The Cold War
The Cold War
Why did a “Cold War” develop?
1. Ideology
Marxism: The “Communist Manifesto”
Workers (proletariat) deprived of wealth they create by the bourgeoisie (wealthy)
Government is run by bourgeoisie
Religion is an opiate for the masses
Therefore: Worker should be loyal to
nothing except his own class
Marxism
Founder of ‘Communism’
Working class people will: Rise up in revolution Overthrow
governments Implement
communism Share the wealth
World Response to Communism
Russian Revolution GB, FR, US aid
white armies Red scare in the
West Will Communism
spread??? Can it happen
here??
2.
“ I love the Russians but I think we should shake hands with them as far East as possible.”
3. USSR Takes Control of Eastern Europe
USSR occupied and took complete control of all territory on its western border
Soviets Tighten Grip on Eastern Europe
Satellite nations = communist governments controlled by the Soviet Union by 1948 Albania Bulgaria Czechoslovakia Hungary Romania Yugoslavia (Communist but Stalin could not control Tito) Poland
Soviets ban elections and democracy Install communist puppet dictators
Tehran ConferenceNov-Dec 1943
Tomas Masaryk
Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia
Strong anti-communist
10 March 1948 found dead, in his pajamas, under an open window in the Ministry building
Soon afterward, Communists took control of government
Iron Curtain
“A shadow has fallen upon the scenes so lately lighted by the Allied victory…From Stettin the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent…”
-- Churchill Iron curtain is an
invisible dividing line between the east (Communist) and West (Democracies)
…the Soviet view
US Fears
Spread of Communism Civil war in Greece
Communist could win
Soviets could expand and take over Turkey
Chinese Civil War Mao and
Communists
US Response to Iron Curtain and Soviet Expansion
‘Policy of the US is to support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures’
-- Truman
Truman Doctrine: Prevent the spread of Communism anywhere in the world
Containment
Marshall Plan
16 countries receive $13 billion in aid from US
Why? Rebuild war-torn Europe Aid starving people Contain the
spread of communism
General George C. Marshall War hero Secretary of State &
Defense Nobel Peace Prize
Winner in 1953
Central Intelligence Agency
Created in 1947
Signed by Truman
Protect US national security
Coordinate nation’s intelligence
The Berlin Blockade 1948-49
Democracy vs Communism
Control over Berlin
Reconstruction of Germany
Berlin Blockade and Long-term Causes
Berlin Blockade and Short –term/Immediate Causes
AND… 2.1 million residents
of West Berlin Had enough food for
the 1st five weeks Starvation
Eating grass Scrounging
Fuel Chopped down all
trees
Berlin Blockade 1948
So why did Stalin do this?
Western Options
For each one, consider: Advantages? Disadvantages?
Western options cont’d
Berlin Airlift 277,000 flights 327 days 2.3 million tons
Food Fuel Medicine Even Christmas
presents
Warsaw Pact
Relations between US & Soviet Union improve until…
West Germany rearms & joins NATO in 1955
Soviet Union created a military alliance named the Warsaw Pact in response:
Poland
Hungary
BulgariaRomania
AlbaniaCzechoslovakia
East Germany
Soviet Union
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Why created? Fear of Communism Pledge of military support Standing army of 500,000
Largely US Members:
NATO Flag
USCanada
Denmark
West Germany
Portugal
The Netherlands
Belgium
Luxembourg
Turkey
Italy Greece
Iceland
Norway
France Great Britain