American Involvement in the Cold War

1. American Involvement in the Cold War Global Conflict

2. American Involvement • Many felt the United States was the only country powerful enough to resist the Soviet Union and the spread of Communism • In 1947, President Truman announced that the US would give aid to Greece, a country trying to resist Communists trying to take over the government

3. American Involvement • Truman promised to help all free peoples resisting Communism in a policy known as the “Truman Doctrine” • The US adopted a policy of containment toward Communism • The US would not overturn Communism where it existed, but it would take steps to prevent Communism from spreading

4. American Involvement • In 1947, the US announced the Marshall Plan, which gave billions of dollars in aid to European nations to help re-build war torn economies • The aim was to build trading partners for the US and to help Europeans resist Communism

5. American Involvement • In 1948, the Western allies merged their zones in occupied Germany • Stalin reacted by closing all Western highway and railroad links to Berlin • Western allies began a massive airlift, the Berlin Airlift, to feed and supply the city

6. American Involvement • Within a year, the blockade was lifted • The 3 western zones became known as West Germany and the Soviet zone became known as East Germany

8. Notebook Assignment • Why do you think Churchill referred to the separation of USSR and the rest of Europe as the Iron Curtain?