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The Nation faces a cold war

The Nation faces a cold war. How did the Soviet Union expand its power after WWII? How did the Marshall Plan help to prevent the spread of communism ?. A new era. “A new era is upon us. The utter destructiveness of war now blots out this alternative. We have had our last chance.”

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The Nation faces a cold war

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  1. The Nation faces a cold war How did the Soviet Union expand its power after WWII? How did the Marshall Plan help to prevent the spread of communism?

  2. A new era “A new era is upon us. The utter destructiveness of war now blots out this alternative. We have had our last chance.” – General Douglas MacArthur • Another world war must be avoided • American’s shared the same sentiments as MacArthur

  3. Roots of conflict Churchill’s warning of an “iron curtain” Soviet expansion Spread of communism

  4. What is communism? • A form of government characterized by a classless and stateless society • Defined by equal distribution of economic goods • Command economy: the economy is mostly controlled by the government • The government tells you what to produce, how to produce it, and to whom to sell

  5. Goals & Outcomes of communism GOALS OUTCOMES Abuse of power Restrictions in society Censorship Class system still exists • Equality for all citizens • No unemployment • Share the wealth • No poverty • No social classes (no rich, no poor)

  6. What is capitalism? • An economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained by private individuals and corporations • Democratic governments • Market economy: major decisions about production are made by individual households and businesses following their own self-interest

  7. CHECKPOINT • With your group, complete “CAPITALISM & COMMUNISM: POSTIVES AND NEGATIVES” sheet • Everyone should record/have their own copy • Be prepared to discuss your points

  8. POST-WWII • The end of WWII shaped the postwar world by laying the foundations for the Cold War • At the end of WWII, the Allies essentially split the world between them • The Allies split the European and Asian world between themselves. • In Asia, the Soviet Union was allowed to keep the northern part of Korea • Germany was split at first in four sections but France and England gave their territory to the United States as they attempted to rebuild their war torn homeland • The Soviet Union was allowed to dominate the eastern part of Germany and the countries of Eastern Europe • Countries throughout the world had to then choose their ally either the United States or the Soviet Union • This split between the US and SU was spread throughout the globe • By setting up this situation where the world was split up between communist and non-communist countries, the end of WWII set the stage for the Cold War

  9. US Fears following wwii • Spread of Communism • Return of the Great Depression

  10. Truman doctrine “The free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms. If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the world–and we shall surely endanger the welfare of our own nation” – President Truman, 1947 • Show of strength to halt Soviet expansion • US pledged to aid nations threatened by communist uprising and expansion

  11. Soviet/Communist threat to us & western Europe post-wwii Western Europe conditions May cause Western Europeans to vote their own leaders into office who would align their country with the Soviet Union May cause the spread of communism • HUNGER • POVERTY • DESPAIR

  12. Marshall plan “The modern system of the division of labor upon which the exchange of products is based is in danger of breaking down. The truth of the matter is that Europe's requirements for the next three or four years of foreign food and other essential products -- principally from America -- are so much greater than her present ability to pay that she must have substantial additional help or face economic, social, and political deterioration of a very grave character.” – Secretary of State George C. Marshall describing the goals of the Marshall Plan, June 5, 1947

  13. Marshall plan • Financial aid and support for European countries left devastated in the aftermath of WWII • Proposed by Secretary of State, George Marshall, 1947 • Large-scale plan to help rebuild Europe’s economy • $13 billion in aid • Decreased chances of communist expansion and take over in Western Europe

  14. marshall plan PURPOSES: • Provide Europeans with an attractive alternative option to communism • Make the US look good by giving Europeans hope by providing for immediate needs of the people • Provide financial opportunities for the US to later trade with the European nations EFFECTS: • Cause Stalin (Soviet Union leader at time) to put up a “wall” dividing Europe which aided containment of communism • Cause friction between Stalin and satellite countries by forbidding acceptance of US aide

  15. Tell me what you know: • Evaluate the political cartoon • What does each item/person/symbol represent? • At what audience is the political cartoon aimed? • What did the artist want you to understand? • How did the Western European people or nations benefit from the Marshall Plan?

  16. Soviet blockade • United States, France, and Britain to join zones of Germany to form “German Federal Republic”, or West Germany • Soviet zone late becomes known as the “German Democratic Republic”, or East Germany • Stalin closes roads, railways, and river routes connecting Berlin with West Germany • Blockade cuts off West Berlin with the rest of the world • Truman’s response: Berlin Airlift • Airlift: An act of transporting supplies by aircraft, typically in a blockade or other emergency.

  17. “By now the planes are passing overhead hundreds of times a day. In the crowded lunchroom at Tempelhof quiet, tired American pilots grab a coffee and a sandwich…Outside, on the edge of the field, a ragged German crowd gathers…and German boys squint through holes in the field fence with the open-mouthed fascination of American kids watching a ball game.” – Article from Life magazine Berlin airlift

  18. Keeping the peace The United Nations North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Warsaw Pact

  19. Nato & warsaw pact • NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization • Military alliance of democratic states in Europe and North America • Warsaw Pact • A military treaty, which bound its members to come to the aid of the others, should any one of them be the victim of foreign aggression • Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Soviet Union)\

  20. Cold war turns hot “For me it was a typical Sunday night in Japan. It rained all day. My wife was giving the kids a bath prior to putting them to bed, and I was reading a book…when the call came for me to report at once to headquarters. The wife wanted to know what the call was about. ‘Something must be wrong with next week’s training schedule,’ I answered. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’” – Sergeant First Class Bill Menninger, United States Army stationed in Japan after WWII, June 1950

  21. Hunting communists at home • Cold War tensions feed American fears • Detection of radiation in Soviet Union proves Americans are no longer the only country with atomic power • Rosenberg trial • Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin

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