlin Airlift (May 1948 – 1949)
Soviets shut down roads and trains from West to East Germany
Goal = force U.S., England, and France to leave West Berlin
No supplies into city by ground
Affected 2 million people
Only had 5 week supply of food
What did the 3 countries do?
Don’t want to risk war by breaking blockade
Flew supplies into W. Berlin for around a year
277,000 flights!
Planes landed every few minutes
2.3 million tons of supplies
Soviets eventually end their blockade

15. North Atlantic Treaty Organization is formed NATO (1949)
Reaction to Berlin Airlift
Peacetime Military Defense Alliance
1st time U.S. ever got involved with this
Originally 12 members
10 W. Europe countries
U.S. and Canada
W. Germany added in 1955
now has 26 countries
all in Europe except U.S. & Canada
Has military bases and a standing army
NATO HQ’s is in Belgium

16. Warsaw Pact (1955) Reaction to W. Germany getting added to NATO
Soviet version of NATO with Communist countries
All Satellite Nations + Soviet Union.