1. The Beginning of the Cold War: 1945-1950s

2. The Cold War starts before the end of WWII
In 1945, the three big Allied nations of Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the USA met to discuss what to do with Germany after the war
This conference was called the Yalta Conference
The Leaders:
Stalin
Churchill
Roosevelt

3. Reconstruction in Germany
The three powers agreed to divide up Germany between the three of them.
France would also get a part
After Nazi controlled areas in E. Europe were liberated by the Allies – the Soviet Union took over the countries as a buffer between itself and Germany.
—these countries became known as Soviet satellite nations

5. Satellite Nations
The Soviet Satellites (including East Germany) were forced to be Communist nations after WWII
The Long Telegram
This was a message sent by George Kennan that advised the U.S. on how to deal with the Soviet Union
Conclusion: actions should be taken against the Soviets
In response to the Long Telegram, Winston Churchill gave a speech, saying an Iron Curtain had fallen in Europe
He meant that there was now a wall dividing the West and democracy and the East and Communism

7. Truman Doctrine The USA responded to the Long Telegram differently.
Truman issued the “Truman Doctrine” saying that the USA would follow a policy of containment in response to the spread of Communism
Containment: an American policy to prevent the spread of Communism

8. The Policy of Containment
Created by President Harry Truman
Marshall Plan
Created by General George Marshall
Plan to financially support Europe in order to prevent the spread of Communism
13 billion in food, cash, and loans sent from USA to democratic European nations
Satellite Nations could not accept aid

9. Two Superpowers: USA vs. USSR
Superpower Aims in Europe
United States
Soviet Union
Encourage democracy in other countries to help prevent the rise of Communist governments
Encourage communism in other countries as part of a worldwide workers’ revolution
Gain access to raw materials and markets to fuel booming industries
Rebuild its war-ravaged economy using Eastern Europe’s industrial equipment and raw materials
Rebuild European governments to promote stability and create new markets for American goods
Control Eastern Europe to protect Soviet borders and balance the U.S. influence in W. Europe
Reunite Germany to stabilize it and increase the security of Europe
Keep Germany divided to prevent its waging war again

10. Soviet Reaction
The Soviets regarded the Marshall Plan as an attempt by the Americans (and capitalists) to take over the world.
So, they closed off their parts of Europe from the rest of the world
This included West Berlin, which was now an island of democracy in Eastern Europe

11. The Importance of Berlin
The Soviets by 1948 blocked off their part of the world from everyone else
Purpose was to block off the capitalists from the USSR, including Berlin
Berlin Airlift
People were starving to death in West Berlin due to the blockade
Truman had an airlift to keep people alive
Berlin Wall
Built by the Soviets in 1961; separated East and West Berlin for 28 years

12. Berlin: the island

13. The Berlin Airlift

14. The Berlin Airlift Over 200,000 flights made in about a year
13,000,000 tons of food flown in
An elephant weighs about 8 tons
Results:
Cold War worsens
East and West Germany split up officially
Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact

15. The Berlin Wall

16. The Formation of Mutual Defense Groups in the 1950s
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Goal: to prevent the spread of Communism and protect each other
Members: USA, Great Britain, France, Italy, Canada, and other democratic nations
Warsaw Pact:
Goal: to prevent the spread of Capitalism and protect each other
Members: USSR and its satellites (countries it owned in eastern Europe)

18. Nuclear Threats USA has nuclear ability by 1945.
Soviets get it by 1949
1950: H bomb in US
1952: H bomb in USSR
Theory of Deterrence: Countries tell everyone that they are willing to respond to any attacks with an equal counter-attack

19. The H-Bomb
1st explosion caused a hole a mile long and 175 feet deep in the ocean floor
Radioactive cloud was 25 miles high

21. Competition Between the Superpowers
1953- Eisenhower’s administration coined the term brinkmanship
Willing to go to war at any minute
Both the US and USSR were involved in an arms race
Both countries wanted the best science and education programs
1957 Soviet launched Sputnik, the first satellite
1958- US launches satellite
THIS WILL LEAD TO THE SPACE RACE
1960 the CIA authorized spying missions over the USSR

22. Soviet Union launched Sputnik on October 4, 1957.

23. So Now… USA and the USSR: Superpowers on edge
Superpower: a state powerful enough to influence events around the world
Mutual alliances will force the entire world into war again if someone is attacked
Coming up: China is falling to Communism

24. Memo to President Truman
Goal: you will write a memo to President Truman advising for/against the development of the H bomb
You Must:
Write in complete sentences
Use the information from today in order to provide at least 4 reasons to support your stance
Why should the USA support or not support the development of this weapon?
Ideas to consider: devastation caused by the less powerful atomic bomb, containment, the actions of the USSR in recent years, the recent loss of China to Communism