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The cold War. Test #8 VUS 13. Beginnings of the Cold War. Two superpowers emerged after World War II The United States—believers in Democracy The Soviet Union—believers in Communism The leaders of the United States wanted to spread Democracy in the World
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The cold War Test #8 VUS 13
Beginnings of the Cold War • Two superpowers emerged after World War II • The United States—believers in Democracy • The Soviet Union—believers in Communism • The leaders of the United States wanted to spread Democracy in the World • The Soviet leaders wanted to take over all of Eastern Europe and spread Communism
Yalta Conference: • At the Yalta Conference, many of the tensions for the Cold War were set • The “Big Three” met at Yalta and were trying to establish an agenda for governing post-war Germany • Big Three • Churchill—wanted to save the British Empire • FDR—wanted to spread democracy • Stalin—wanted Eastern Europe
The “Big Three” decided to partition (divide up) Germany after the war • Germany will be split into a Western and an Eastern Part • Western Germany—democratic • Eastern Germany—communist and controlled by the Soviets
Soviet Security • The Soviets will be given most of Eastern Europe • They wanted Eastern Europe as a buffer against Western Europe • These Eastern European nations became “satellite” nations that would provide security against attacks from Western Democracies • The Soviets were afraid of the United States because the US had the atomic bomb • The Soviets were hard at work on trying to create their own bomb • The Soviets did not emerge from WWII as well off as the US
American Security • The US was afraid of communism • Americans were afraid of the Soviets’ large military • Many Americans distrusted Stalin because of his Non-Aggression Pact with Hitler before WWII • The US adopted a policy of Containment toward communism • Trying to keep communisms from spreading—especially from spreading close to the United States
Because of the differing policies on government and politics, the US and Soviet Union entered into a secret war known as the Cold War • Both nations would avoid direct fighting against each other • They would try to block each other’s goals around the world • Churchill said an “Iron Curtain” had fallen across Europe when Stalin took control of Eastern Europe
Communism at Home • Many in the US were uneasy about communism abroad • They were even more uneasy about communism at home • Many in the US will attempt to squash any communist feelings at home before they turned into full blown revolutions
1.) HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) • Created during FDR’s New Deal Years • Created to explore the issue of communist influence in the New Deal • Nothing really came about from the hearings because of WWII • After WWII, the HUAC hearings resumed • HUAC failed to find any existence of communism in the presidency
A HUAC Hearing Video
2.) Alger Hiss • Traveled with FDR to Yalta • Accused by Whittaker Chambers (a former communist) and Richard Nixon as being a communist • Nixon and Chambers believed that Hiss may have influence FDR to give up Eastern Europe to Stalin and the Soviets • Hiss was placed on trial by HUAC • Hiss denied knowing Chambers • Not enough evidence to accuse Hiss • However, later evidence was found in a hollowed out pumpkin • Microfilm proving Hiss was a communist • Hiss could not be retried for his communist activiteis but was tried for perjury • Hiss was found guilty and served 5 years in jail
3.) The Rosenbergs • Ethel Rosenberg and Julius Rosenberg were American communists who were convicted and executed in 1953 for conspiracy to commit espionage during a time of war • The charges related to their passing information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union • This was the first execution of civilians for espionage in United States history • Ethel’s brother accused the couple of the act • He was a worker on the Manhattan Project • Said the couple recruited him to collect atomic secrets for them
Ethel Rosenberg Hiss and Rosenberg Video Julius Rosenberg
4.) McCarthyism • An anticommunist cause to wipe communism in the US • Led by Senator Joseph McCarthy • McCarthy recklessly accused many government officials and American citizens of being communist • McCarthy rarely had any evidence for his accusations • McCarthy accumulated a lot of power, but grew more reckless with is actions • 1954, he accused the United States Army as being communist • The Army met his attack • Army quickly and easily defended itself against McCarthy’s charges’ • 1954: the Senate voted to condemn McCarthy
5.) Presidential Elections • The Cold War made foreign policy a major issue in every presidential election during the period • Voters were concerned about how candidates would deal with the Soviet Union and other problems associated with communism and the Cold War
6.) Space Race/Arms Race • 1950s saw the US and Soviet Union locked into an arms race to produce more nuclear weapons than each other • 1957: Arms race intensified • Soviets launched the 1st intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a nuclear warhead • Would allow the Soviets to strike targets far away with a missile • Oct. 4, 1957: The Soviets launched Sputnik (a satellite) into orbit • Caused fear in many Americans • The Soviets had beaten the Americans into Space
The US responded to Sputnik by increasing its spending on missile development • 1959: The US created NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) • The US enlarged its B-52 bomber fleet • The government put lots of money into education • Trying to get more trained scientists to ensure the US would not fall behind the Soviets again • The US also adopted a policy of “massive retaliation” since the Soviets had matched the US in nuclear weaponry • If nuclear war did break out, both the US and Soviet Union would be destroyed
Sputnik Sputnik Video
7.) Fallout Shelters • Because the Soviets had the ability to strike the US with missiles—and possible satellites—many in the US began building fallout shelters • During the 1950s and 1960s, American schools regularly held drills to train children what to do in case of a nuclear attack • American citizens were urged by the government to build bomb shelters in their own basements • Randolph-Henry, at one time, housed a fallout shelter
