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Explore the causes of the U.S./U.S.S.R. rivalry and its impact on the European recovery after World War II. Discover the political, economic, and social factors that shaped this era of Cold War tensions.
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Causes of U.S./U.S.S.R. Hostility • Friction between two strongly nationalistic military powers who each believed their political system was the best • Russian communists were sure they had found the answer to how to make people happy • Americans were equally sure they had the right answer
Division of Europe • Control of Germany meant control of rest of Europe • Divided into occupation zones • Arguments over industrial reparations • Marshall Plan created to rebuild entire European economy Marshall Plan created to rebuild entire European economy
Division of Europe • Truman Doctrine • U.S. would defend any government threatened by communism • Historic departure from U.S. foreign policy • U.S. ready to carry responsibility for “free world” leadership Harry S. Truman
North Atlantic Treaty Organization • NATO created 1949 • International military organization dedicated to stopping spread of communism • European and North American members pledged to come to each others’ aid if attacked A flag showing the NATO symbol and the flags of the participating countries
North Atlantic Treaty Organization • Soviet response was to create similarly-minded Warsaw Pact – made eastern European governments into allies • Europe was thus divided into two enemy blocs, made Europeans into junior partners of outside powers in military affairs, diplomacy A symbol of the Warsaw Pact
Grudging Coexistence • Korean War 1950-53 • South Korea invaded by North Korea • Became international war when U.S., China got involved • Deadlock resulted in truce finally • Nikita Khrushchev • Successor to Stalin • Generally more open in dealing with West • Said he believed in peaceful coexistence • Challenged West to engage in economic rather than military competition • But unwilling to give up control of eastern Europe – example in Hungarian Revolution • West accepted Soviet-style regimes in Eastern Europe • Russians had own nuclear capability by then Nikita Khrushchev
From Cuban Missiles to NATO’s Decline • Berlin Wall built to prevent outflow of political refugees • Cuban Missile Crisis • Castro was Russian ally in Cuba, Marxist • U.S.-sponsored invasion was total failure, but forced Castro to ask for Russian aid • Khrushchev decided to put nuclear missiles in Cuba • Russians finally backed down after extremely tense confrontation with U.S., removed weapons Soviet R-12 intermediate-range nuclear ballistic missile (NATO designation SS-4) in Moscow Cuban President Fidel Castro embracing Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, 1961
Recognized Need to Reduce Hostility Levels • 1963 – Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed, limiting testing of nuclear weapons • West German Ostpolitik established better relations with East Germany, reduced tensions in Europe • Cold War was less confrontational by mid-1960s • USSR was becoming more conservative, stable • Soviets did not provide military support in Vietnam, a sign of that shift • Détente – slowed relaxation of hostility • Hurt but not destroyed by U.S.S.R. invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 • U.S. did not involve NATO in that “internal matter”
Decline of NATO • France’s DeGaulle and others thought Europe no longer threatened by communism, withdrew from NATO • Reflected shift from foreign to domestic policies of European leaders • “Youth revolt” against government policies, European disaffection with NATO support of U.S. in Vietnam • Saw much more important areas for government attention Charles DeGaulle
Europe’s Economic Recovery • Was it a true “renaissance”? • Europe re-emerged as location of technical, financial, commercial power • Surpassed prewar prosperity; becoming newly independent in politics • Factors promoting prosperity • Marshall Plan aid in restarting stalled economies • Social reforms such as medical insurance, vacations, education etc gave working classes sense of involvement in national success • Effective national planning created mixed economies of government and private control of industry, finance • Large, willing labor pool cooperated with employers • Free trade was made general • Tariff, quota barriers removed • Easily convertible national currencies • International investment simplified, encouraged
Economic Recovery • West Germany led this “economic miracle” • Closely followed by France, Italy, Benelux nations • Average growth rate of 4.5% • U.S. private investment poured new capital into Europe • Early 1960s was height of U.S. economic, political influence in Europe • Vietnam War weakened U.S. prestige • U.S. currency became over-valued • New balance between U.S. and Europe
European Unity • New life for old dream of supranational union • Led by Christian Democratic parties • Believed that war must be avoided through control by international organization • Thought best way to do this was through economic ties • Steps in unifying western Europe • 1947 – Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) • 1951 – European Coal and Steel Community • 1957 – Treaty of Rome which created European Economic Community (EEC) • 1992 – Maastricht Treaty Signing of the Maastricht Treaty (7 February 1992)
Supervision by European Union (EU) • Labor, money, credit, raw materials, manufactures, communication, travel flowed across national boundaries with few restrictions • Single unified currency – Euro • All European states joined or are candidates • Now richest, largest single market in the world
Communist Bloc, 1947-1980 • Eastern Europe developed differently from West • Orthodox Marxism • Developed heavy industry, transportation at expense of consumer goods, agriculture • Results • Huge increase in industrial capacity • Urbanization as rural workers moved to cities • Collectivized agriculture in secondary role • Standard of living well behind that of West • Those with good skills, connections could live fairly well • Most people moderately satisfied • Salaries, wages low • But medical care, education were free, rents, food prices were low Line waiting to enter a store, a typical view in Poland in the 1950s and 1980s
Economic Advances Halted in 1970s • Marxist command economy was breaking down, worker discontent increasing • Visibility of Western prosperity increased • Technology gap was widening, no hopes of catching up • Old communist leadership was paralyzed, unable to change • Pressure building by 1980s See notes for video
Discussion Questions 1. Until relatively recently, wars were largely fought over the desire to claim territory, or in the name of religion. What do you consider the principal causes of war today? Have they changed? Looking ahead, what causes of war do you think will dominate the 21st century? 2. During the Cold War, each side was convinced that they were right and the others were wrong. Draw up a list of reasons for each side supporting their viewpoint.
