The Cold War: Causes and Consequences

1. Ch. 15 The Cold War Begins • Name the two super powers in the Cold War. • Why did hard feelings arise between the Soviets and the Americans during WWII? • Using one word, define what type of man Joseph Stalin was? • Define: Cold war, Iron Curtain, and NATO

2. Cold War – Era of high tension and bitter rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union • Iron Curtain – Phrase coined by Winston Churchill to describe the division in Europe caused by communism • Containment – Policy that called for resisting the spread of Soviet power and influence • George F. Kennan – American expert on the Soviet Union who worked for containment • Truman Doctrine – policy to support free nations economically to prevent the spread of communism • Marshall Plan – massive American economic aid program to help Western Europe rebuild • Berlin Airlift – British and American airplanes supply deliveries by air to West Berlin in response to Soviet blockade • NATO– North Atlantic Treaty Organization: military alliance of 12 nations for common defense against he Soviets

3. Section 1… The Iron Curtain Falls on Europe What were the causes of the Cold War? What was the Iron Curtain? How did the United States respond to Soviet actions in Europe? What was the crisis in Berlin in the late 1940s, and how was it resolved?

4. Why is there a space ship and a space station in this picture?

7. Causes of the Cold War • The Soviet Union and the U.S. viewed the world completely different. • Soviet Union: communism, totalitarian dictatorship • United States: free-enterprise capitalism, democracy • What would it mean for capitalists if communism took over? Philosophical Differences • WWI began the hatred b/w America and USSR Why? • Allies during the war, but not truly friends • In WWII Soviets wanted Americans to fight in Europe much sooner… What would happen if America entered earlier. • U.S. atomic bomb angered/scared Soviet Union… Why? Conflicts b/w U.S. and Soviets • The Soviet Union refused to let Eastern Europe hold free elections as promised at the Yalta Conference. • The United States resisted Soviet expansion. Postwar Conflicts

9. Why didn’t Stalin give free elections in the eastern bloc, like he was supposed to according to the Yalta Conference?

10. Joseph Stalin wanted to retain political and economic control over Eastern Europe… why not allow democracy? The Soviets managed to install Communist governments throughout Eastern Europe… (“Free Elections”) Stalin outlawed political parties and newspapers Any one who was considered a threat to the Soviet Govt. was placed in Gulags?? (15 Million!!!) 1 – 2 Million dead (84, 7, Alaska) The Soviets rigged what elections they had. (sound familiar?) Yugoslavia was the only Eastern European nation that was not under the direct control of Stalin and the Soviet Union. Josip Broz Tito, a Communist dictator, refused to take orders from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union relocated Germans living in Poland and other countries of Eastern Europe. Allies had agreed that Germans should be removed in an “orderly and humane manner” 100,000 + died (The German Expulsion) What was The Iron Curtain?

19. The Iron Curtain Western Views of the Iron Curtain • Winston Churchill attacked the Soviet Union for creating an Iron Curtain.??? • The term reflected Churchill’s belief that communism had created a sharp division in Europe. Soviet Views of the Iron Curtain • Stalin believed that the Iron Curtain was necessary to protect the Soviet Union from western nations… What was he most worried about?... How did the Soviet people feel about the Iron Curtain?? • Stalin used Churchill’s words to help persuade his people that the United States and Great Britain were their enemies. • He also used Churchill’s speech as motivation for his people to rebuild the military.

20. How did the United States respond to Soviet actions in Europe? • Containment • George F. Kennan created a policy known as containment. • This policy stated that the United States should resist Soviet attempts to expand its power without nuclear war. • Containment included economic aid, sanctions, military force, and Weapons! (proxy wars) • Truman Doctrine • Said that the United States would help people fight against oppressors • Truman wanted to send aid to Greece and Turkey to help them fight Soviet pressure. • Congress agreed to send $400M dollars and tons of weapons to Greece and Turkey. • Marshall Plan • George C. Marshall (Secretary of state) • An aid program to rebuild the economies of European countries to create stable conditions for democracies • 17 countries received $13.4 billion dollars in aid. (140B Today) • Helped build strong political support in Western Europe for capitalistic/democratic governments

27. With the start of the Cold War, it became clear that the Soviets planned to keep their German zone under Communist control. The British, Americans, and French began to take steps to set up a free, democratic government within their German zones. The western/Democratic zone eventually became known as the Federal Republic of Germany, or West Germany. The British, Americans, and French also tried to set up a democratic government in West Berlin. The Soviets were not happy with the idea of a Western-style government and economy in the middle of the Soviet zone of occupation. Crisis in Berlin

28. What’s the big deal with West Berlin having a democratic government?

29. The Crisis in Berlin • Soviets Bloc Traffic • In June 1948 the Soviets announced that they would block any road, rail, or river traffic into West Berlin. • West Berlin’s residents were cut off from food, coal, and other products. • West Berlin was not completely cutoff though?? • The Berlin Airlift • British and American planes began making deliveries to West Berlin. • The Berlin Airliftcontinued for months and months. • Finally, the Soviet Union lifted its blockade on May 12, 1949. • https://youtu.be/6YyXGDLZ250 • NATO Forms • In 1949 the U.S. and 6 other nations joined Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the U.K. to form NATO. • An armed attack against one would be considered an attack against all.

