Cold War Superpowers Face Off Macdonald World History

Cold War: Superpowers Face Off Macdonald World History

Allies Become Enemies n US & Soviets fought together in WWII against Axis n Even before war, though, had issues: – US upset that Stalin signed non-aggression pact w/ Germany – Soviets blamed Allies for not invading Europe earlier

Allies Become Enemies n Towards end of WWII, US, Britain and Soviet Union met in Yalta: 1. Agreed to divide Germany into zones of occupation after they won 2. Germany would have to pay Soviet Union for loss of life and property during war 3. Stalin would help Allies in Pacific against Japan 4. Stalin would allow free elections in Eastern Europe

Allies Become Nations n 1948 US and Soviets put aside differences & joined 48 other nations in forming United Nations n Int’l organization to protect members against aggression n Replaced League of Nations

Soviet vs. US Goals US * Spread democracy Soviets * Spread communism * Get raw materials to build * Rebuild economy using economy equipment from Eastern Europe * Rebuild Europe for stability * Control Eastern Europe for protection * Reunite Germany * Keep Germany divided

Eastern Europe’s Iron Curtain n n Soviets wanted to protect against attack, so occupied strip of countries along border Considered a wall of protection After he occupied countries, Stalin put Communist gov’ts in 7 of those countries Stalin declared that communism and capitalism couldn’t exist together Churchill said that “Iron Curtain” had split Europe into communist east and democratic west

Soviet Buffer Countries

United States Tries to Contain Soviets Pres. Truman believed that communism would cause domino effect – if one country fell to communism, then all others surrounding it would too n Believed communism would threaten the security of the world, so US adopted policy of containment to stop expansion of communism n Tried to contain communism to where it already was and prevent it from spreading n

United States Tries to Contain Soviets n Containment put into practice through Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine n Truman Doctrine – gave money to help rebuild countries that rejected communism – gave $400 billion to Turkey & Greece n Marshall Plan – gave food, machines, materials to Western Europe to show the world democracy was “better” n Both stunning successes

United States Tries to Contain Soviets - Germany divided into zones of occupation w/ each Allied country occupying one section - Also divided Berlin into four zones controlled by Allies

Berlin Airlift n n n 1948 France, Britain and US withdrew from Germany as well as Berlin and allowed their sections to form one nation – West Germany Soviets held on to East Germany Soviets responded to the creation of West Germany by cutting off all rail, highway and water traffic into west Berlin Hoped to starve Berlin, so the Allies would give it up to the Soviets Responded with around the clock flights into West Berlin to drop in needed supplies (Berlin Airlift) After 11 months, Soviets lifted blockade

Cold War Divides the World n Conflicts marked beginning of Cold War struggle between Soviets and US over political differences w/o actually going to war n Both used spying, propaganda, secret operations

Cold War Divides the World n Events in Berlin caused Western Europe to fear Soviet aggression and the “communist threat” n To protect themselves, 10 western European nations, the US and Canada formed a defensive military alliance called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO – would all protect each other if attacked by Soviets

Cold War Divides the World n Soviets saw NATO as a threat, so formed its own alliance called Warsaw Pact that included Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bultaria and Albania

Cold War Divides the World n Warsaw Pact nations built a wall separating East and West Berlin that symbolized that the world was divided into two groups n First world was the US & its allies, second was the Soviets & its allies n Countries that didn’t align with either were referred to as non-aligned nations (later known as Third World nations)

Cold World Divides the World n Scary b/c both had nuclear weapons (Hbomb) that would assure destruction of the other – MAD (mutual assured destruction) n Led to arms race where both tried to amass the most weapons

Cold War Divides the World n 1953, US adopted a new policy towards the Soviets called brinkmanship n Promised that the US would be willing to go to the brink or edge of war at all times – required a reliable source of nuclear weapons and planes to deliver them n US strengthened air force & began stockpiling weapons n In response, Soviets did as well

Cold War Divides the World n n n Cold War also affected science and education programs 1957 Soviets announced developed an intercontinental ballistic missile or ICBM Later Soviets announced that they used this to push Sputnik – the first unmanned satellite above the earth’s atmosphere America felt they had fallen behind, so poured lots of money into science education in schools 1958 US launched its own satellite

Cold War Divides World n US proposed that Soviets & US be able to fly over each other’s territory for security n Soviets said no n So US CIA started sending secret high altitude flights over Soviets called U-2 s n Soviets shot one down and captured its pilot n US started preparing even more vigorously for war