+ The Cold War Abroad and at Home, 1945-1960 Chapter 37-38 AP US History
+ Goal Statement After studying this chapter students should be able to: Explain how the policies of both the United States and the Soviet Union led to the start of the Cold War. Appraise the effect of the Cold War on the domestic programs of Truman and Eisenhower. Describe the domestic and international events that led to the Second Red Scare. Summarize the ways that Eisenhower both continued and changed the foreign policies of Truman. Categorize the actions that supported Eisenhower being a centrist or moderate politician.
+ Creation of the United Nations: After World War II: Western leaders perceived the Soviet Union as the center of a world revolutionary movement. Soviet leaders felt themselves surrounded by the western countries and their North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The United Nations provided a venue for face-to-face debate between the two sides in the Cold War. The United Nations: Established in 1945 General Assembly Security Council, a full-time bureaucracy headed by the Secretary-General Various specialized agencies How does this organization work? All signatories of the United Nations Charter renounced war and territorial conquest. In reality, the United Nations was seldom able to forestall or quell international conflicts.
+ Because of Roosevelt s death in April 1945, Truman became president. Remember that Truman had not been included in policy decisions as Vice President. Many Americans doubted that Truman would be a good president. At the Potsdam Conference: The United States, Great Britain, and Soviet Union leaders met to finalize plans for Postwar Europe. Stalin was the only continual member at this conference Clement Atlee represented Great Britain Harry Truman represented the United States Stalin clearly chose to keep his portions of Europe under Communist control (no free, multiparty elections)
+ Polarization and Cold War: The USSR and the US had been thrown together because of WWII. The relationship between these 2 powers reached an increasingly tense state as WWII ended: Both powers are seeking greater security. Both powers fed the fears of the other power (misperceptions and misunderstandings). Both powers experience distrust and animosity. What one region would present the most problematic struggle? Eastern Europe (especially Poland) Stalin wants a buffer zone between the USSR and Germany. Soviet influence was essential to Russian security. Stalin sees this region as a reward for facing the brunt of German aggression in the East. This would be the same as American influence in the West NOT REALLY! Stalin believed that Britain and the US agreed with this idea.
+ On V-E Day, the Soviet armies occupied half of Europe! In what ways did Stalin increase Cold War tensions? Stalin installed puppet-governments in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania. Communist regimes were supported in Albania and Yugoslavia. Stalin ignored the Yalta agreement to liberate Europe. Free elections were BANNED in Eastern Europe (particularly POLAND). Poland was not only a question of honor for Russia, but one of life and death. ~ Joseph Stalin Stalin and Truman wholly disagreed on all of these issues: Truman refused to concede to Soviet supremacy beyond Russia s borders. Truman views the Soviet move as a direct violation of national self-determination, a betrayal of democracy, and a cover for communist aggression. Stalin insisted on dominance in Eastern Europe.
+ Did domestic policy considerations drive Truman s decisions? YES! Going back on the Yalta agreement would be political disaster for Democrats. Supporting a free Poland would ensure (hopefully) the support of the roughly 6 million Polish Americans and millions more Eastern European Americans. Thus, Truman would not appear soft on Communism. What would further embolden Truman in his stand against Stalin? The American monopoly on atomic weapons. The American economic position leading economic superpower. Could the US control the post-war settlement? Truman thought so! This assertiveness would further increase the mistrust of Stalin.
+ The Iron Curtain Descends: What is the Soviet response to Truman s determination? Stalin increased the confiscation of materials from occupied territories. Satellite countries were created: countries under Soviet control. Eastern Europe was forced to close trade to America and/or countries under American/Western influence. Truman sees this move as a declaration of World War III (1946) George F. Kennan (American diplomat in Moscow) increasingly warned of Soviet expansionism: like a toy automobile, wound up and headed in a given direction, stopping only when it meets some unanswerable force. Kennan argued for CONTAINMENT: a policy uniting military, economic, and diplomatic strategies to curb or contain further Soviet expansion.
+ March 1946: Winston Churchill delivered his Iron Curtain speech. Mutual hostility increased and both the Soviets and the Americans increased the drive to develop doomsday weapons. June 1946: Truman submitted to the United Nations a proposal for destruction of the American atomic arsenal IF the Soviets would agree to the same (with inspections). Russia declined America created the AEC (Atomic Energy Commission) What is the Cold War? A period in world history (1945 to ~1989) where economic pressures, nuclear intimidation, propaganda, subversion, and proxy wars emerged. The Cold War impacted American life as much as any military engagement in which we had fought.
+ Containing Communism: Between 1944 and 1946: The western capitalist countries created a new international monetary system Supply and demand determined prices This system included a system of exchange rates, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. The Soviet Union: Established a closed monetary system. The state allocated goods and set prices for itself and for the communist states of eastern Europe. The U.S. economy recovered and prospered during and after World War II. The economy of western Europe, heavily damaged during World War II, recovered in the postwar period with the help of the American Marshall Plan.
+ How did CONTAINMENT transform America? Economic priorities change National priorities change Powers of the executive branch will change. A second Red Scare begins Liberalism is stifled Republicans rise in power Politically, how does domestic policy shift? Democrats were unable to expand the New Deal to include: Civil Rights Education Healthcare Republicans were unable to repeal the New Deal. Political deadlock from the 30s will continue into the 60s. America is obsessed with Communist spies and traitors. Americans become introspective (seeking our own gain)
+ The rapid establishment of communist regimes in eastern Europe led the United States (and Western Europe)to perceive the Soviet Union as a worldwide enemy. How does this perception impact United States foreign policy? The Truman Doctrine (1947) The Marshall Plan (1947) The establishment of NATO (1949) Western powers decided to allow West Germany to rearm within limits set by NATO What about US domestic actions that impact foreign policy: National Security Act (1947) Created the Department of Defense. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is created to gather information abroad and engage in covert activities. The Soviets responded to German reunification: 1948: Stalin closed ALL access to West Berlin threatening to starve the populace. Britain and France respond with the Berlin Airlift Flew provisions to West Berliners for 327 days This forced the Soviets to lift the blockade temporarily! In response to NATO, the Soviets formed the Warsaw Pact (1955)
+ Confrontation in Germany: Soviet response to the Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan: takeover Hungary and Czechoslovakia Tighten control on Eastern Europe The Potsdam Agreement (1945) divided Germany into 4 zones: France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and America each administered a zone. Berlin was also divided into 4 zones. Western powers moved to unite their zones as agreed upon. What is Stalin s response to the unification of the Western zones? The Soviet blockade of West Berlin (1948 1949) How does the US respond without starting World War III? Berlin Airlift! The US and Britain flew food and supplies to the West Berlin citizens providing a lifeline for the people!
+ The Berlin Wall (c. 1980s) The Soviet s constructed the Berlin Wall in 1961.