Origins of the Cold War

Origins of the Cold War We Didn't Start The Fire

An overview of the Cold War How can a war be ‘cold’? What were the Hotspots of the Cold War?

After World War II the Cold War began and caused tension throughout the world. • The USA and the USSR were the two world Superpowers. • The USA was a capitalist society with a democracy. • The USSR was a communist country with a dictatorship. • Both wanted to be the most powerful nation in the world.

American Goals Wanted democracy and free economic opportunity for countries in Europe after WWII Develop strong capitalist economies (Less Government Intervention) Soviet Goals Rebuild Europe so the Soviet Union could recover from losses in WWII. Wanted satellite nations, (countries under Soviet control) Like a “Puppet State” Promote the spread of communism throughout the world Conflicting Postwar Goals

1945—A Critical Year • At the end of World War II, relations between the Communist Soviet Union and the Allies grew increasingly tense • Yalta Conference- Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin agreed to divide Germany between the Allies (France, England, US, Soviet Union)

YALTA (in the USSR) Date: Feb 1945 Present: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin SECTION

Divided Germany Notice Berlin SECTION

Divided Berlin SECTION

1945—A Critical Year (Con’t) • The United Nations- Organization created to encourage cooperation in solving international problems PEACEFULLY

1945—A Critical YearCon’t • Roosevelt dies- April 12, 1945 and Vice President Truman becomes President • Potsdam Conference in July. • Harry Truman (US) • Clement Attlee (New prime minister of Great Britain) • Joseph Stalin (USSR) • Purpose: Determine how to administer Germany and Poland • Effect: Truman upset that Stalin was uncooperative • Afraid Soviets are planning “world conquest”

POTSDAM (Germany) Date: July 1945 Present: Churchill, Truman and Stalin SECTION

Germany - divided • Germany was split into two countries. • West Germany- controlled by the Allies, mainly the U.S. • East Germany- became another communist country, controlled by the U.S.S.R. • Berlin located in the EAST

Cold War Heats Up

The Iron Curtain “Iron curtain”Geographic and political divisions between Communist and non-Communist nations in Europe. The Iron Curtain

The Truman Doctrine (1947) • Provides support in the form of $$$ to prevent the: • “Domino Effect” • Containment policy

Containment and the Truman Doctrine Con’t… • The Truman Doctrine was first applied after “satellite nations” agree to follow guidance from the U.S.S.R. • Czechoslovakia • Poland • Hungary • China • Cuba • North Korea

The Marshall Plan (1947) • Created in 1947 by U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall • Financial aid from the United States to: • Help European nations recover from WWII and become strong democracies • Prevent communism from spreading

Soviets Tighten Their Hold • Czechoslovakia: • tried to remain democratic, became a Soviet satellite in 1948. SECTION

Soviets Tighten Their Hold • Hungary and Romania: • Arrested anti-Communist leaders in Hungary • Forced the appointment of a Communist prime minister in Romania SECTION

Soviets Tighten Their Hold • East Germany: • To ensure safety from Germany, Stalin established a totalitarian state named the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). SECTION

Origins of the Cold War—Assessment Which of these choices best describes the primary goal of the United States for postwar Europe? (A) Protect the Soviet Union from future invasion (B) Build economically strong democracies (C) Add more members to the United Nations (D) Ensure further cooperation with Stalin Which of these events directly inspired the Truman Doctrine? (A) Soviet creation of “satellite nations” (B) The division of Germany into four zones (C) The arrest of anti-Communist leaders in Hungary (D) Churchill’s “iron curtain” speech

The Cold War Heats Up • How did the Berlin airlift and NATO help to achieve American goals in postwar Europe? • How did spread of Communism affect American foreign policy? • How did the Cold War affect American life at home?

The Berlin Airlift • Berlin; Communist East…Capitalist West • June 1948, Stalin banned all shipments to West Berlin through East Germany • Created a blockade which threatened to cut off supplies to West Berlin(controlled by the allies).

The Berlin Airlift (cont’d) • In response, Allied nations began the Berlin airlift, which delivered thousands of tons of food and other supplies to West Berlin via air. • Planes landed every 3 minutes, 24 hours a day, for over a year • Although the Soviet blockade ended in May 1949, Berlin remained a focal point of Cold War conflict.

