Early Cold War 1945 1960 Main IdeasEvents Potsdam

Early Cold War (1945 -1960)

Main Ideas/Events • Potsdam Conference: Post-war meeting during which Stalin and Truman broke their promises • Truman Doctrine: Promise to contain Communism by financial and military aid • Marshall Plan: Commitment of financial support to war-torn Europe • Berlin Blockade/Berlin Airlift: Soviet attempt to strangle Allied occupied Berlin, in Soviet controlled East Germany • NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance to combat the spread of Communism • Chinese Revolution: Communist Revolution, led by Mao • Korean War: United Nations conflict to stop the spread of Communism in the Korean Peninsula • Space Race: Soviet/American challenge to launch satellites and ICBMs into space • U-2 Incident: American spy plane, shot over Soviet airspace • Cuban Revolution: The spread of Communism into the Western Hemisphere

California State Standards 11. 7. 8. Analyze the effect of massive aid given to Western Europe under the Marshall Plan to rebuild itself after the war and the importance of a rebuilt Europe to the U. S. economy. 11. 9. 2. Understand the role of military alliances, including NATO and SEATO, in deterring communist aggression and maintaining security during the Cold War. 11. 9. 3. Trace the origins and geopolitical consequences (foreign and domestic) of the Cold War and containment policy, including the following: – The era of Mc. Carthyism, instances of domestic Communism (e. g. , Alger Hiss) and blacklisting – The Truman Doctrine – The Berlin Blockade – The Korean War – The Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis – Atomic testing in the American West, the "mutual assured destruction" doctrine, and disarmament policies – The Vietnam War – Latin American policy

Part I: Settling the War The start of the Cold War is rooted in the diplomacy and relationships between Russia and the United States in the final months of World War II. FDR’s untimely death fundamentally changed both: the diplomacy and the relationship.

The Yalta Conference (Feb. ‘ 45) • Big Three meet (FDR, Stalin, and Churchill) for the last time, at the end of the war • Goals: – Free elections in Poland – Establish sovereign governments in former Nazi Germany – Divide Germany and Berlin into 4 zones – Write United Nations Charter and create Security Council – Create War Crimes Tribunal for “crimes against humanity”

Collective Hopes Division of Germany and Berlin Germany divided into four zones: British, American, French, and Russian. Berlin also divided into four zones, but stuck in the Russian-controlled part of Germany Created as a new, improved League of Nations • to govern international affairs • to provide collective security • to promote international development • to further human rights The United Nations Security Council comprised of 15 members • 5 Permanent Members (France, U. K. , U. S. A, Russia, and China) • 10 Members on two year rotation • All 5 permanent members can veto ANY Security Council Resolution

Different Philosophies U. S. S. R. vs. U. S. A. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics The United States of America • Communist • Totalitarian • Censorship of the Press • • Capitalist Democratic Free Press/Speech Free Market So What? The war time alliance was based on mutual defense against a common enemy. It was necessary. The U. S. A. didn’t trust Stalin because he was allied with Hitler and was a murdering bastard. The U. S. S. R. didn’t trust FDR because we were greedy bastards who only helped the British.

Shifting Expectations Russia expected U. S expected • Reparations • A Defensive Buffer • Free Trade • Economic Development By April 15, 1945 Stalin cancels free elections in occupied countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Czechoslovakia, and Poland) FDR dies of a cerebral hemorrhage, and V. P. Truman takes over, bringing a new hard-line, no negotiation, style of leadership.

The Update: July, 1945 • Roosevelt Dead, Hitler Dead • Germans surrender--V. E. Day (May 8) • Europe faced with overwhelming issues – – Reconstruction of cities, factories, and railroads Refugees and displaced people Widespread disease, hunger, famine Shame of widespread genocide (Russia: 12 million; Germany: 6. 5 million Jews, and others) – Power vacuum in Germany, Italy, and Eastern Europe • Successful war in the Pacific--U. S. attacking Tokyo, near atomic decision

The Potsdam Conference (July, 1945) • Truman argued that Germany was essential to the economic development of Europe • Stalin argued that Germany should pay reparations • Truman learned of the successful atomic test and told Stalin • Stalin felt bullied announced the end to free elections in Soviet occupied Europe

An Iron Curtain Descends (March, 1946) • Stalin forced Communist revolutions in Bulgaria, Romania, Czechoslovakia, and Poland • Stated that all “satellite” nations must remain loyal to Communist government • Churchill, on tour in the U. S. , contends that an “iron curtain has descended in Europe”, extinguishing liberty

Part II: The Cold War Heats Up (1946 -1949) Following the Potsdam Conference, the Cold War gets more intense, as Stalin takes control of Eastern Europe and the threat of Communism spreads to Greece, Turkey, Iran, and Asia. Truman takes a hard-line approach by sending money, aid, and military support to America’s allies.

