Why did the
tensions
between the
Allies turn into
a Cold War?
Starter
President Truman, writing to his
secretary of State in January 1946
 “Unless
Russia is faced
with an iron fist and
strong language, another
war is in the making.
Only one language do
they understand – ‘how
many (army) divisions
have you got?...I'm tired
of babying the Soviets”


Extract from a report by the British
Foreign Secretary to the British Cabinet in
March 1948. The report was titled ‘The
threat to Civilisation’
“The Soviet government is not
prepared to co-operate with any
non communist government in
eastern Europe, but it is actively
preparing to extend its hold
over the remaining part of
continental Europe and
subsequently, over the middle
east and no doubt the far east
as well. In other words, physical
control of Europe and Asia and
eventual control of the whole
world, is what Stalin is aiming
at”
What has changed in the 2 years that separate these two sources?
Homework
 Which
country had the more successful
policies in Europe between 1945 and 1949;
the USA or the USSR? (10)
Soviet Policy
US Policy
Where was Stalin successful?
• Spreading communism
• Preventing free elections
• Czechoslovakia
Where was Truman successful?
• Berlin
• Marshall Plan
Where did Stalin fail?
• Greece
• Yugoslavia
Where did Truman fail?
US Policy, 1945-1948
Lesson Objectives –
 To understand the
actions of America
after WWII,
specifically, the Truman
Doctrine and the
Marshall Plan.
Learning Outcomes –
 All will demonstrate
understanding of a
range of key terms and
will have these defined
and explained in your
book.
 Developed responses to
a range of political
cartoons.
 10 mark essay question
completed for
homework.
Add the following terms to your
glossary sheet
 Doctrine
 Congress
 Aggressor
 Containment
 Truman
Doctrine
 Marshall Plan
 Cominform
 Your
task is to have
all of these key
words defined and
explained by the
end of the lesson!
Greece




By 1946, Greece and
Czechoslovakia were the
only countries in eastern
Europe that weren’t
Communist.
Even in Greece, the
government, which was
being supported by
British soldiers, was
having to fight a civil war
against the Communists.
In February 1947, the
British told Truman they
could no longer afford to
keep their soldiers in
Greece.
President Truman
stepped in. The USA paid
for the British soldiers in
Greece




Doctrine: a belief.
Congress: the
American
‘parliament’.
Aggressor: someone
who starts a quarrel.
Containment:
holding something in
– stopping the USSR
growing
The Truman Doctrine




American intervention in
Greece revealed a new
attitude to world politics
known as the ‘Truman
Doctrine’
This meant ‘containing’ the
spread of communism –
“keeping the lid” on
America accepted that the
East was communist but
wanted to stop it spreading
any further.
This involved America sending
money, equipment and advice
to any country which was
under threat of a communist
take over.
The Marshall Plan






Truman believed that people
turned to communism when
they were in poverty.
George Marshall, the
American, assessed the
economic state of Europe and
his findings were alarming.
Europe still owed $11.5 billion
to the USA. There was still
rationing and coal shortages.
Marshall suggested that $17
billion was needed to rebuild
Europe.
The money was not given
immediately, it was a huge
amount of money!!
“Our policy is directed against
hunger, poverty, desperation
and chaos”
How could Stalin interpret this?
Czechoslovakia



Marshall Aid was granted
after the alarming events
in Czechoslovakia.
The communists took over
the government. AntiSoviets were purged. One
pro-American Minister,
Jan Masaryk, was found
dead beneath an open
window. The communists
said he had jumped, the
Americans suspected that
he had been pushed.
Immediately, Congress
accepted the Marshall Plan
and made $17billion
available over the next 4
years.
Task
 You
are an advisor to Stalin.
 Write a briefing paper on America’s plans
for Europe. Your report should mention:
 President Trumans’ plans for Europe
 The methods being used by Truman to
resist the spread of communism
 Whether or not you think that The USSR
should be worried.
An American cartoon, 1947
Are these political
cartoons supportive
or critical of
Marshall Aid?
A Soviet cartoon commenting
on Marshall Aid. The rope is the
‘Marshall Plan’ and the lifebelt is
‘Aid to Europe’
Homework
 http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/lessons/c
oldwar/coldwar_truman.html
 Print
out the diagram and make sure that
it is stuck into your exercise book by next
lesson.
 You
must learn all the key facts for a test!!!