The Cold War
Mr. Williamson
Somerville HS
Cold War Begins
O April 1945 – FDR passes/WWII continues, US relations
with Soviet Union breaking down
O Why? Gov’ts had little in common
O US
O Capitalist, free elections, economic/religious freedom,
secure private property, respect for diversity
O Soviet Union
O Single party dictatorship, communists made all political,
economic and military decisions, no freedom of
speech/worship, no property ownership
Cold War Begins
O Yalta Conference – February 1945
O Goals for Postwar Germany/Eastern Europe
O Soviet Union & Stalin – keep Germany weak/divided,
Eastern Europe to be under Soviet control
O US/Great Britain – strong/united Germany, independent
nations in Eastern Europe
O Stalin agrees to establish gov’ts/free elections
O However, Stalin occupies Eastern European countries
(Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, etc.), become
satellite states controlled by the Soviet Union
Cold War Begins
O Potsdam Conference – Summer 1945
O Enter Truman for FDR, Clement Atlee for Churchill
O Stalin refuses to make commitment to free elections in
Eastern Europe
O US/GB determine that Soviet Union was planning a
“world’s conquest”, alliance crumbles
O Sets the stage for a 46-year struggle known as the
COLD WAR
O 2 superpowers never directly faced/attacked each other
Cold War Begins
O Churchill acknowledges Soviet goals
O Notes an “IRON CURTAIN” has descended across Europe
O East of Curtain – Soviet Union installing communist
gov’ts/police states
O 1947 – Gov’ts of Greece/Turkey battling communist
threat, US only country that could provide resources
O Truman appeals to Congress, warns of isolationism
effects
O Congress passes $400m in economic aid to combat
communism – The Truman Doctrine
Cold War Begins
O July 1957 – American diplomat George F. Kennan,
specialist on Soviet Union (USSR)
O Publishes an article on the blueprint for American policy
toward (USSR)
O Goal was CONTAINMENT, keep communism within its
existing borders
O After WWII, people of Western Europe face severe
shortages (food, fuel, medical supplies)
O George Marshall, Secretary of State, unveils his plan for
recovery
Cold War Begins
O Marshall Plan - $13B in grants/loans to reduce famine,
run factories, ignite economic growth
O Argued without economic health, “no political stability/no
assured peace”
O Prosperity stimulated by plan increased trade/created
strong political relationships
O Germany divided into 4 zones
O US, British, French Zones combined to form WEST
GERMANY
O Soviets controlled EAST GERMANY
O Berlin Airlift
Cold War Begins
O City of Berlin, located in E. Germany, divided between
East (Soviet)/West (Allied)
O Stalin stops all traffic from W. German to W. Berlin
O Hoped that without western aid, W. Berlin would fall to
communists
O Response – US/Britain drops food, fuel, med. supplies to
W. Berlin. W. Berlin holds.
O Alliances form
O NATO (North America Treaty Org.) – military alliance to
counter Soviet expansion, provided collective security
O Warsaw Pact – Soviet/satellite states form a rival military
alliance
Cold
War
Begins
O Map Activity – Use p. 849 in text to complete the following
O
O
O
O
tasks
1. Label the following countries: Portugal, Spain, France,
Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden, Finland, West Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy,
East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia,
Poland, Soviet Union, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece
Turkey
2. Underline the communist countries (members of the
Warsaw Pact)
3. Complete 1-6 on the backside of the map.
4. Exit Ticket ?’s
O A. Why do you think Churchill used the term “Iron Curtain” as
the border between non-communists/communists? Explain.
O B. Based on the map, how might the Soviet Union have
benefited from gaining control of Greece/Turkey?
Cold War Begins
O Interactive Slide Show Activity
O Using the pictures/cartoons/images on each slide (5),
first discuss and answer the questions provided on
your handout.
O You will have 5 minutes to prepare your response
followed by a group discussion on the image’s meaning
and impact.
O It is ESSENTIAL you discuss the image with your
partner in order to get the most out of the whole class
discussion.
Cold War Begins
Cold War Begins
Cold War Begins
Cold War Begins
Cold War Begins
Cold War Begins
O Truman Doctrine Primary Source Analysis – p. 853
O 1. Answer Questions 1 & 2 at the bottom of the
page
O 3. What was Truman’s goal in speaking to
Congress?
O 4. Identify 3 arguments he used to convince
Congress to approve his plan.
O 5. Select the most important paragraph in his
speech. Explain why the chosen paragraph is most
important to Truman’s speech.
The Korean War
O Begins in China
O Civil War B/T Nationalists (Chiang Kai-Shek) vs.
Communists (Mao Zedong)
O Soviets support Mao, US supports Kai-Shek)
O 1948-1949-Nationalists reluctant to fight, steal US aid $,
China falls to the Communists (no US military
intervention)
O Significant worry about spread of Communism
O ¼ of world’s landmass, 1/3 of its population are RED
The Korean War
O Controlled by Japan during WWII, Korea divided
into 2 independent countries (North-Soviet, South
– US)
O Dividing line was the 38th parallel
O Both North/South Korea wanted to unite with their
gov’ts, no compromise is made
O 1949-1950 - After fall of China, N. Korea begins large
military buildup, invades S. Korea, goal to spread
communism
The Korean War
O Truman announces military aid to S. Korea “to restore
int’l peace/security” through the UN/no declaration of
war
O Troops not trained for climate/combat, lack of equipment
O Join S. Korea allies at PUSAN, as addt’l reinforcements
arrive (both from US/United Nations)
O Truman’s motivation?
