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The Beginnings of the Cold War

The Beginnings of the Cold War. What was the Cold War?. It was not a war waged on the battlefield The Cold War was an almost 50 year power struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union The war was political and economic, but the threat of actual war was always present

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The Beginnings of the Cold War

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  1. The Beginnings of the Cold War

  2. What was the Cold War? • It was not a war waged on the battlefield • The Cold War was an almost 50 year power struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union • The war was political and economic, but the threat of actual war was always present • The United States—democratic government • The Soviet Union—communist government VS.

  3. Soviet Expansion • After WWII, the Soviets (led by Stalin) controlled a large chunk of Eastern Europe • Satellite nations—Eastern European countries under Soviet control • Containment—Policy suggested by George Kennan of restricting the spread of communism

  4. Atomic Weapons • After WWII, the Soviet Union began developing atomic weapons • Bernard Baruch—called for the inspection of atomic energy plants • The Baruch Plan—an organization would penalize countries who didn’t follow international rules for atomic weapons • In 1949, the Soviets tested their first atomic weapon • The Atomic Energy Act--Federal law that created the Atomic Energy Commission to oversee nuclear weapons research and to promote peacetime uses of atomic energy.

  5. Containment • Truman Doctrine—President Harry Truman’s policy of protecting any country fighting against communism • The Marshall Plan—Secretary of State George Marshall’s plan to give aid to help rebuild economies of European countries

  6. The Berlin Airlift • Allies created a West German government • The Soviets didn’t approve and blockaded any links from Berlin to West Germany—wanted the allies to leave Berlin • Berlin Airlift—over 10 months, U.S. and British airplanes carried 2 million tons of supplies to the people in Berlin • Stalin lifted the blockade, but Germany was officially divided into 2 countries

  7. Western Alliance • North American Treaty Organization (NATO)—a military alliance of 12 countries who pledged to protect each other from outside attack • Dwight D. Eisenhower was supreme commander of NATO • Warsaw Pact—The Soviet Union created an alliance with the communist countries of Eastern Europe

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