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The Cold War in Context. WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN and WHY?. 1945. Post WW2 the USA and the USSR emerge at the two leading superpower s. At this time, they were both working together towards a common goal – the end of the war. Capitalism vs Communism – the peace was not to last.
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The Cold War in Context WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN and WHY?
1945 • Post WW2 the USA and the USSR emerge at the two leading superpowers. • At this time, they were both working together towards a common goal – the end of the war. • Capitalism vs Communism – the peace was not to last. • Discuss on your tables the differences between the two and why the diplomatic relations between the two countries were always doomed to failure.
1945 • The two countries had only become allies during the war because they had the same enemy – Germany. • FEBRUARY 1945 – YALTA CONFERENCE: Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt meet to discuss the fate of Germany. Roosevelt and Stalin got on well. Agreed Eastern Europe would become a ‘sphere of influence’ for the Soviets. Agreed that Germany would be divided into 4 zones – British, French, American and Soviet. Berlin would be divided in the same way.
JULY-AUGUST 1945 – POTSDAM CONFERENCE • Not as successful as Yalta. War = over. No loyalty to allies. • Roosevelt had died. Truman replaced him as President of the USA – much more anti-communist. • The USA had developed the atomic bomb. USSR = worried. • Soviet troops occupied most of Eastern Europe = worried USA.
DISAGREEMENTS • GERMANY – USSR want compensation ($10 b.) Truman did not understand this request. USSR = threatened by Germany. USA want to rebuild Germany. • EASTERN EUROPE – huge tensions, ‘sphere of influence’ for USSR but USA believe should freely elect governments. Stalin unhappy = Red Army troops take power by force. Stalin set up COMINFORM to control new gvt. • How would these disagreements lead to further tension between the USA and USSR? How would either side be feeling? • Stalin = sphere of influence vital to protect USSR. • Truman = USSR building up Empire.
USA anti-communist policies • THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE – March 1947 – a speech in which Truman promised to help any country that was threatened by a Communist takeover. • His policy of stopping the spread of communism became known as CONTAINMENT. Started by sending money and equipment to help anti-communist forces throughout Europe. • MARSHALL AID – post WW2 Truman worried that the impact of war would be exploited by communists. 1947-8 a communist takeover looked likely in Italy and France. Truman ordered General George Marshall to come up with an economic aid plan: USA invest $17 b. into helping the shattered economies of Europe recover. • What do you think the reaction to the Marshall Aid plan would have been throughout Europe?
THE CLASH OF THE SUPER POWERS – BERLIN 1948-9 • By 1948 – USA, France and Britain decide it’s time to rebuild Germany. • THE BERLIN BLOCKADE – to Stalin the Americans were rebuilding his old enemy. He could not stop the allies but forced them out of Berlin. • June 1948 – cut the rail and road links from the Allied Zones to West Berlin. Disrupted water and power supplies. If the Allies stayed in Berlin, the people of Berlin would suffer. • What was the response of the Allies? • Stalin thought he was making a stand because the USA were threatening him. The USA suspected Stalin was preparing for an invasion of West Berlin.
THE HOT WAR 1950-72 • There were three main cases which say the USA trying to contain communism. • Each resulted in military involvement and a ‘hot war’. • The Korean War – 1950-53 • The Cuban Missile Crisis – 1962 • The Vietnam War – 1964-72
