Presentation Transcript

1. THE COLD WAR BEGINS
2. The Cold War 50 year era of competition between US and USSR Opposites in economics, governments and societies Both sides try to spread influence under the threat of nuclear war creating constant world tension United States Soviet Union vs.
3. Differing Philosophies Believed in democratic forms of government Believed economic stability would keep peace in the world Believed the free enterprise system was necessary for economic growth Believed in a communistic forms of government Believed in workers revolting (striking) against business owners and taking control of government Revolution would be spread and eventually be worldwide
4. Soviets take over Eastern Europe Soviet troops move into Germany near the end of World War II As World War II ended, the Soviet army occupied the countries of Eastern Europe that Germany had conquered during the war
5. The Iron Curtain Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and East Germany became satellite nations of Soviet Union “An iron curtain has descended across the Continent” – Prime Minister Winston Churchill
6. Aid for Europe Secretary of State George Marshall toured Western Europe; witnessed widespread homelessness and famine. Fearing Europeans would turn to communism as an answer to their economic problems, Marshall proposed the U.S. help to rebuild Europe, leading to… Children in a London suburb, waiting outside wreckage of what was their home
7. Marshall Plan U.S. plan for rebuilding Western Europe, and repelling communism after World War II Plan pumped billions of dollars into Western Europe for food and supplies Plan made U.S. heroes to people of Western Europe George C. Marshall
8. Marshall Plan aids Western Europe The Marshall Plan proved to be a great success Within 4 years, countries receiving aid saw a 41% higher industrial production than on the eve of World War II Countries were stabilized and exports were rising rapidly Countries receiving aid under Marshall Plan
9. Letter from U.S. diplomat George Kennan that led to the U.S. policy of containment of communism. Kennan said the Russians were concerned about invasions from the west and wanted a buffer zone Russians wanted to spread communism world-wide U.S. should use diplomatic, economic and military actions to keep communism contained
10. Truman Doctrine U.S. foreign policy established by President Truman saying the U.S. would protect democracies throughout the world “It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures” -- Harry Truman
11. Truman Doctrine It pledged that the United States would fight Communism worldwide Truman Doctrine was an extension to the U.S. foreign policy set forth in the Monroe Doctrine (1823) and the Roosevelt Corollary (1904) American tanks provided by the Truman Doctrine roll through Turkey
12. The Potsdam Conference The Potsdam Conference was a meeting of the Allied leaders during World War II to decide what to do with Germany
13. Germany Divided British After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones, occupied by French, British, American, and Soviet troops. Soviet French Occupation zones after 1945. Berlin is the multinational area within the Soviet zone. American
14. East and West Germany formed East Berlin West Berlin East Germany West Germany In June of 1948, the French, British and American zones were joined into the nation of West Germany after the Soviets refused to end their occupation of Germany.
15. In response, the Soviets cut off West Berlin from the rest of the world with a blockade.
16. Berlin Blockade June 1948 – Soviets try to squeeze US out of West Berlin USSR sets up roadblocks Nothing allowed in (food or fuel)
17. East and West Germany
18. The Soviet side of their checkpoint on the autobahn at Helmstedt.
19. Berlin Airlift President Truman decided to avoid the blockade by flying in food and other supplies to the needy people of West Berlin At times, over 5,000 tons of supplies arrived daily
20. C-47
21. Flight Schedule
22. Citizens of West Berlin anxiously await another food drop.
23. Problems Jamming of radios Search lights Buzzing by Russian fighters Success Allies make 277,000 flights to deliver 2.3 million tons of supplies Soviets lift blockade. West Berlin saved
24. Berlin Airlift The airlift continued for 11 months before Stalin finally lifted the blockade The Berlin Airlift saved the people of West Berlin from falling under Soviet Union control Soviet blockade of West Germany convinced many Americans that the Soviets were trying to conquer other nations
25. Buddy System NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949) US and allies (mostly western Europe) form alliance in case of Soviet invasion Warsaw Pact (1955) Soviets form military alliance after being rejected from NATO USSR and satellite nations
26. Birth of NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization Formed in 1949 to protect Western Europe from Soviet aggression
27. The Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Pact was the Soviet Union’s response to the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
28. House Un-American Activities Committee Committee set up to investigate Communist activities in the U.S. HUAC searched for Soviet spies and Communist sympathizers. “Are you now or have you ever been a Communist?” House Un-American Committee meeting in 1948
29. The Hollywood Ten People who were accused of being Communists were often “blacklisted” A group of Hollywood actors who were blacklisted for refusing to answer HUAC questions became known as the “Hollywood Ten” If someone was blacklisted, it meant they were denied work or ostracized from society Movie stars Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart lead a protest during height of Hollywood Blacklist controversy
30. Alger Hiss Former State Department official Accused of being a Communist It was too late to charge with espionage, but Congressman Richard Nixon wanted to pursue charges. He was convicted of perjury and sentenced to 10 years. Hiss maintained his innocence for the rest of his life.
