1. Introducing the Cold War 1945-1991
Alice F. Short
Hilliard Davidson High School
World Studies

2. Learning Goals Cold War 1945 1946 1947 1948 United Nations
Yalta Conference
Potsdam Conference
1946
Iron Curtain Speech
1947
George F. Kennan as Mr. X
containment
Truman Doctrine
Marshall Plan
1948
Berlin Crisis

3. The Cold War capitalism vs communism
DISCUSSION: Who is at fault for the Cold War?
consumerism – the preoccupation with the purchasing of material goods
capitalism vs communism
United States vs. Soviet Union (superpowers)
cold war vs hot war
proxy wars
1945 vs 1946 vs 1947 for start of Cold War
nuclear bombs vs nuclear bombs (MAD)

4. Capitalism vs Communism Private Property vs Public Ownership for profit vs according to need
Pros:
entrepreneurship
market driven
makes people want to work hard
people are selfish
innovation and economic growth
people can “move up the ladder”
freedom
Cons:
materialistic
unequal distribution of wealth
crony capitalism
Pros:
equality and equal opportunities
decrease unemployment
everyone gets basic needs
helps working class
Cons:
people become less ambitious
people are selfish
lack of economic growth
poverty
people have less freedom (Soviet)
“The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all private property.”
- Karl Marx

5. 1945: United Nations United Nations
international organization to promote peace
replacement for League of Nations
original Charter: 50 countries
current Charter: 193
UN Security Council
15-member panel

6. 1945 Yalta Conference Potsdam Conference Winston Churchill
Franklin D. Roosevelt
understood Stalin
positive relationship with Churchill
Joseph Stalin
Potsdam Conference
Clement Atlee
Harry S. Truman
first meeting with Stalin
Joseph Stalin
satellite countries
DISCUSSION: Is Stalin’s desire for satellite countries in Eastern Europe to act as a buffer from future invasions an unreasonable request? If you were the leader of the Soviet Union, what would you request at the Potsdam Conference?

7. 1946 Iron Curtain Speech (March 5) Winston Churchill
symbolic beginning of the Cold War
iron curtain – divided the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellites from the independent countries of Europe
“The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”
-Winston Churchill
Link to Summary of Speech (REG/I):
Link to Speech and Video (HONORS):

8. Eastern Bloc
Western Bloc

9. “The seeds of totalitarian regimes are nurtured by misery and want.”
1947
Marshall Plan Explained $ (5 min) $
“The seeds of totalitarian regimes are nurtured by misery and want.”
-- Harry S. Truman
George F. Kennan
Foreign Affairs magazine
containment policy
Truman Doctrine
Marshall Plan – European Recovery Program
hoped to promote world peace (economic stability)
provided to 17 Western European countries
gave 12 billion in economic aid
hoped to stop the spread of communism
comintern

10. symbolically ended GB’s great power status
Greece and Turkey
Soviet Union – wanted access
wanted control of Dardanelles Strait
Black Sea to Mediterranean Sea: location, location, locations
Britain – stopped assisting
US – started assisting
$400 million in aid
symbolically ended GB’s great power status

11. 1948 Division of Germany Berlin Crisis (1st of Cold War)
blocked off transportation by road into West Berlin in June 1948 (Berlin Blockade)
tested Western Cold War resolve
led to Berlin Airlift (15 months)
ended May 1949
East Germany
West Germany

12. A SHORT Activity
World Studies: Continue reading an annotating Cold War Reading. It needs to be read an annotated by ________________.
Honors World Studies: You are Harry S. [Your Last Name]. Congrats! Summarize your international political policy in words. Make a list of at least 5 things that you think would be different OR 10 things that would be the same if you choose to do exactly as Truman did.