Cold War Events and Reactions

1. Cold War Events and Reactions

2. Movements of National Liberation • France fought two unsuccessful colonial wars in Algeria and Indochina (Vietnam). • Britain lost control of India (Gandhi), Palestine and in 1952, Egypt gained independence. • Decolonization of many areas of Africa and Asia continued as Europe lost most of its colonies. • Some of these movements were communist in nature, George Kennan telegraphed Truman.

3. Truman Doctrine • In response, Truman developed U.S. policy which promised to aid “free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”. • Influenced by “domino theory” (weaker countries would fall to communism like dominoes in a chain reaction). • This idea will dominate foreign policy for decades.

4. Economic Devastation • France introduced sweeping nationalization measures and a capitalist planned economy. • Britain’s new labor government laid foundation for a welfare state to answer demands of its people. • Capitalist market policies in Germany were combined with social welfare programs. • Marshall Plan (13 billion dollars given by U.S.) would help rebuild Europe.

5. European Unity • Schuman Plan called for cooperation between France and Germany. • In 1957, France, Germany Italy, Belgium, Luxemburg and Holland formed the Common Market or E.E.C. (Britain stayed out) • Britain and other countries entered in the 1970s. • In 1993, the E.C. was replaced by the European Union which created a common currency, eased travel, etc.