1. The Cold War Begins

2. Origins of the Cold War The US and SU’s relationship
What was the Cold War?
American vs Soviet Goals
Relationship- was becoming strain prior to the end of WWII
The Cold War was the confrontation and competition between the US and SU between
The US believes that democratic governments with protections for people’s rights make countries more stable
The Soviets were concerned with security from another German invasion
They also believed that communism was a superior economic system, and feared that capitalist nations would try to destroy communism
Americans were more concerned about the economic problems- Many believed that the Depression is what lead to the rise of Hitler and Japan’s military rule
FDR was convinced that economic growth was key to world peace which is why the US promotes democracy and free enterprise

3. Origins of the Cold War Yalta Conference Romania Potsdam Conference
Poland
Germany
Romania
Potsdam Conference
Satellite Nations
The Yalta Conference was a meeting between Stalin, FDR, and Churchill to discuss what to do at the end of the war
Poland was the first topic due to two governments claiming ownership to Poland
Then FDR and Churchill disagreed with Stalin about Poland’s right to sovereignty
The finally agreed on having some of the prewar members of government come back and then hold elections later
All involved agreed on the Declaration of Liberated Europe which said the people get to choose the government which they will live under
The next point of focus was what to do with Germany
The Allies decided to divide it into four zones: Britain, France, SU and US
Stalin wanted to weaken Germany’s economy by making it pay reparations, FDR said it needed to be based on what they could afford and could be paid with trade goods instead of cash
The arguments between the US and SU about Germany’s economy became one of the main causes of the Cold War
Also, it appeared that SU had no plans for a popular vote in Poland, they made Poland only allow 3 non-Communists in office
Relations between SU and the US deteriorated, leaving Truman to work on the strained relation after FDR died
After the Yalta Conference, SU pressured Romania to take on a Communist government, violating the Declaration of Liberated Europe
Potsdam- Truman was not experienced in diplomacy, but he told Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov that Stalin needed to allow free elections in Poland as he promised
Differences from yalta- new president Truman was much more anti-communist, Stalin’s armies occupied eastern Europe, America had successfully tested an atomic bomb. While fdr had agreed to some repartition payments Truman said no. – start of Cold War
Truman thought that WWII started because Britain appeased Hitler, Truman didn’t want to appease Stalin
Truman felt it was necessary for Germany to recover or they might fall to communism
Satellite nations- Stalin’s presences in Eastern Europe ensured that the countries of Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia would eventually be communist

4. Origins of the Cold War
Winston Churchill described the events in Europe:
“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…All are subject, in one from or another, not only to Soviet influence, but to a very high and increasing measure of control from Moscow.”

5. The Early Cold War Years
Long telegram
Containment
Truman Doctrine
Marshal Plan
US was becoming tired of the Soviets’ refusal to cooperate so they asked George Kennan, diplomat to Russia, to explain their behavior
He sent the Long Telegram (5,540-word) explaining that they were insecure and believed there was a long standing struggle between communism and capitalism, this telegram led the policy of containment
Multiple crises: Iran- US had occupied southern Iran while the SU occupied northern Iran to create a supply line to the Persian Gulf during WWII
The SU did not withdraw after the war and demanded access to their oil supply and began establishing a separate government
This signaled Americans that the SU intended to spread into the Middle East, the US told them to withdraw and sent the USS Missouri into the Mediterranean Sea, the pressure worked
Greece and Turkey- When the Greek government was threatened by communist rebels, the SU went in to turkey to gain access to war water ports to support the rebels, and GB who was weakened by WWII to be the policing force the US stepped in, and we decided to step in Truman issued his doctrine- the US give countries financial assistance and military advice. Promised support to any free people fighting communism
The Marshall Plan, proposed by Sec. of State George Marshall, was designed to give European countries American aid to rebuild their economies (bc if their economies were bad the people might call for communism)
The Soviets refused and developed their own recovery plan
The Marshall Plan pumped billions into Europe in the form of food, machinery, and supplies which weakened the appeal of communism and opened new markets for trade

6. The Early Cold War Years
“West Germany”
Berlin Blockade
Berlin Airlift
NATO
Warsaw Pact
In May 1948, US, france and GB decided to merge their zones into the Federal Republic of Germany. Or “West Germany” in response the SU announces a blockade of west berlin (allied occupied berlin), so we immediately start airlifting food and supplies into west berlin, against Stalin's orders. Stalin realizes we could easily beat his blockade and bc he had not successfully tested an atomic bomb yet, he knew the US was more powerful so he will stop the blockade.
This event and Stalins success in testing an atomic bomb lead to the creating of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949 each member pledged to defend every other member if attacked- US, Canada, Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg and Iceland—Six years later West Germany would rearm and join
The Soviets responded by creating the Warsaw Pact—military alliance with Eastern Europe

7. The Early Cold War Years
China
Korea
Mao lead the Communists in China against Chiang Kai-shek and the nationalists during the 1920s
They stopped fighting each other during WWII to resist Japanese occupation—but picked up after Japan was defeated
Mao was supported by the SU and Chiang Kai-shek was supported by the US. Mao had adapted communist beliefs to appeal to Chinese peasents who mad up a large part of the population.
In 1949 Mao officially defeated Kai-Shek and Kai Shek retreated to the island of Taiwan, where he continued to run a nationalist Chinese gov- this is the one we recognized, especially since recognizing Mao’s gov would mean two communist powers in the security council of the UN. Many americnas were shocked that we did not do more to stop communism from taking control in China.
The US had sent $2B to the Nationalist government, but the Communists still won
The fall of China change the US’s relation with Japan, the US originally planned to introduce democracy to keep it from threatening war again
After the fall of China the US encouraged rapid recovery of Japan’s economy
Japan would be the US’s key to defending Asia as West Germany was in Europe
At the end of WWII the US and SU divided korea up into two occupation zones- North and South along the 38th parallel. Just like in Germany the SU occupied area (north) became communist and the south through free elections was a capitalist democracy. In June 1950 north korea invaded south korea in hopes of unifying the country under one communist leader. When Truman heard the news it reminded him of Hitlers 1938 invasion into Czechoslovakia, so he immediately decides to send troops to Korea.
While the SU was boycotting the UN over their refusal to sit the communist Chinese government Truman was able to pass a resolution condemning the north Korean acts as an act of aggression and the security council invited members to assist south korea in its defense.
Truman sent US naval and airpower to Asia, and called the UN to do the same
MacArthur ordered an invasion behind North Korea’s lines which shocked them so much that within weeks they were retreating
The North Koreans retreated north of the 38th parallel, Truman ordered American forces to follow the beyond the 38th
Eventually they were pushed all the way to the Yalu River (border with China)
MacArthur wanted Truman to go to war with China- Truman refused
MacArthur publicly criticized the President saying, “There is no substitute for victory”
Truman fired MacArthur for insubordination
Truman remained committed to limited war—a war fought to achieve a limited objective like containment
Negotiations began in Nov. 1951, but an official armistice would not be signed until 1953
The Korean War marked the first use of force, rather than diplomacy, in the fight against Communism
The Korean War also expanded the Cold War into Asia