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