The Policy of Containment • George Kennan’s “The Long Telegram” (Feb. ‘ 46) • A very long telegram response to the American Ambassador to the Soviet Union • Outlined America’s diplomatic position to Russia

The Long Telegram • U. S. S. R is fatally insecure • U. S. S. R. is completely opposed to Capitalism • There is no room for compromise • Russian Communism is expansionary: IT WILL SPREAD! • Only solution: CONTAIN COMMUNISM -- ANY WAY POSSIBLE

The Iranian Crisis (Mar. ‘ 46) • Soviets take control of Iran – Refuse to withdraw from Iran after WWII – Take over Iranian oilfields – Establish a new Communist government • Will result in regional instability – CIA will start a coup in the 70 s, install the Shah, resulting in the Iranian Revolution and the elevation of the Ayatollah Khomeini – Deep hatred of the West

Greece and Turkey (Feb. ‘ 46 - Mar. ‘ 47) • British pull financial and military support out of Greece • Results in a civil war between Monarchists and Greek Communists • Americans fear spread of Communism through Greece and Turkey, resulting in the loss of the Bosporus Strait

The Truman Doctrine (Mar. ‘ 47) • To prevent spread of Communism in Greece and Turkey • Asked Congress for $400 million to help “free people who are resisting subjugation…by an outside power • First explicit use of American money to finance anti-Communist efforts

The Marshall Plan (June ‘ 47) • The Goal: – To prevent the spread of Communism in Western Europe, by giving over $12. 5 billion to help rebuild post-war Europe – To buy the loyalty of Western European governments – To show American commitment to combat Communism

The Unification of Germany • Western Allies unify Germany into West Germany – American Zone, French Zone, and British Zone combine to unify against Soviet East Germany • Allies combine their zones of Berlin, as an outpost in Soviet occupied E. Germany

The Berlin Blockade (June ‘ 48 - May ‘ 49) • Threatened by the Allied coalition • Resenting the outpost of Capitalism in E. Germany • Russians blockade the city of Berlin – Close all railroads – Stop all planes and close airports – Close all roads – Prevent all trade and traffic into West Berlin

The Berlin Airlift (June ‘ 48 - May ‘ 49) Truman takes action: – Authorized deployment of atomic bombs to British bases…just in case – Ordered air drop of over 2 million tons of food, medicine, and fuel to W. Berliners – Ended after 11 month standoff, when Stalin ended blockade – Symbolized America’s commitment to a new Europe – Crystallized aggression between Soviets and U. S.

NATO Formed (Apr. ‘ 49) • The North Atlantic Treaty Organization: The Sword and the Shield – To protect American and her allies in Europe from Soviet hostility – Approved mutual defense treaty, to use military to combat Communism – Originally 12 members – Prompted the creation of the Warsaw Pact, a Soviet military alliance

The Update • Truman Doctrine: Truman pushes the use of money to prevent the spread of Communism (Marshall Plan, Berlin Airlift) • Communism spreading to Greece, Turkey, and Iran • Eastern Europe closed to the West

Part III: Asia Goes Red (1949 - 1953) Communism spreads through Asia, as Mao begins a successful revolution in China, and then funnels money and troops to Korea.

The Chinese Revolution • Long struggle between Nationalist Chiang Kai. Shek and Communist Mao Zedong • Started in the 1920 s and continued through WWII • Created a brief armistice to fight the Japanese • U. S. contributed over $2 billion to Nationalist forces, which squandered the money

The Fall of China (Aug. ‘ 49) • U. S. stops aid to China • Chiang Kai-Shek flees to island of Formosa to establish the Republic of Taiwan • Mao takes over Beijing and declares the People’s Republic of China in Oct. • Mao signs an alliance with Soviet Russia, 1950

The American Response • U. S. Ambassador to the U. N. vetoes admission of Communist China to U. N. • Only allowed seated members from Taiwan • U. S. steps up financial aid to Japan -- to prevent the expansion of China

The Korean War (June, ‘ 50 - present) Background • Americans and Russians entered Korean Peninsula at end of WW 2 to disarm Japanese • Both sides left troops and munitions • Both sides professed desire for Korean unification • Korea tentatively divided along 38 th Parallel – North--Soviet control – South--American control

