The Cold War Origins of the Cold War

The Cold War

Origins of the Cold War � Period after WWII is referred to as the Cold War: the tense relationship between capitalism (mainly the USA) and communism (Soviet Union) � Postwar (after WWII) discussions were postponed as long as possible. • Western countries (mainly U. S. and Britain) were uneasy about Stalin’s postwar intentions. � Teheran conference (Nov. 1943): • Big Three: Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin • Was decided that Soviet Union would solely deliver Eastern Europe from Germany. • Implications: Soviet Union had strong position in East, western powers had little to no input.

Flawed Victory � Yalta Conference (Feb. 1945): • Germany divided into zones of occupation: Soviets in East Germany, western countries in West Germany • Berlin, which fell in Soviet sector of Germany, was subdivided because it was the capital city • Germany forced to pay heavy war reparations to U. S. S. R. • Soviet Union declares war on Japan once Germany was defeated. � Before the Yalta Conference: • pro-Soviet groups were forming in eastern Europe. • Bulgaria and Poland controlled by communists. � Potsdam Conference (July 1945): • Roosevelt died, succeeded by Truman • Truman was driven to promote the democratic American ideal. He demanded free elections in the east. • Stalin would not allow this.

Awkwardness at Yalta

Division of Germany according to Yalta Conference

Division of Berlin According to Yalta Conference

West vs. East � Differences between nations were stalled during WWII; however, with Germany beaten, Western and Eastern politics and ideology clashed. � Stalin- a suspicious man • Believed free elections would lead to hostile govt. on western border (again) • Communist countries only dependable ally • “struggle against capitalist imperialism” � Truman- a decisive man • American democratic ideals at all-time high • Millions of eastern European voters in U. S. rallied for free elections in Soviet controlled areas • View towards Communism was containment: Communism cannot spread � Three main causes of Cold War: military developments, wartime agreements, and political/ideological differences

America “Gets Tough” � May 1945: U. S. cut off aid to U. S. S. R. � October 1945: U. S. announced it wouldn’t recognize any govt. established against the free will of the people � Communist agents subversively spread communism throughout Europe � America’s answer: containment • Truman Doctrine: military aid to counties fighting communism (Greece & Turkey) • Marshall Plan: Financial and economic aid to all Europe

�Stalin refused the Marshall Plan in Soviet occupied areas. �Communist government seized Czechoslovakia (Feb. 1948) �Berlin Airlift: U. S. S. R. blocked routes into Berlin from west. • Soviets continuously battered West Berliners with communist propaganda and rioted against anticommunist leaders. • Soviets stopped supplying West Berlin and cut electric power to non-Soviet zones. • Western powers began flying supplies into West Berlin. • Airlift lasted 324 days: Soviets backed off.

Berlin Airlift

New Alliances � 1949 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): Anti. Soviet military alliance between U. S. & several other countries. � Stalin focuses on his satellite countries and in 1955 formed the Warsaw Pact between the Soviet Union and eight other communist countries.

Communist Asia �Late 1949 China’s civil war is won by the communists. �Korean War • 1950 North Korean communist army invades South Korea. • U. S. fights with South Korea • China backs North Korea • Truman refuses to go to war against China; truce negotiated in 1953

Post WWII Economics & Politics � Economic conditions were worst in Germany • 13 million Germans forced from lands given to Poland • War reparations: factories were seized, equipment and materials were shipped back to Soviet Union • Western allies sometimes treated Germans harshly � The rest of Europe began to heal. Period of 1945 -1968 known as the Western Renaissance

Econ & Politics cont. � Christian Democrats • Out of the wreckage of WWII, new leaders were emerging. • Christian Democrats became leading political party. • Italy, France, and West Germany elected leaders from Christian Democrats. � Welfare measures throughout Europe • Free medical services, public housing, family allowances, nationalized industry. � Countries were willing to step outside the box • France: mixed state and private ownership of key industries. Also used national funds for industry. • West Germany: Embraced capitalism, reformed currency, abolished rationing & price controls.

European Unity � Organization of European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) • Created to help distribution of economic aid � Council of Europe (1949): dedicated to promote democratic ideals throughout Europe � European Economic Community (1957) • Known as the Common Market • Created by the Treaty of Rome • Due to resurgence of nationalism, countries stayed independent in the Common Market

Decolonization � Colonies fighting for self-determination and equality. � Moral views had shifted since 1914: Europe not interested in bloody colonization. � India: • British socialists not fan of imperialism • Financial burden for Britain � China: Civil war between Nationalists and Communists – communists headed by Mao Zedong. • Nationalists withdrew to Taiwan • China under Mao: forced labor camps, mass arrests, propaganda, kicked out foreigners.

