Origins of the Cold War How did former allies become enemies after WWII?

Origins of the Cold WarOrigins of the Cold War

How did former allies become enemies after WWII?

United Nations (UN)

• 1945: 50 nations meet to create peacekeeping organization

• UN to protect member nations, solve international problems

• First body: all members get vote in General Assembly

• Permanent members have veto power (US, Britain, Soviet Union, France, China)

• Second Body: Eleven members vote in Security Council (5 permanent, 6 rotate)

• Security council’s job is to prevent war & has power to use armed forces if needed• Numerous showdowns will occur between US & USSR

Eastern EuropeEastern Europe• 1945: Despite promising free elections, Stalin installs communist

“satellite states” in Eastern Europe

• Stalin creates a Soviet sphere of influence called the Eastern Bloc

• Countries include:

2. Poland

3. Czechoslovakia

4. Hungary

5. Romania

6. Bulgaria

8. Yugoslavia (Leaves in 1949)

7. Albania

1. E. Germany (1949)

• 1946: Truman tells Stalin he has violated the Yalta Agreement, Stalin still refuses elections & Cold War rhetoric heats up

• In a speech Stalin states “Communism & Capitalism cannot coexist”

•At a Missouri speech, Churchill describes an “Iron Curtain” that divides Europe

•US Diplomat George Kennan writes an article stating how the US must “contain” the spread of Communism

•President Truman adopts a “containment” foreign policy

• Even though Yugoslavia is Communist, their leader Josip Tito splits with Stalin & are no longer a satellite state

Containing Communism

• To contain the spread of communism, Truman Doctrine says US will support any nation resisting “outside pressures”

• March 1947: Truman asks Congress for $700 million to aid Greece & Turkey who were fighting Communist influence

• June 1947: Secy of State George Marshall proposes that US should give money to Europe to rebuild from WW II

• Marshall Plan will give $16 billion to Western Europe, communists lose appeal there, Stalin furious!

Page 606: Marshall Plan Graph

• What three countries get the most aid from Marshall Plan?

• Which “Communist” country gets money?

• Why do you think they get money?

Containment Policy

Truman Doctrine Marshall

Plan

US Cold War Foreign Policy