What was NATO? The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in April 1949. Collective Security Group that will support one another against attack “An attack against one, is an attack against them all” In response, the Soviet Union created the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance between the Soviet Union and its satellite nations. Soviet version of NATO NATO

The Cold War at Home • Late1940’s, early 1950’s: • Fear of Communism encroaching on the United States. • (HUAC): House Un-American Activities Committee investigated Hollywood personalities • Compiled a blacklist • a list naming persons who should not be hired because they were communists • This begins the SECOND RED SCARE !!!

The Cold War Heats Up—Assessment Which of these phrases best describes NATO? (A) A collective security pact between the United States, Canada, and Western European nations (B) A military alliance between the USSR and its satellite nations (C) A U.S.-sponsored program for postwar recovery (D) A regional group within the United Nations Which of these was a result of HUAC’s investigation of the movie industry? (A) Hollywood approved many scripts that dealt with controversial social problems. (B) Many Hollywood personalities were blacklisted. (C) The McCarran-Walter Act was passed. (D) Pro-Soviet movies became popular.

The Continuing Cold War • What were the characteristics of the McCarthy era? • How was the Cold War waged in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America during the 1950s? • How did the arms race develop?

Senator Joseph McCarthy (Wisconsin) feared Communist supporters lived within the U.S. His ideas and theories became known as McCarthyism Created a list of 250 Communist-supporting government employees Later reduced to 57. Accusations were usually baseless and improvable The Second Red Scare / McCarthy Era

McCarthy’s Fall 1954, McCarthy criticized the Army of supporting communism President Eisenhower, a former Army General, criticizes his accusations By mid-June 1954, McCarthy had lost even his strongest supporters The McCarthy Era

The Korean War 1950-1953

Korean War • North: Communist • South: Capitalist/Democratic • First “Hot” War (1950-1953) • United Nations “Police Action” • Ends in a Stalemate • (no winner declared) • Divided on the 38th Parallel • Technically still at war

The Korean War—Assessment What was the significance of the thirty-eighth parallel? (A) It formed Korea’s border with China. (B) It was the place to which Chinese Nationalists fled. (C) It divided Korea into two halves, North and South. (D) It was the location of Korean War peace talks. Why did the United Nations send troops to Korea? (A) To support South Korea and restore peace (B) To install a Communist government in South Korea (C) To help China defend its border (D) To put an end to Japanese rule of Korea

The Vietnam War 1963-1975

The Vietnam War • North: Communist • Supported by: U.S.S.R., China, North Korea and Cuba • South: Capitalist/Democratic • Fighting for U.S. lasts from 1963-1975 • 1,800,000 allied troops vs. 460,000 in the North • 58,000 U.S. casualties • South Surrenders to the Communist North in 1975 (Communism spreads)

The Arms Race • Throughout the 1950s, the USA and USSR compete in an arms race • Struggle to gain weapons superiority (who can build the most weapons the fastest?) • Deterrence • Military arsenal so strong that no enemy will attack for fear of retaliation • Results in increasing amounts of nuclear weapons

The Cuban Missile Crisis,1962 • October 14–28, 1962 • U.S. attempts and fails to overthrow the communist Cuban government at the Bay of Pigs • Soviets and Cubans built bases to launch nuclear weapons at the U.S. • 13 days of tense debate whether to attack

USSR agrees to remove missiles from Cuba if we agree to never invade Cuba again • Closest moment to turning to nuclear conflict • Moscow–Washington Hotline: it is clear a direct line of communication is needed (RED PHONES)

Initial Reactions • Anxiety and Fear • Sense of doom • Atomic sales soar • “Lone Ranger Atomic Bomb Ring”

Atomic Cars and Cancer Cures • New Hopes for a Positive Benefit of the Atom • Allowed Americans to avoid dealing with the realities of atomic warfare • Cars which run on atomic power

Cold War and the Bomb • US Gov’t and Positive Image of the Atom • Needed because of reality of Cold War • Wanted to show people the “Sunny Side of the Atom”

Fear of “the bomb” • Russians detonate their first atomic bomb in 1949 • Civil Defense Program: Greenbrier Bunker • “How to Survive an Atomic Bomb” • Bomb shelters • “Duck and Cover”

“Good bomb immunity”

Cold War Science Fiction Film Ambivalence and Anxiety over the Bomb

1950s Invasion Films

Origins of the Cold War