� � � Middle East: Creation of Israel • Violence between Jewish and Arab populations intense in Palestine • 1947 United Nations voted to create Israel for Jewish pop. • Jews were happy, Arabs not happy = continual fighting Egypt: Nationalist revolution led by Gamal Abdel Nasser • Nationalized Suez Canal Company (which was foreign owned) Africa: • British colonies gained freedom, entered British Commonwealth of Nations • French colonies had choice of total break w/ France or enter commonwealth w/ France – All but one colony kept ties with France Economic ties increased because of this “neocolonialism” Neocolonialism: System used by Western powers to keep economic power under the disguise of independence

Soviet Eastern Europe � During WWII Russian nationalism grew • Russians expecting increased freedom after the war – they were wrong • Stalin again started to see capitalism as the enemy � 1930 s all over again • Purges, labor camps, massive propaganda, censorship, no possessions, no religion, secret police • Military industry was priority • Agriculture, consumer goods, and housing were ignored � Stalin’s main postwar goal was to spread his Stalinist system throughout Eastern Europe. � The only country that defied Stalin: Yugoslavia • Josip Broz Tito achieved independent communism in 1948

De-Stalinization 1953 -1964 � Stalin died March 5, 1953 � Nikita Khrushchev, reformer, came to power • Power of secret police was weakened and many labor • • camps were closed Resources shifted from military to consumer goods and agriculture Standard of living began to improve Foreign relations were relaxed Some eastern European countries rebelled (Why? ) � Literature and art emerged as a result • Pasernak’s Doctor Zhivago and Solzhenitsyn’s One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

End of Reform � Khrushchev’s mistakes: • Ordered Western Powers out of West Berlin. When West refused, Khrushchev backed off (1958) • Berlin Wall (1961): Constructed to stop access to East and West Berlin • Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Soviet missile base in Cuba � In 1964 Khrushchev was replaced by Leonid Brezhnev. � Re-Stalinization started, but on limited scale. • Party members saw de-Stalinization weakening authority of govt.

Invasion of Czechoslovakia � Stalinist leader replaced by Alexander Dubcek � Wanted socialism with personal freedom � Soviet leaders intimidated Czech govt. and U. S. S. R. invaded with 500, 000 troops � Reform in Czechoslovakia was over � Brezhnev Doctrine: Soviet Union and allies have right to intervene in any socialist country when needed. � Implication: Soviet Union was determined to keep dominance in Eastern Europe.

Social Transformations & Late Cold War

Science & Technology �Big Science: large-scale scientific projects funded by govt. and large corporations. �Space Race: • 1957 Soviets launched Sputnik I • 1961 Yuri Gagarin (Russian) first person to orbit Earth • 1962 John Glenn first American to orbit Earth • 1968 U. S. launched Apollo 8 • 1969 U. S. landed on moon

Sci & Tech cont. � Europe “brain drain”: govt. funded research attracted many European scientists. � In response, Europe pooled resources to begin projects.

Changing Class Structure �Technological and industrial expansion created need for management = middle class. �Middle class grew and diversified. �Lower class: farm work declined, no job opportunities for working class. �Women began to work “white-collar” jobs �Birthrate declined as women entered workforce.

Women’s Movement � Causes: Higher education, entering workforce, and American civil right movement. � Simone de Beauvoir: The Second Sex (1949) � Betty Friedan: The Feminine Mystique (1963) � 1966 National Organization for Women (NOW) • Fought for reforms in workplace and family matters

Counterculture �Economic prosperity, mass communication and the baby boom contributed to a radical new generation. �Sexual behaviors, living arrangements, drug use – experimentation �Higher education & romanticism �Rebelled against traditional views & “the establishment” �Student protests: against admin & govt.

Vietnam War � Reason: containment of communism � U. S. backed South Vietnam against Communist North Vietnam � Public bombarded with war daily � Anti-war protests � Johnson does not run in 1968, Richard Nixon elected (1968) � 1972 Nixon reached peace with N. Vietnam � Watergate: illegal activities by administration – Nixon resigned.

Détente or Cold War? � Détente: relaxation of Cold War tensions � Chancellor Brandt: • Wanted reconciliation with Eastern Europe • Treaties accepting existing boundaries negotiated with U. S. S. R. , Poland, & Czechoslovakia. � Final Act of Helsinki Conference 1975 • Declaration to improve relations between nations • Promoted political freedom and human rights • Soviet Union ignored many provisions � By the 80’s, détente was wavering

Economic Troubles � 1970’s: value of dollar dropped, high inflation � 1973 OPEC place oil embargo on U. S. for backing Israel. Oil prices quadrupled. � Misery Index: combined unemployment and inflation rates.

Troubles cont. � Optimism and romanticism of postwar gave way to pessimism and realism. � Welfare programs prevented a revisit to 1920’s. � Govt. forced to cut spending. • Scientific projects were one of the first to go. � Environmentalism: • Green party in Germany (1979) � Nutrition: awareness of responsibility oneself. � Starting families was postponed. for