American History Chapter 25-1 The Iron Curtain Falls on Europe

The Cold War Cold War: Post WWII era of high tension between the Soviet Union and the U.S. – The Soviets bought military goods from the U.S. – The two countries disagreed on strategy. – Both countries built atomic bombs. – Stalin spread communism into Eastern Europe. Winston Churchill spoke of the Iron Curtain: Symbolic division of Europe between East & West.

The U.S. Response George Kennan proposed a containment policy: The U.S. should resist Soviet attempts to expand communism : President Truman sent millions of dollars of aid to Greece & Turkey to help them resist Soviet-supported Communists.

Political Efforts Against Communism Truman Doctrine: U.S. will provide aid to countries who resist Soviet control. Helping war-torn Europe: – Marshall Plan: Secretary of State, George C. Marshall, believed that strong economies would give birth to strong, democratic governments.

Marshall Plan

Berlin Crisis The Soviet Union cut off all supplies into the city of West Berlin. – Goal was to force them to become Communists. The British & American began airlifting supplies to the residents of West Berlin. – The Berlin Airlift was a success with 280,000 flights. – The Soviets lifted the blockade. NATO formed: North Atlantic Treaty Organization. – Member countries would protect each other from armed aggression.

Berlin Crisis

Berlin Airlift

Don’t Worry Berliners. We’re Comin’