1. The Beginning of the Cold War

2. Two Superpowers Emerge
During WWII, both U.S. and Soviet Union fought against Germany
However, before war began, alliance between the two was beginning to unravel
U.S. upset at Stalin for first accepting Non-aggression pact and for complaining about the delayed invasion to help the USSR

3. Yalta Conference
February 1945, leaders of three allied nations meet in Yalta, a Soviet resort city on the Black Sea
U.S., Britain, and USSR

4. Yalta Deals Stalin is lying! Big Deal!
Divide Germany into zones after the war
Germany pay back USSR for losses
USSR allow free elections in Poland
USSR stay out of the business of Eastern Europe after the war
Stalin is lying!
Big Deal!

5. Division of Germany Soviets controlled east
Allies (France, Britain and U.S.) control west

6. Goals of Yalta Stalin's a liar! To promote world peace
To provide emergency relief
To help form interim governments based on the will of the people
Problems:
Stalin wanted a strong Communist state, surrounded by communists states to protect from West
Roosevelt wanted world democracy led by U.S.
The real problem…
Stalin's a liar!

7. Creation of United Nations
June 1945 – creation of United Nations
50 countries join, including U.S. and USSR
International Organization to protect the members against aggression and keep peace
Based in New York

8. The UN Charter called for a large body called the General Assembly
Similar to international town meeting
Each country who was a member could cast a vote, including membership of other countries
Security Council
11-member body with real power to investigate and settle disputes
5 permanent members: Britain, China, France, U.S. and USSR
Each member could veto any action

9. U.S. and USSR Split WWII outcomes very different
U.S. lost 400,000 soldiers, but cities and factories remained intact
USSR 1 in 4 wounded or killed, many cities demolished
Economic and political differences affected their post-war goals

10. Soviets Build Protection
After WWII, USSR’s major goal was to have protection from the west
At end of war, Soviet troops occupied a strip of countries on its western borders
Viewed as a buffer, or wall of protection
Stalin ignores promises from Yalta, establishes Communist governments
Stalin lied?
I'm shocked!

11. Truman’s Response Truman was much tougher with Stalin than FDR
Saw Stalin’s reluctance to allow free elections as a clear violation of their rights’
Truman, Stalin and Churchill met in Potsdam, Germany in July 1945
Truman asks Stalin for free elections, he refuses
Stalin makes speech in 1946: communism and capitalism cannot exist in the same world

12. Iron Curtain
With Soviet control, East Germany became German Democratic Republic
Under Communist government
Western zones became Federal Republic of Germany
Churchill used the phrase “iron curtain” to represent the division between democratic west Europe and Communist east
Stalin termed Churchill’s words a “call to war”

13. U.S. Responds Relations with USSR continue to worsen
Truman: “stop babying the Soviets”
Adopted a policy of containment
Policy directed at blocking Soviet influence and preventing expansion of Communism
Create alliances and helping weak countries resist the Soviet forces

14. The Truman Doctrine
Truman’s support for countries that rejected Communism was known as the Truman Doctrine
Went to Congress to ask for aid for Turkey and Greece
Caused controversy – some objected to America’s interference in other nations’ affairs
Also worried that U.S. did not have resources to lead global crusade on Communism
Congress approved $400 million in aid

15. The Marshall Plan
June 1947, U.S. Sec. of State George Marshall proposed that America give aid to any European country that needed it
Provide food, machines and other materials
Known as The Marshall Plan
As Congress debated $12.5 billion program in Feb. 1948, Communists took power in Czechoslovakia
Congress immediately approved plan
Great success in Western Europe and Yugoslavia

16. Allies Withdraw from W. Germany
In 1948, France, Britain and U.S. decided to divide West Germany in three occupation zones
USSR upset, wanted to keep Germany weak and divided
Soviets protest by holding West Berlin hostage

17. Berlin
Berlin well within Soviet occupation of Germany, however, was divided into 4 zones
Soviet Union cut off highway, water and rail traffic into Berlin’s western zones
City faced starvation
Stalin hoped plan would force Western countries to surrender West Berlin or give up idea of reunification

18. The Berlin Airlift
Stalin was wrong – American and British officials flew food and supplies into West Berlin
For nearly 11 months, planes took off and landed every 3 minutes
277,000 flights brought in 2.3 million tons of food, fuel, medicine, and even Christmas presents
Stalin called off blockade in May 1949

19. Beginnings of the Cold War
These events were the beginnings of the Cold War
Beginning in 1949, both the U.S. and USSR use spying, propaganda, diplomacy and secret operations to deal with each other
Much of the world allied with one side or the other

20. Creation of NATO
Heightened fears of aggression led ten Western European nations joined the U.S. and Canada to create NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Defensive military alliance
Promised to meet an attack on any NATO country with force
Soviets viewed NATO as threat, created alliance system known as Warsaw Pact

21. Nuclear Threat
U.S. already had atomic bomb, Soviets exploded their own as early as 1949
Both now nuclear powers
Truman wanted to be one step ahead of USSR and develop an even more deadly weapon
Authorized work on a thermonuclear weapon in January 1950
Hydrogen or H-bomb would be thousands of times more powerful than the A-bomb
U.S. successfully tested on November 1952
USSR successfully tested August 1953

22. Brinkmanship Eisenhower becomes president in 1953
Appointed John Foster Dulles as the secretary of state
Dulles threatened that if the Soviets or supporters attacked U.S. interests, the U.S. would “retaliate instantly, by means and at places of our own choosing”
Willingness to go to the brink, or edge, of war known as brinkmanship

23. Arms Race
In order to respond instantly, U.S. had to have arsenal of weapons available
Strengthen air force and began stockpiling nuclear weapons
Soviet Union also began storing nuclear bombs
Arms race went on for 4 decades