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The Cold War 1945-1990 US vs Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Definition. A political, strategic and ideological struggle between the US and the Soviet Union. Spread throughout the world-Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Discussion. Communism vs. Democracy Socialism vs. Capitalism.
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The Cold War 1945-1990US vs Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Definition • A political, strategic and ideological struggle between the US and the Soviet Union. • Spread throughout the world-Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Discussion Communism vs. Democracy Socialism vs. Capitalism
Causes of the Cold War • Different political systems -US is based on democracy, capitalism and freedom -USSR is based on dictatorship, communism and control • The Red Scare-1919 • Both thought their system was better and distrusted the others intentions • Stalin despised capitalism
Causes of Cold War • Stalin breaking his promise to allow free elections at the Yalta Conference • American fear of a communist attack(Red Scare) and USSR’s fear of a US attack • USSR’s fear of the atomic bomb • USSR’s actions in their German zone • USSR’s goal to spread communism around the world • This feeling of suspicion lead to mutual distrust and this did a great deal to deepen the Cold War
Yalta ConferenceFeb 1945 • Before the end of the World War II, Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met at Yalta to plan what should happen when the war ended. They agreed on many points: • The establishment of the United Nations. • Germany to be divided into four zones. • Free elections allowed in the states of eastern Europe. • Russia promised to join the war against Japan.
Post WWII/Cold War Goals for US • Wanted to promote open markets for US goods to prevent another depression • Promote democracy throughout the world, especially in Asia and Africa • Stop the spread of communism • Policy of Containment
Post WWII/Cold War Goals for the USSR • Wanted to create greater security for itself -lost tens of millions of people in WWII and Stalin’s purges -feared a strong Germany • Establish defensible borders • Encourage friendly governments on its borders • Spread communism around the world
Key Terms • Iron Curtain Speech • Domino Theory(Effect) • Policy of Containment • Truman Doctrine • Marshall Plan • Brinkmanship • Massive retaliation/Mutual Deterrence/Mutual Assured Destruction • NATO vs. Warsaw Pact • CIA vs. KGB
Peaceful coexistence • De-Stalinization • Detente • Perestroika • Glasnost • Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 1963 • Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 1968 • Strategic Arms Limitation Talks(Treaty)-1972 • Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty 1972
Bright Blue-1945 original members • Dark Blue-1946-1959 • Bright Green-1960-1989 • Dark Green-1990-present
“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and, in some cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow. Athens alone -- Greece with its immortal glories -- is free to decide its future at an election under British, American and French observation. The Russian-dominated Polish Government has been encouraged to make enormous and wrongful inroads upon Germany, and mass expulsions of millions of Germans on a scale grievous and undreamed-of are now taking place. The Communist parties, which were very small in all these Eastern States of Europe, have been raised to pre-eminence and power far beyond their numbers and are seeking everywhere to obtain totalitarian control. Police governments are prevailing in nearly every case, and so far, except in Czechoslovakia, there is no true democracy.” Winston Churchill “Iron Curtain” Speech
In 1947, the British were helping the Greek government fight against communist guerrillas. They appealed to America for aid, and the response was the Truman Doctrine. Greece received large amounts of arms and supplies, and by 1949 had defeated the communists. Truman Doctrine
In 1947, US Secretary of State Marshall announced the Marshall Plan. This was a massive economic aid plan for Europe to help it recover from the damage caused by the war. There were two motives for this: Helping Europe to recover economically would provide markets for American goods, benefiting American industry. A prosperous Europe would be better able to resist the spread of communism. Marshall Plan
In 1948, the three western controlled zones of Germany's(US,France, UK) were united, and grew in prosperity due to Marshal Aid. • The west wanted the east to rejoin, but Stalin feared it would hurt Soviet security. • In June 1948, Stalin decided to try to gain control of West Berlin which was deep inside the eastern sector. • He cut road, rail and canal links with West Berlin, hoping to starve it into submission. • The west responded by airlifting in the necessary supplies to allow west Berlin to survive. • In May 1949, Russia admitted defeat and lifted the blockade.
Alger Hiss Trial • In 1948, Alger Hiss was accused of being a member of a Communist cell whose purpose had been to infiltrate the U.S. government • Hiss vigorously maintained innocence. • In 1949, the trial ended with a deadlocked jury- 8-4 in favor of conviction. • The second trial began on later in 1949, and ended two months later in early 1950, • The new jury found Hiss guilty
Hiss' conviction was later upheld by the Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. • Hiss served five years in prison. • In 1992, a former Soviet intelligence officer said that Hiss was not a Soviet spy, but rather a victim of Cold War hysteria.
NATO • In 1949 the western nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to co-ordinate their defense against Russia. • NATO was a defensive alliance • This was the first peacetime alliance in US History • It consisted of:-America, Canada, Britain, France, Holland, BelgiumLuxembourg, Portugal, Denmark, Norway and Italy • Still around today
McCarthyism • Joseph McCarthy (1908-1957) was a Republican Senator from Wisconsin • In 1950, he gave a speech where he claimed to have a list of 205 Communists in the State Department • No one in the press actually saw the names on the list, but McCarthy's announcement made national news and caused panic throughout the country • McCarthy became one of the most powerful people in the US
Supporters of McCarthy • Republicans • Catholics • Conservative Protestants • Blue-collar workers • Joseph and Robert Kennedy
McCarthy’s Downfall • In the spring of 1954, McCarthy charged the US Army had promoted a dentist accused of being a Communist. • For the first time, television broadcast allowed the general public to see the Senator as a blustering bully and his investigations as little more than a misguided scam. • In late 1954, the Senate voted to censure him for his conduct and to strip him of his privileges. • McCarthy died three years later from alcoholism. • The term "McCarthyism" lives on to describe anti-Communist fervor, reckless accusations, and guilt by association.
1000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima atomic bomb Set off on Bikini Island in the Marshall Islands US Test Hydrogen Bomb-1952
Talks of peaceful co-existence and de-stalinization. Nikita Khrushchev Takes Over
