Some Origins of the Cold War How did U.S. foreign policy toward the U.S.S.R. impact the lives of Americans? Presentation created Michael Quiñones

The Marshall Plan Former World War II army general, George Marshall, became Truman’s Secretary of State after WWII. The Secretary of State designed the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe. The Marshall Plan was a highly ambitious and extremely expensive reconstruction plan designed to offer money, equipment, food, machines [mechanical, manufacturing equipment], engineers and skilled workers. What was its purpose? Fix extensive damage to Europe caused by WWII. Also it was intended to spread goodwill to European countries so they might believe the U.S. wanted to repair not destroy Europe.

Truman Doctrine President F.D.R. died in 1945. Vice President Harry Truman succeeded F.D.R. in office and decided “stop babying” the Soviets and take a “hard line” with the Soviets. Truman began of policy of containment. This policy meant keeping the Soviets from spreading communism to other countries in Europe but especially in Asian nations such as Korea and then later in Vietnam.

An Iron Curtain Has Descended… The Allied Powers of WWII split up resulting Russia becoming an “enemy” of the United States. Germany was split into two separate countries. In 1961 the Berlin Wall was constructed to symbolized this rift. In a speech at an American College Winston Churchill described the spread by saying “it appears an iron curtain has descended over Eastern Europe.” Japan was occupied by the United States and was not allowed to have a military.

Tension between the Superpowers The blockade of Berlin by the Soviets heightened the fear of Western Europe. Within months countries including France, England, Italy, Canada and the U.S. formed NATO. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Purpose? To counter the threat of Soviet aggression.

Soviet response to NATO The Soviet Union developed its own alliance in 1955 forming the Warsaw Pact. Purpose(s)? [a] The counter the growing influence of NATO. [b] Increase the power of the Soviet Union.

The United Nations A group of fifty (50) countries “came together” in June 1945. Even though the Yalta Conference left the U.S. and Soviet Union at odds they also joined. The mission of the U.N. was to keep world peace. Each member nation has a vote [members are called diplomats]. The real power rests with the large countries which constitute the security council.

Berlin Airlift The Soviets challenged Truman’s containment and occasionally tested the United States. Truman was essentially forced by the U.S.S.R. to play a high stakes game of “chicken.” Truman, in response to the U.S.S.R. probed the U.S.S.R.’s willingness to risk war without directly attacking them. Truman to put the U.S.S.R. to the test. An example of this was Stalin’s blockade of West Berlin in 1948. Truman was forced to fly in food, fuel and supplies for West Germans because they were cut off by the Soviets. More than 277,000 flights dropped off 2 million tons of supplies.

C.I.A. [Central Intelligence Agency] In 1947 the C.I.A. [Central Intelligence Agency] was created with funding from the National Security Act. The mission of the C.I.A. was and remains to acquire intelligence in order to detect foreign threats against the U.S. Intelligence [valuable information of foreign threats]is generally acquired via clandestine [secret] means using espionage [spying].

U.S.-U.S.S.R. Relations: U-2 incident To gain information on the other side espionage was practiced. The U.S. sent countless aerial spy missions using U-2 spy planes. In 1960 an American U-2 was shot down over Soviet territory. The U.S. pilot, Gary Powers, was jailed for nearly 2 years.

U.S.-U.S.S.R. Relations Threats of war from both sides were constant. Both sides tested each other occasionally with minor challenges to see what the other would do. At other times the challenges were great. In the face of challenges important decisions had to occur. Should we use nuclear force? These type of “battles” were called brinkmanship. Forcing the other side to the “brink” of war. Bay of Pigs Invasion In April of 1961 a secret C.I.A. sponsored mission to overthrow Cuban Communist leader Fidel Castro was defeated by Cuban forces. Castro soon after sought the protection of the Soviet Union.