Choices facing the United States during the Cold War

1. Choices facing the United States during the Cold War

2. Bell Work: 5/4/09 What constitutes a threat to you?

3. In-Class Activity – Day 1 • The Origins of the Cold War – U.S. Choices after World War II • Reading: “Introduction: Meeting on the Elbe” • Preview Article • Read and Take Notes • Responsibilities

4. Bell Work: Cinco de Mayo • How do you define a threat to the United States?

5. In Class Activity – Day 2 • Assignment of Groups • Hand in Reading Packets • Complete the Question Sheet using ONLY your notes. • Along with your group members, compare answers to questions (You may supplement answers with information received from group members)

6. Cartoon

7. The Big Three – Who are these men?

8. Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin

9. Option 1 – Impose a Pax Americana (American Peace) The Big Idea: No nation in modern times has had the opportunity the United States has now to shape an entire world order.

10. Option 1 – Impose a Pax Americana (American Peace) • Lay a foundation for an era of peaceful international relations • Ensure that the peoples of the world have the opportunity to prosper economically and to develop politically • Continue the mission to bring peace and freedom to all peoples. • Force the Soviet Union (through U.S. military force if necessary) to free the people they have denied self-determination. • Insist that the Soviet Union must accept the new international order based on political and economic freedom.

11. Option 2 – Contain Soviet Communism • The Big Idea: The two world wars have shown that the United States cannot distance itself from European nations that share our economic system and political values

12. Option 2 – Contain Soviet Communism • International relations in the postwar world will be dominated by a struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. • Soviet leaders are committed to extending communism throughout the globe. • Western Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Japan are to valuable to U.S. national interests to leave them vulnerable to Soviet aggression. • The U.S. must work with other free nations to construct a strong barrier of containment. • Communism only thrives in conditions of misery, want and strife. Limiting these conditions will limit Communism’s potential to spread.

13. Option 3 – Co-Exist and Compromise The Big Idea: With the defeat of Germany and Japan, the Allied nations are in a unique position to created a new international order based on the rule of law.

14. Option 3 – Co-Exist and Compromise • History has shown that peace is possible only when the most powerful countries of the world share common goals. • Though the U.S. and Soviet Union differ in economic and political systems, both desire peace. • The U.S. and Soviet Union must work together to ensure a future of international stability and legality. • The U.S. must do its part to maintain peace by refraining from the threat or use of force, whenever possible. • The best way to promote the interests of peoples in Eastern Europe is to diminish the Soviet sense of insecurity.

15. Option 4 – Avoid Foreign Entanglements The Big Idea: With the United States victory in the last war, the security of the U.S. is assured.

16. Option 4 – Avoid Foreign Entanglements • Americans can return to making their lives better without foreign threats lurking over their shoulders. • Our geographic position, with great oceans isolating us from the strife of Europe and Asia, enable us to defend our shores without bankrupting our economy. • Further involvement in world fairs should be avoided. • America has no right to shape the world to fit American ideals. With U.S./Soviet relations already strained, such a policy would be expensive and reckless. • Americans prosper most when the power of the central government is kept at a minimum. • Individual liberties of Americans will be threatened by the unchecked growth of executive power fed by overseas involvement.