The Cold War Begins

Truman as President Very little political

experience “Average man”—didn’t

have a college education At first seemed unable to

fill FDR’s shoes Grew into his role

Stubborn Stood up to Stalin “Buck stops here”

Wartime Tensions between US and USSR Evident during Yalta

conference Roosevelt, Churchill and

Stalin agreed to plans to defeat Germany

Stalin promised free elections in Poland and other Eastern European countries

Allies agreed to divide Germany

Stalin promised to enter war against Japan, Roosevelt promised him territory in Pacific

Many of Yalta promises were later broken

The Inevitable Cold War Long standing mutual suspicions Communism and capitalism were historically

hostile philosophies USSR resented US for delaying 2nd front, and

developing a-bomb DIFFERENT VISIONS OF POSTWAR WORLD!!

Soviets wanted to expand to create “buffer zone” US wanted to CONTAIN Communism, spread democracy

Shaping the Postwar World 1944 Bretton Woods Meeting:

Allies established International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank

IMF: Encourages trade by regulating currency rates

World Bank: Promotes economic development in underveloped areas

Creation of United Nations Created before end of war Countries in Security Council (US,

Britain, USSR, France, China) had veto powers

US plays big role Failed chance to outlaw atomic

weapons

How to Deal With Germany? Punishing the Nazis:

Nuremberg Trials 22 Nazis tried, 12 put to

death, 7 sentenced to life in jail

Conflict over what to do with Germany:

Soviets and some in US wanted to punish Germany, force it to pay reparations

Most in US wanted Germany to be strong to avoid another war and spread of Communism.

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.

Stalin responds to plan for new currency with blockade of West Berlin in 1948.

Cut off all inhabitants from West Berlin of fuel, power and food.

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.

The Berlin Wall: The Real “Iron Curtain”

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.

Reinhold Niebuhr: Good v. Evil Shows US and USSR competing for

territory globally.

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.

Truman Recognizes Israel Israel created in 1948 as

refuge for Jews after Holocaust

Arab world resented Israel, and the US needed Arabs for oil

Truman risked all of this by officially recognizing Israel Wanted to pre-empt Soviet

influence in Jewish state, and get support of Jewish voters