1. THE COLD WAR

2. The Cold War (1945-1991?) Definition: Why “Cold”?
An ongoing conflict between the world’s two superpowers—the US (Capitalism) and the USSR (Communism)
Why “Cold”?
Both sides had nuclear weapons, but never used
US & USSR never went directly to war

3. Question of the Day
Was the Cold War (virtually) “inevitable”, given the inherent conflicts between Communism and Capitalist Democracy and the specific nature of US-Soviet relations in the post-WW II era?

4. Causes of the Cold War Economic Differences Political Differences
“Business as Usual” Nationalism

5. Economic Differences Capitalism Communism
Individual profit & private enterprise
“Free trade”
Communism
Government planning & control
Tightened control over international trade & production
Each country wants the rest of the world to follow its system for economic reasons

6. Political Differences
Capitalism
Emphasis on democracy & individual choice
Importance of voting
Importance of limiting government intervention
Overall freedom = welfare of the individual
Communism
Emphasis on common good
Lesser importance of voting
Strong government as “voice of the people”
“dictatorship of the proletariat”
Overall freedom = welfare of the society

7. Nationalism
Is the Cold War simply two powerful countries competing for power?
Conflict & wars began looooooong before advents of Communism & Capitalism!

8. Postwar Agreements Yalta (February of 1945) Potsdam (July, 1945)
Stalin (USSR), FDR (US), Churchill (Eng)
Agreements
United Nations set up
Stalin to get “influence” in Eastern Europe
USSR to invade Japan 3 months after Germany
Potsdam (July, 1945)
Stalin (USSR), Truman (US), Atlee (Eng)
Clear that Stalin planned to stay in Eastern Europe

9. Why Both Sides Distrusted Other
USSR USA
US troops in Russia after WW I
Long wait for 2nd Front in WW II
Russia attacked in both WW I & WW II
Russia lost 20 million people in WW II
Only US had A-Bomb
Hatred of Capitalism
Russia had pulled out of WW I
Stalin’s nonaggression pact with Hitler
Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe
Soviet anti-capitalism statements
Fear of Soviet interest in Western Europe
Hatred of communist ideas and brutality

10. Post WW II Europe

11. The United Nations (UN)
Formed in April 1945
Much like the League of Nations before
Except US joins
Organization of UN:
General Assembly
All nations with equal vote
Security Council
Five major countries, all with veto power over any resolution
US, USSR, China, France, England

12. CONTAINMENT

13. Containment Name for US foreign policy after WW II Definition
Not to defeat communism
But to stop it from spreading
Note change in foreign policy since before WW II

14. Harry Truman
President from

15. The Truman Doctrine (March 1947)
President Truman’s statement that
The US must provide aid to “support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures”
(US will provide financial aid to all anti-communists)
The US should provide $400 million to help fight communism in Turkey & Greece
Means: A small amount of (only) money to prevent communism from spreading in one particular area

17. The “Domino Theory”
If one country goes Communist, its neighbors will follow
“Countries will fall like dominoes

18. The Marshall Plan
US Secretary of State George Marshall’s Plan to give $13 billion to rebuild the economies of Western Europe
Why?
Genuine humanitarian concern
Prevent instability that could let communism spread
Build up trading partners for US economy
Means: A lot of (only) money to prevent communism from spreading all over Europe

19. Sec. of State George Marshall

21. Berlin Blockade (June 1948)
USSR tries to close off West Berlin
Attempt to take it over
Truman’s options:
Let Berlin go
Not a lot of love for Germans!
Attack Soviet Union
Risk of WW III?
Find a way to supply West Berlin
This is the one chosen

22. Berlin Airlift (June 1948 – May 1949)
Code named “Operation Vittles”!
US planes flew 2,500 tons of supplies into Berlin each day for eleven months
Why did Stalin not shoot down the planes?
Truman said he had 60 A-Bombs ready to use
He did not!
Soviets end blockade in May, 1949

24. North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO (1949)
Mutual protection treaty signed by US, Canada, & countries of Western Europe
England, France, West Germany, Italy, Norway, Netherlands, etc
“An attack on one, is an attack on all”
Means: US will protect Europe BY FORCE IF NECESSARY
1955—Soviets create the Warsaw Pact
Same as NATO w/Eastern Europe
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany, etc.

26. Truman Signing the NATO Treaty

27. The Traumas of 1949 September November
Russians test their own A-Bomb
November
Mao Tse-Tung & Communists take over China
US now fears that Communism is really spreading
Wants to take more drastic precautions

28. Josef Stalin

29. Mao Tse-tung’s Ride to Power

31. National Security Act of 1947
Set up the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Responsible for gathering info on enemies and spying
Set up the National Security Council (NSC)
Group of “experts” to advise US government on foreign policy

32. NSC-68 (April of 1950) NSC report 4 Suggestions
Only the US can contain communism
We must use force if necessary
We must prevent communism EVERYWHERE (not just in Europe)
US must increase military spending by 4X
Means: US will use FORCE to fight communism ANYWHERE it threatens

33. Korean War Begins (June 1950)
Communist North Korea attacks the South
US sends troops in a three year war
Two months after NSC-68

34. Cold War Time Line