1. The Roots of the Cold War
US History
3/7/12
Mrs. Housenick

2. Allies Become Enemies
Alliance between US and USSR already uneasy during war
After war, two countries had very different visions of the world.
US wanted to spread capitalism, Soviets communism

3. The “Iron Curtain” Descends
Stalin began to takeover countries bordering the Soviet Union
He wanted a buffer zone
Created satellites, Communist countries indirectly controlled by the Soviet Union.
US is increasingly concerned about the spread of Communism, but doesn’t want to begin WWIII!

4. The Marshall Plan
US wanted to strengthen Western Europe to make sure countries wouldn’t fall to Communism
1947: Plan called for $17 billion in aid to Europe
Soviets offered aid, but refused
Saw it as a plot to strengthen capitalism
Economic alliances increased division between two.

5. NATO and The Warsaw Pact
1949: Western nations joined together in military alliance against Soviet aggression--NATO
US, Canada, France, GB, Italy, and Netherlands
FIRST PEACETIME MILITARY ALLIANCE IN US!
1955: Eastern European nations allied with Soviet Union in Warsaw Pact
USSR, Czech, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania

6. Containment and The Truman Doctrine
George Kennan, US diplomat, proposed US policy of CONTAINMENT
Primary goal is to keep communism within its present territory, and not allow it to spread anywhere else
Truman Doctrine (1947)—key example
$400 million in aid to Greece and Turkey to fight against communism
US believes it is its responsibility to combat communism all over the world.
Shows US and USSR competing for territory globally.

7. The Berlin Blockade
Germany and Berlin divided by Allies and Soviet Union
Soviets afraid Americans were trying to unite their parts to create a capitalist West Germany.
In response, Stalin blockaded West Berlin in 1948.
Cut off all inhabitants from West Berlin of fuel, power and food.

8. US Response: Berlin Airlift
US airlifted supplies into Berlin
Attempt to aid Germans and avoid all-out war with Soviets
After a year, Stalin ended blockade
Germany remained divided—built Berlin Wall in 1961.

9. The Berlin Wall: The Real “Iron Curtain”