33. Review: 1. What are some causes of the Cold War? 2. What was the Iron Curtain? 3. What three policies did the U.S. implement to prevent the spread of Communism How did the United States respond to Soviet actions in Europe? 4. What was the crisis in Berlin in the late 1940s, and how was it resolved?

34. What are some causes of the Cold War? • Different views about how the government should operate (Communism Vs. Capitalism) • America’s refusal to enter a war on two fronts in Europe (Stalin was Furious) • Soviets saw Atomic Bomb as a threat to the future of their nation • Stalin did not live up to his promises of free elections in Eastern Europe • Americans resisted Soviet expansion

35. What was the Iron Curtain? • Term coined by Winston Churchill in 1946 to describe an imaginary line dividing Communist countries in the Soviet bloc from countries in Western Europe during the Cold War. • A veil of secrecy

36. What three policies did the U.S. implement to prevent the spread of Communism How did the United States respond to Soviet actions in Europe? • Truman Doctrine – Policy to support free nations economically to prevent the spread of communism • Marshall Plan – Massive American economic aid program to help Western Europe rebuild • Containment – Policy that called for resisting the spread of Soviet power and influence

37. What was the crisis in Berlin in the late 1940s, and how was it resolved? • The Soviets were not happy with the idea of a Western-style government and economy in the middle of the Soviet zone of occupation, so… • The Soviets blocked off traffic into West Berlin in order to force western influences out of Berlin • West Berlin was cut off from necessary items such as coal and food • The Americans began airlifting supplies into West Berlin to prevent more suffering. • The U.S. and 11 European nation created an alliance which stated that an attack against one of these countries would mean an attack on all of the countries. This alliance became known as NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

38. Section 2: • What do you think life was like in America After WWII? • Define: World bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) • How do you think the actions of black soldiers during WWII affected American Society?

39. section 2 • GI Bill – Law aimed at helping veterans make a smooth entry into civilian life • Baby Boom – Dramatic rise in the birthrate after WWII • Fair Deal – Truman’s plan for the U.S. in the tradition of the New Deal • Universal Declaration of Human Rights – UN (United Nations) document specifying basic human rights all people should have • World Bank – Postwar organization aimed at helping poor countries build their economies • International Monetary Fund – Postwar organization formed to encourage economic policies that promoted international trade • General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade – International organization to promote trade

40. Healing the Wounds of War • Section 2: • What was life like in America after World War II? • What happened in politics in postwar America? • How did the United States and other countries try to build a better world after the war?

41. Some experts worried that the postwar drop in industrial needs would hurt the economy. The nearly 12 million men and women who had been serving in the armed forces were returning to civilian life and would need jobs. Often jobs were not available. Women workers, so vital during the war, were pressured to leave their jobs. The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (The GI Bill) was intended to help veterans make the transition to civilian life. The demand for consumer goods rose sharply after the war. Why? Labor unions began to make demands. Racial minorities began to agitate for better opportunities. Life in America after World War II

42. Life in America after World War II • The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 was better known as the GI Bill. • The bill helped veterans transition to civilian life. • Provided money for vets to attend college • Helped arrange for home, farm, or business loans • Provided help in finding work as well as a year’s worth of unemployment benefits The GI Bill • Demand for consumer goods rose sharply. • Returning vets built houses, which increased the demand for furniture and appliances. • A baby boom (46 – 64)began as Americans began having families. 76 Million! 40% of the population!… Why was there a baby boom after WWII and what problem are we having today b/c of this? (2041) Increased Demand

46. Life in America after World War II • During the war, the government prevented labor disputes… Why? • After the war, unions began to seek the increases in wages that were limited during the war… Why? • The number of strikes rose sharply. • In 1947, Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act, (empowered the president to stop strikes when the national interest was at stake) greatly reduced the power of labor unions in America Labor Unions • “If we fail the whole black race fails” • In 1948, Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which ended segregation in the U.S. armed forces. Racial Minorities

47. How did this help the fight for equality?

48. 1946 CONGRESSIONAL Elections Many Democrats compared Truman unfavorably to Roosevelt. Republicans began to attack Truman before the 1946 congressional elections. Inflation was a big issue. Republicans gained a majority in Congress, which made it difficult for Truman to put his programs into place. Truman (10min) https://youtu.be/cIS-acV14Oc 1948 PRESIDENTIAL Election Truman’s popularity was low and critics didn’t think he could win the election. Southern Democrats didn’t like Truman’s support of civil rights. Truman set off on a whirlwind campaign across the country. Truman won the election. (one of the most surprising outcomes in election history) Truman put forward his Fair Deal program which included a federal health insurance program and increased funding for education… Why? Postwar American Politics

50. People had a strong desire to understand and prevent the causes of war after World Wars I and II. One result was the establishment of the United Nations (UN). 50 nations met in June 1945 to create the UN Charter. The Charter committed its members to respect fundamental human rights, respect treaties and agreements, and to promote the progress and freedom of all people. Member nations agreed to live in peace. The Charter called for the use of international organizations to promote economic and social advancement. Military force would be used only for the common good of mankind https://youtu.be/ATkJe8iADhc Building a Better World