Peace and a New War

Ideological conflict between the US and USSR◦Disagreement on beliefs◦Which economy was better?Communism vs. Capitalism

◦Who was more powerful?◦Which government was better?Dictator vs. Democracy

The Cold War

US upset over Nonaggression Pact◦Also no help w/Japan

USSR wanted US aid sooner in war

The Big Three◦Churchill, FDR, Stalin

Nov 1943Plan to end war◦American-British invasion of France◦USSR would liberate eastern Europe◦Agreement over partition of Germany

The Tehran Conference

February 1945 – Big Three meet in Southern Russia

Western powers feared Soviet control of Eastern Europe◦11 million soldiers

Yalta Conference

Stalin suspicious of the Western powers◦Wanted a buffer to protect USSR from invasion

FDR wanted self-determination◦Liberated Europe have free elections

1. Agree to divide Germany into zones

2. Germany has to pay USSR reparations

3. Eastern European countries would have free elections

New peacekeeping organizationUSA and USSR join (48 others)New York CitySecurity Council

◦Power to investigate and settle◦5 permanent members GB, China, Fr., US, USSR Veto power

United Nations

Differing GoalsUS

USSR

Encourage democracy

Gain access to raw materials and markets

Rebuild gov’ts to promote stability

Reunite Germany to stabilize it and increase security

Encourage communism as part of worldwide workers’ revolution

Rebuild economy using industrial equipment and raw materials from E. Europe

Control E. Europe to protect borders

Keep Germany divided to prevent war

July 1945Harry Truman replaces FDR◦Demanded free elections in Eastern Europe

Stalin felt threatened◦Free elections would threaten goal of controlling Eastern Europe

Potsdam Conference

Allies do agree to Nuremberg Trials◦Leaders of Nazi Party ◦Committed war crimes against humanity during war

Iron CurtainUSSR wants buffer from invasion Installs communist gov’t

◦Albania◦Bulgaria◦Hungary◦Czechoslovakia◦Romania◦Poland◦Yugoslavia

Truman protests Stalin ignores

Europe dividedEastern and Western Europe splitGermany divided into East Germany and West Germany◦Berlin (in E.G. is split)

“Iron Curtain”◦Churchill◦Democratic West ◦Communist East

Truman Foreign PolicyContainment◦Blocking Soviet influence◦Stopping expansion of Communism

◦Forming alliances ◦Aiding weaker countries resist

Truman Doctrine◦$500 million to Greece and

Turkey Marshall Plan

◦Assistance program to rebuild Western Europe

• Berlin Airlift–USSR held W. Berlin hostage

–Hoped Allies would surrender

–11 months Allies flew in supplies

–May 1949 Soviets admit defeat• Lift blockade

World Wide Effects

NATO◦Western Alliances◦Attack one was attack on all

Warsaw Pact◦Eastern Alliance

Berlin Wall (1961)

Threat of Nuclear War1949 – USSR explodes atomic bomb

Sets off race to create deadlier weapon◦1953 – Hydrogen Bomb created

Brinkmanship

John Foster Dulles◦US Secretary of State under Eisenhower

Willingness to go to the brink of war◦US strengthened air force and stockpiled nuclear weapons

◦USSR responded in same way◦Begins arms race