31. Julius & Ethel Rosenberg Physicist Klaus Fuchs admits that he gave information to the USSR about the atomic bomb Rosenbergs were implicated, tried and convicted of espionage Only people in the US ever executed for espionage
32. McCarran Act Said that the Loyalty Review Board did not go far enough Cannot plan any action that might lead to a dictatorship in the US Truman vetoes the bill: “In a free country, we punish men for the crimes that they commit, but never for the opinions they have.” Congress overrides the veto
33. Loyalty Review Board Truman accused of being soft on communism Board would investigate government employees 3.2 million were investigated, 212 were dismissed
34. McCarthyism In 1952, U.S. Senator Joe McCarthy began holding Senate hearings Numerous Americans accused of having ties to the Communist Party McCarthy turned the hearings into witch-hunts, destroying numerous people’s reputations on rumor and weak evidence
35. McCarthyism McCarthy was careful to only accuse people while in the Senate (immune from slander lawsuits) Lost favor during the Army-McCarthy hearings and was censured by the Senate in 1954 Died in 1957 Have you read The Crucible?
36. New Red Scare U.S. citizens in 1950s feared Communists wanted to take over the world. This fear was known as the Red Scare. This Red Scare was similar to the one in the 1920’s after the communist revolution in Russia. Both threatened the civil liberties of American citizens.
37. Red Scare contd. “In God We Trust” becomes official motto of the U.S. to distinguish from USSR which was an atheist state. To fight against communist infiltration, Truman will create the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It specializes in espionage, sabotage and subversion
38. ARMS RACE U.S. developed the Atomic Bomb in 1945. Soviets developed one in 1949. The superpowers spent huge amounts of money to develop more & more powerful weapons. This raised fears the superpowers might begin a conflict that would destroy the world.
39. Nuclear Weapons: Who Has What? NUCLEAR WARHEAD STOCKPILES 1945-1995 (NOTE: Totals are estimates) 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 U.S. 6 3,057 31,265 26,675 22,941 U.S.S.R. 0 200 6,129 19,443 39,197 BRITAIN 0 10 310 350 300 FRANCE 0 0 32 188 360 CHINA 0 0 5 185 425
40. Arms Race
41. Arms Race Hydrogen bomb (700x as powerful) US–‘54, USSR–‘55 Mutual assured destruction – If 1 side attacked -> the other side would retaliate -> both sides annihilate each other “Military-Industrial Complex” – President Eisenhower warned of military contractors having influence on Congress
42. U-2 Incident US conducting secret spy missions by flying U-2 planes over USSR Col. Francis Gary Powers’ spy plane was shot down over Soviet airspace in 1960 Soviets were irate. Incident cools Soviet-U.S. relations
43. Russians launch Satellite Sputnik The Russians have beaten America into space! They have the technological edge! This will start the Space Race
44. Impact of Sputnik Congress establishes the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) to conduct research in rocket and space technology Congress also passed the National Defense Education Act, which provided money for education and training in science, math and foreign languages
45. The Space Race Begins In 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin blasted off into space, making the Soviet Union the first nation to launch a human into orbit Kennedy said he wanted U.S. to land a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s
46. The Space Race Begins On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to step foot on the moon “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” – Neil Armstrong
47. Nuclear Family Unable to control their fates, Americans tried to control the family Movies, TV, magazines and Advertisements created the image of the “perfect family” Most important this was to Conform
48. Stereotypical Roles Mom – Stay at home, Cook, Clean, Always happy Dad – Work, Provide, Disciplinarian Children – Perfect attendance, Good grades, Grateful, Obey parents
49. Nuclear Family Reality People couldn’t meet the standard Moms depressed; Dads stuck in jobs they didn’t value; Half of children didn’t finish high school High rates of alcoholism, illegitimate births, divorce Lack of minority representation 25% of Americans lived below the poverty line