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The Cold War

Analyze the motives of the United States and Soviet Union at the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences, the factors that propelled them into the Cold War, and the impact of atomic weapons.

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The Cold War

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  1. The Cold War Major events between 1945 - 1950

  2. Lesson Objectives • At the end of this lesson you will blog responses, working in small groups to: • Analyze the different motives of the United States and the Soviet Union at Yalta and Potsdam Conferences • Analyze cultural, historical, economic, and political factors that propelled the US and Soviet Union into the Cold War • Determine how atomic weapons contributed to Cold War

  3. Yalta Conference – Feb. 1945 • Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill • Discuss future peace, events at the end of the war in Europe, and the disposition of nation-states after the war • Areas of agreement: • German lands: four zones; Berlin split four ways; USSR in East; U.S., France, and Britain in West • East Asia • Austria • Formation and Participation in United Nations with Security Council: US, Britain, USSR, France, China

  4. Disagreements: • Poland: previous government in exile • Stalin wants Poland • FDR and Churchill want Soviet acceptance of national self-determination and democratic elections in Poland • Stalin agrees to declaration promising free-elections but refused to relinquish control • FDR seen as “selling out” by some historians

  5. Events between Yalta and Potsdam Conferences • Senator Truman: June 1941 • “If we see Germany winning we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany that way let them kill as many as possible . . . .” • President Truman: April 1945 • Soviet Foreign Minister V.M. Molotov stormed out of White House after reported confrontational meeting with Truman • May 1945: Truman and cabinet • Adopt policy abruptly ending lend-lease to Russia, criticizing Soviets for taking over E. Europe countries, and condemned them for actions in E. Germany

  6. Potsdam Conference: July 1945 • Participants: Truman, Stalin, Churchill then Attlee • Truman tries to avoid use of Atomic Bomb • Statement to Japan: future of emperor open, spare civilians/punish war criminals, free Democratic Japan after time of occupation • Potsdam Declaration: July 26, 1945 • Demanded Japanese surrender or face “prompt and utter destruction.”

  7. Germany after surrender • East Germany • Soviets take factories and confiscate state property as war bootie • Also demand industrial equipment from W. Germany • Take over large farms and divide among smaller farmers • Unpunished rape of women • “free” elections under Communist control

  8. West Germany • 1946 – Western powers change from punishment to reconstruction • Aware of Soviet strength in East • Economic burden of occupation • 1947 – Britain, France, and US unite zones in Germany and Berlin to become West Germany • Continued with reconstruction and union of zones despite Stalin’s statements of concern • Politics model a parliamentary democracy • Germany becoming “front-lines” between East and West

  9. Truman Doctrine • US aid to anti-communist forces in Greece and Turkey • Create public consensus so Americans would agree to end isolationism and fight Cold War • Journalist Walter Lippmann popularized the term cold war in 1947 with Cold War • Seen as containment policy against communists

  10. Stalin’s Response to Containment • Increased control in nation-states in his sphere by mobilizing other communist to political opposition to the West • Formed Communists Information Bureau • Increased Soviet control of communist parties and governments • Eliminated power of non-communist groups in Eastern Europe • Motivated resurgence of Communist guerillas in Czechoslovakia, China, and Greece

  11. Marshall Plan • Helped foreign relations between W. European states and U.S. • Goals: • Immediate: economic recovery for war-torn nations • Long term: achieve social and political democracies • Conditions: • Nation states had to coordinate efforts and make public economic needs

  12. Berlin Blockade • Allies: rebuild W. Germany • Stalin: stop unification and halt economic recovery • Underestimated power of air transport • Soviets opened roads May 1949 after 11 months

  13. North Atlantic Treaty Organization 1949 • Formed by Truman with Canada and major states of Western Europe • Agreed to form alliances to help each other under times of aggression • Presumed enemy….. • Principal defender….

  14. Blogging about it all  • Open website www.rockinrevolution.pbwiki.com • Log-in with password: moravian • Link to page for US History Lesson • In groups of 2 or 3 discuss events and post comments: • What were the motives of US and Soviet Union? • What cultural, economic, and political factors led U.S. and Soviets into the Cold War? • How did atomic weapons affect the Cold War?

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