1. The Cold War Begins
Post War Tension

2. Even though steps were taken to ensure safety and security around the world, that could not ease the tensions between the U.S. and the Soviets…

3. Causes of the Cold War Ideological Differences War Conflict
Soviet Union = communist; totalitarian dictatorship
United States = democratic, republic, capitalism
War Conflict
Disagreement over military strategy in WWII  Stalin wanted a front opened in Europe much earlier
Roosevelt did not trust Stalin
U.S. secret development of the atomic bomb
Post War Disagreements
Americans feared what Stalin may do in Eastern Europe- had promised free elections  does not live up to promise

4. Soviet Action in Eastern Europe
Stalin had promised free elections and self-determination (the right to decide how a nation should be ruled), but does not live up to that
Stalin felt he was fully justified in wanting to control all of Eastern Europe (as a defense from Germany & others in Western Europe) – he wanted to create a buffer zone
Stalin outlawed political parties that opposed communism, jailed opponents, and rigged elections

7. Soon, almost every Eastern European nation had Stalin or communist friendly leadership

8. Iron Curtain Falls
Once communism had spread, a sharp and clear division between Western and Eastern Europe emerged…a democratic West and a communist East
Winston Churchill coined this the “iron curtain”- a division of Europe along ideological lines
“A shadow has fallen upon the scenes so lately lighted by the Allied victory. Nobody knows what Soviet Russia and its Communist International organization intends to do in the immediate future, or what are the limits, if any, to their expansive…tendencies…it is my duty to place before you certain facts about the present position of Europe. From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.”

10. Iron Curtain

12. U.S. Response to Soviet Action
To combat and halt the spread of communism any further, the U.S. took action…
Containment- policy that the U.S. should resist Soviet attempts to expand its power & influence
Truman Doctrine a promise to provide economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism
Greece & Turkey- U.S. intervened with $ to stop Soviet influence….it worked!
Marshall Plan a U.S. policy that gave $13.4 billion in aid to help rebuild the economies of European countries devastated by WWII – in order to create stable democratic governments

13. Crisis in Berlin
Tension that almost escalated the Cold War into a Hot War
Disagreement over capital city of Berlin
Western desire: free, democratic capital
Soviet desire: communist capital

14. Crisis in Berlin Berlin Blockade Berlin Airlift
Soviets were upset about the establishment of democracy so close to them
June they set up a blockade of roads, rail, and river traffic into West Berlin
West Berliners cut off of food, coal, and other necessities
Berlin Airlift
Despite risks of war, Western nations decided to drop supplies by air
Planes flew everyday making deliveries
Soviets finally lifted blockade in May 1949

16. Cold War Cold War will last for the next several decades
Cold War: a time of tension and rivalry between the United States & Soviet Union
Several small “hot spots”, but will never include direct conflict between Americans and Soviet
Korea
Vietnam
Cuba

17. Alliances even form.. NATO- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Collection of 26 nations (US, UK, France, Belgium, Italy, Canada, Denmark, Portugal, etc)
Agreement that an armed attack against one member nation would be considered an attack against all
Warsaw Pact
A direct result of the formation of NATO
An alliance of Soviet Union and its eastern European satellites

18. Korean War
Cold War gets hot..

19. A Divided Korea Korea was controlled by the Japanese before WWII
Allied leaders decided Korea should be free of defeated Japanese control at Yalta Conference
Meant to be temporary
Koreans on both sides wanted a unified nation
Decided to divide at 38th parallel
North Korea- controlled by Soviet Union
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
South Korea- controlled by America
Republic of Korea

21. War Starts
June 25, North Korea invaded South Korea in the hopes of unification
Role of U.S.
US had to take a stand against communism
S. Korea “unable” to defend itself, had to show world the US was willing to help
Role of United Nations
Police Action: military involvement with no declaration of war
40,000 UN troops made up of 15 nations (most Americans)

22. Korean War Early in war, N.Korea was having tremendous success
US general MacArthur planned an invasion of Inchon…worked great
UN forces had success until Chinese troops entered conflict on side of N.K. (260,000 of them!)
US military had to retreat (the largest in history)
Regained success, but MacArthur wanted to move past 38th parallel while Truman did not…he was fired….Truman wanted to stop communism, but not continue with fighting.

24. Time to end this war Election of Eisenhower Negotiations for Peace
1952- Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president on promise of ending Korean War
Negotiations for Peace
Disagreement over a new settlement line
Peace Treaty and Aftermath
Agreement finally reached in 1953
Map of Korea remained almost exactly the same
37,000 Americans died
3 million Korean civilians killed