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The Cold War Begins. Section 1 Ms. Garratt American History. Uneasy Alliance. Soviets resented the US for several reasons Allies tried to undermine Russ Rev in 1917 US didn’t recognize USSR until 1933 Allies refusal to open 2 nd front against Hitler until June 1944
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The Cold War Begins Section 1 Ms. Garratt American History
Uneasy Alliance • Soviets resented the US for several reasons • Allies tried to undermine Russ Rev in 1917 • US didn’t recognize USSR until 1933 • Allies refusal to open 2nd front against Hitler until June 1944 • Soviets feared capitalist nations were trying to destroy it • Soviets felt the need to have “friendly” govs in Eastern Europe
US Distrust of Soviets • Communism called for worldwide revolution • Comintern since 1920s • Brest-Litovsk Treaty 1918 • Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939 • Soviet purges & collectivization
Soviet View of the post-WWII World Order • Soviets lost 20 million people & suffered massive destruction during WWII • Soviets wanted to protect themselves from another invasion • Wanted weakened, unarmed Germany • Wanted to surround USSR with “pro-Soviet” (e.g. Communist) governments • Historically
US View of the World • Wanted democratic, free world open to business expansion • Free-trade for American products • Belief that US had mission such as Manifest Destiny to lead the way
Yalta Conference 1945 • Meeting of Big Three (FDR, Churchill, Stalin) • Brit wanted to save its empire • Stalin & Britain wanted spheres of influence • US wanted Soviets to join in war against Japan which Soviets agreed to do • Stalin pledged support for UN • Stalin wanted spheres of influence in Asia • Disagreed about Germany-Stalin wanted $20 billion • US & Brit knew Germany could not pay and they would end up financing Germany so that it could pay Stalin
Yalta Conference & Eastern Europe • Stalin wanted recognition of Soviet power in Poland, Rumania, Bulgaria, Austria, Hungary & Czechoslovakia • Ironic because war began over freedom of Poland • Reluctantly agreed to Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe bc US desperately wanted Soviet help against Japan
Formation of the United Nations Main purpose was to “maintain international peace and security
Formation of the United Nations By Oct 1945 UN charter was approved General Assembly in which all nations had one vote Any majority vote could be vetoed by any one of the 5-member Security Council
Potsdam Conference • 1st meeting of Truman & Stalin • Truman learned of successful test of atomic bomb while at Potdam • Reached agreement on Germany • Germ would be disarmed & industry dismantled • Divided Germ into zones
Containment Policy • US policy to prevent the expansion of Communism • Will lead to military aid (e.g. Truman Doctrine 1947) • And economic aid (Marshall Plan • Brain child of George Kennan
Truman Doctrine • Truman Doctrine was a way to implement containment policy • Military aid to free people who were ”resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressure” • Provided $400 m in immediate aid to Greek & Turkey • The Cold War was now if full swing due to 2 conflicting world views & ideology
The Marshall Plan.Generosity or enlightened self-interest?You Decide.
For revisionist view of the Marshall Plan see Web site below http://www.vho.org/tr/2004/2/Bassler123-126.html