8.) Effect of Cold War on Virginia • The heavy military expenditures throughout the Cold War benefited Virginia’s economy more than any other state • Hampton Roads—home to several large naval and air bases • Lots of $ poured into Hampton Roads for defense • Northern Virginia—home to the Pentagon and numerous private companies that made contracts with the military
The Containment of Communism • The US adopted a policy of containment toward communism • The American government did not want communism to spread • The US will take many steps—from legislative to actual war—to stop the spread of communism
1.) United Nations • Formed near the end of WWII • Designed to create a body for the nations of the world to try to prevent future global wars
2.) Truman Doctrine • Great Britain was nearly bankrupt after WWII • GB had been supporting the Greek and Turkish governments • GB asked the US to take over the support for the Greek and Turkish governments • The Soviets were trying to force the Turks to share a shipping channel between the Black and Mediterranean Seas • Communist rebels were fighting against the government in Greece
Pres. Truman and his advisors believed the US should act • Without American help, Truman believed that the communists might succeed in taking over many nations • Truman believed that America must help all free people who were resisting communist rule • This ideas is known as the Truman Doctrine • The US would resist communist aggression from spreading into other nations • The Truman Doctrine dictated American foreign policy for the next 20 years • Truman Doctrine Video
3.) Marshall Plan • June, 1947: Secretary of State George C. Marshall created the Marshall Plan as a way to contain communism • Europeans were still struggling to survive 2 years after the end of WWII • This struggle and suffering left many European nations in a situation that could allow for communism to spread into Western Europe • Marshall’s plan: use American money to help Europe regain its economic strength • American aid would help rebuild Europe • European nations would have a favorable view of the US because of America’s help • American $ was even offered to the Soviets, but they refused to accept the offer • Soviets believed the US was trying to take over Europe
4.) Berlin Crisis • After WWII, the Americans and Soviets had adopted different plans for Germany • US wanted a strong Germany to promote European economic growth and recovery • Also wanted a strong Germany to help contain communism • Soviets wanted a powerless Germany that would never be a threat to the Soviet Union again • Each side will be given control of different zones of Germany and Germany’s capital of Berlin
Germany will be split into a Western Part and an Eastern Part • West Germany—France, GB, and the US turned West Germany into a powerful state with an economy closely tied to Western Europe • East Germany—dominated by the Soviets and communist • The capital of Berlin—located in East Germany– will also be split into a Western Part and an Eastern Part • West Berlin—democratic • East Berlin--communist • Soviets were upset at the Western Democracies (FR, GB, US) for turning West Germany into a powerful state
June 1948: the 3 Western Democracies announced a new currency for West Germany • Soviets=upset, believed Germany should be treated as one nation • Soviets responded by giving the democracies an ultimatum—either drop the new currency for West Germany or the Soviets would create a new currency for East Germany and ALL of Berlin (West and East) • Western leaders told the Soviets that the Soviets had no say in West Germany • Soviets then demanded that ALL of Berlin (Germany’s capital) become part of their territory
June 22: Meetings were held, but a compromise between the Soviets and Western Democracies could not be reached • Soviets then announced their new currency would start for ALL of Germany (West and East) the next day—June 23 • Soviet troops then blockaded railways and highways that crossed from East Germany into West Berlin (democratic section of the capital) • The Soviets were holding 2 million West Berliners hostage • The people of West Berlin could not get needed supplies • Stalin and the Soviets were hoping to force Western Leaders into giving up Berlin to the Soviets and giving up on their plans for a new currency in West Germany
Pres. Truman of the US faced a major dilemma • He could send troops to East Germany and start a war with the Soviets • Truman then realized he could get supplies to West Berlin through the air • Truman authorized 130 American planes to fly in needed goods to the people of West Berlin—BerlinAirlift • Every 3 minutes, planes landed in West Berlin with needed supplies • The Berlin Airlift was a success for the US and a failure for the Soviets
5.) NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) • The Berlin Airlift showed the people of Western Europe that they needed more than economic hope • They also needed military support to stay free from communism • April 1949: The US, Canada, and 10 European nations formed NATO • A military alliance with Europe • If the Soviets tried to invade Western Europe, NATO and the US would take action • NATO was able to keep many nations from joining with the Soviets
6.) Warsaw Pact • Soviets responded to NATO by forming their own alliance with Eastern European nations—the Warsaw Pact
7.) Berlin Wall • Wall built barrier constructed by the Soviets starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin • The Soviets were trying to keep Eastern Germans and East Berliners from escaping into democratic West Berlin • The wall was 28 miles long • The Berlin Wall was a symbol for communism
US had been involved in Latin America for many years • 1950s: many Latin American nations were experience lots of nationalism—pride in their nation • Very little wealth in Latin America stayed with the Latin American people • Many Latin American leaders wanted to loosen the grip that US businesses had over the Latin American people • Many nations in Latin America were on the verge of revolution
1.) Fidel Castro and Cuba • Cuba will be one of these Latin American nations on the verge of revolution • 1950s: Cuba was totally controlled by US businesses • Nearly 90% of Cuba’s resources belonged to the US • Most people in Cuba were living in poverty • 1952: Fulgencio Batista overthrew the Cuban government • Batista made himself dictator • Batista’s dictatorship was friendly to the US • Batista did little to help his own people • 1958: Fidel Castro led a successful revolt against Batista • Castro had support from the Cuban middle class and peasants