Hostilities Flare • Communist N. Koreans cross 38 th Parallel and nearly take city of Pusan, June 1950 • Truman issues NSC-68 (National Security Council Memo #68) – Increase military spending to combat Communism – Mobilize 3. 3 million troops – Create Cold War military preparedness (which would continue through – Saves the declining post-WW 2 military

The United Nations Intervenes • Truman calls United Nations to action (cites mistakes of the League of Nations) • Argues for aggressive containment of Communism • Mac. Arthur given command of UN forces

The Military See-saw September 1950 • Mac. Arthur orders invasion of Inchon • UN forces push N. Koreans back to Yalu River, on the border of China • China responds by sending “volunteer” soldiers to help

Mac. Arthur Fired (April 1951) • Truman refused to fully engage military – The U. S. and public had lost appetite for war atrocities – Truman also fighting Communism at home, with espionage trials and HUAC hearings • Mac. Arthur argued for use of atomic weapons, and publicly criticized the president’s strategy • Truman accepted Mac. Arthur’s resignation

The Armistice Signed • After Mac. Arthur is replaced, UN forces push N. Koreans to the 38 th Parallel • War settles down – N. Koreans supplied by China, U. S. S. R. – S. Koreans supplied by U. S. • Peace talks begin in the fall of 1951, but will last nearly two years • Cease fire signed July 1953, still existent

Part IV: The Eisenhower Years (1952 -1960) The Eisenhower presidency is noted for its massive military buildup, the constant threat of nuclear retaliation, and the idea that constant nuclear preparedness would result in peace.

A New Look Dwight David Eisenhower • Won a landslide victory for Republican Party in 1952 • Professional soldier, general of Normandy Invasion • Liberator of Europe • Trusted by the American people and Western allies

Massive Retaliation • The U. S. couldn’t afford small wars: Use Nukes! – Needed to flex its nuclear muscle – Needed to decrease conventional military spending on standing armies – Increased nuclear arsenal from 1, 000 to 18, 000 warheads – Created Strategic Air Command (SAC), superbombers equipped with atomic bombs

The Space Race • U. S. develops Intercontinental Ballistic Missile program (ICBMs) – Ability to launch long-range missiles, monitored by series of satellites – Russia tests atomic bomb in 1949 – U. S. responds by creating Hydrogen Bomb (equal to 10 million tons of TNT, 1000 x more powerful than A-Bomb) – Russia beats U. S. to space, launches Sputnik, Oct. 1957 – Ike forms National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to create space technology

Brinksmanship: – The threat of full scale nuclear war, as a national foreign policy • • • Korean Armistice (1953): – Forced prisoner exchange and N. Korea to sign armistice Taiwan (1954): – Communist China threatens to take Nationalist Chinese Taiwan, U. S. threatens nuclear retaliation Suez Crisis (1956): – U. S. threatens to use nukes after Communist Egyptian faction takes over Canal, but loses foothold in Middle East • Guatemala – CIA trains Guatemala nationalists to combat Soviet Communists, in order to protect United Farm Co.

The Hungarian Uprising • Background – New Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, seemed more tolerant of America • June 1956 – Riots against Soviet rule start throughout Eastern Europe, notably in Hungary – Soviets crushed the rebellion – U. S. ignored Hungarian pleas for help

The U-2 Incident (1960) • Khrushchev vows to “bury Capitalism, ” pounds shoe on podium • U. S. , NATO, and U. S. S. R. meet to discuss problems in Berlin, diffuse tension – During summit meeting, American spy plane is shot down in Soviet airspace – U. S. said it was a lost weather plane – Soviets, correctly, said it was a spy plane – Derailed summit

Cuba Goes Red (1959) • Increased resentment toward U. S. for not supplying financial aid to Latin America • Claimed racism toward Hispanics • Increased dependence on American exports devastated local economies

The Cuban Revolution • Fidel Castro and Che Guevara denounces everything American – Values – Culture – Imperialism • Overthrows existing government led by Fulgencio Batista

Communism in Cuba • Castro begins redistribution of land, Robin Hood style – Takes land from rich American, or American financed, sugar planters – Collectivizes agriculture – Removes all traces of American culture and capitalism – Would remain major adversary in Western Hemisphere

Castro and Khrushchev • Khrushchev promises full financial and military support to Cuba • Promises to send nuclear missiles to protect Cuba against American imperialism • Will ultimately result in the Cuban Missile Crisis

The Election of 1960 • Eisenhower leaves office having – Mobilized a full nuclear arsenal • • Created ICBMs Highways to move nuclear arsenal SAC Massive retaliation – Ignored pleas for help from Hungary – Allowed Communism to spread in • • Korea Space Hungary Cuba