O Recalls the policy of appeasement to Germany,
O Did not want history to repeat itself
The Korean War
O In your notebook, complete the following question:
O Why might textbooks from different
countries offer different versions of the
same historical events? When textbooks
offer conflicting accounts, how do you
decide which textbook to believe?
The Korean War
O Using the first hand account, answer the questions by
O
O
O
O
O
O
utilizing evidence from the text to support your
conclusions.
1. What questions do you believe are going through
this young man’s mind as he heads to boot camp?
Create 3.
2. Why was the medic given additional training on CBR
warfare?
3. What is the DMZ? What is its significance?
4. What were the medic’s additional duties? What
does this say about the skills needed as a soldier?
5. What threats were made to medics in the field of
battle?
6. What is the current status with N. Korea/S. Korea?
What is the relationship with the United States?
The Korean War
O 38th Parallel Activity
O In pairs, complete the following:
O 2 Students will be selected to portray President Truman
& Gen. MacArthur.
O Those students will read their respective speeches on
the outcome of this relationship and prepare a BRIEF
statement explaining your side of the story.
The Cold War Expands
O September 1949 – US discovers Soviets have
detonated an atomic weapon
O October 1949 – US learns communists takeover of
China
O US begins to sense the world is a more dangerous
place
O Truman orders the Atomic Energy Commission
(AEC) to produce a hydrogen bomb (H-Bomb)
O 1k X more powerful
O Hoped it would restore US advantage over Soviets
The Cold War Expands
O Construction of bomb meets resistance
O Scientists/politicians assert this would only lead to an
ARMS RACE
O 1952 – US/Soviets each test their own H-Bomb
O Leads to radiation/health issues at test sites as well as
areas downwind
O Next 40 years, both developed/gathered nuclear
weapons
O Both hope that the concept of mutually assured
destruction would prevent either country from its use
The Cold War Expands
O Enter President Eisenhower, Sec. of State John
Foster Dulles
O Shift Defense budget from troops, ships, tanks to nuclear
weapons & planes, missiles and subs to deliver them
O Criticism – weakening conventional forces would threaten
American defense/more weapons equates to a more
likely war
O Dulles announces “Massive Retaliation”
O US would respond to communist threats with
overwhelming force, perhaps nuclear weapons
O Belief was only by going to the brink of war could the US
protect allies, discourage communism, prevent war
O Known as BRINKMANSHIP
The Cold War Expands
O Death of Stalin
O March 1953 – Nikita Khrushchev assumes power,
new head of Soviet Union
O Not the brutal dictator like Stalin
O Condemned the excesses/cruelty of the Stalin regime
O Inched toward peaceful relations with west, still a large
opponent of the US
The Cold War Expands
O H-Bomb Activity
O With your partner, brainstorm 5-6 reasons both
FOR & AGAINST the CREATION of the Hydrogen
Bomb, both students should note them in their
notebook
O Think about the effects/impact (positive &
negative) while generating your support
O You have 7 minutes. Good Luck!
The Cold War Expands
O H-Bomb Activity
O Lastly, create a short response on your group’s
decision.
O Should the United States pursue the creation of a
hydrogen bomb? Why is this the better decision in
regards to the Cold War period?
The Cold War Expands
O Eisenhower’s First Inaugural Speech
O 1. Middle of the page, “For our own country”…How
does President Eisenhower illustrate the United
States’ as a superpower in this paragraph? Cite and
explain.
O 2. Bottom of p. 1, “Great as are”…What do you
think Eisenhower is referring to when he states,
“this question that involves all mankind?”
O 3. At the end of the speech, he outlines his plan in
9 points. Which one do you believe best addresses
the issues during the Cold War? Explain using prior
knowledge and the speech provided.
The Cold War At Home
O Red Scare – fear that communists both inside &
outside the US working to destroy American life
O Raised concerns that American communists were working
for the Soviets
O Reaction – Truman creates the Federal Employee Loyalty
Program
O Permitted FBI/security agencies to screen federal
employees of political disloyalty
O 1940 – Smith Act – made it unlawful to teach/advocate
the violent overthrow of the US government
The Cold War At Home
O 1938 – Congress creates the HUAC, House of Un-
American Activities Committee
O Purpose – to investigate possible activities by fascists,
Nazis or communists
O After WWII, examined government, military, unions,
education, media for subversive activities
O Hollywood Ten – HUAC investigates a group of ten liberal
writers/directors
O Refused to answer questions asserting the 5th
Amendment
O Cited for contempt, convicted and sentenced to prison
O Watkins v. United States (1957) overrules
O Witnesses could not be forced to name radicals
The Cold War At Home
O Hollywood 10 – illustrated fear created by Soviet
aggression, freedom of speech was not guaranteed
O Possibility of accusation/links to communists orgs. led to
to loss of job, destroyed reputation, etc.
O J. Robert Oppenheimer – Remember me? Leader of the
Manhattan Project, then led the Atomic Energy
Commission (AEC)
O Had ties to the Communist Party (wife/brother), no direct
link
O AEC denied access to classified information
O Communist ties disqualified him from holding key gov’t
positions
The Cold War At Home
O Venn Diagram Challenge
O Think back to the investigations of Alger Hiss & The
Rosenbergs.
O With your partner, create a Venn Diagram (your
design) comparing & contrasting both cases.
Discuss the accusation, evidence, outcome, key
witnesses, etc.
O Your diagram should have 5-6 bullets in each of the
3 sections.
O Brainstorm with your partner, raise your hand if you
need assistance.