The Origins of the Cold War

Origins of the Cold War
• Russian Revolution of 1917
• Tsarist Russia is overthrown
• Bolshevik (Communist) government takes over
• Lenin dies in 1924 and Stalin takes power
• Stalin vows to erase all forms of capitalism
• “Five year plans” were designed to focus massive gains in agriculture and industry
• Collectivization of agriculture results in famine that kills 5-10 million people in 2 years
• Industrialization rapidly increases Russia’s military capabilities and allows them to defeat
Germany

Origins of the Cold War
• Following the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences, the plan for the carving up of Europe was in place
• Communist governments loyal to U.S.S.R. would be established in eastern Europe to ensure U.S.S.R. would not be invaded again
• Germany would be split into 4 occupied zones
(U.K., U.S., France, U.S.S.R.)
• Berlin, though located completely in the
U.S.S.R. zone, would be split equally as well

Origins of the Cold War
• After a brief economic stagnation, the U.S. sees a huge boom in production and spending
• Concern over communism spreading is pervasive among all levels of U.S. society
• The goal of the U.S. was to link the U.S., western European and Japanese economies to create a worldwide economic power
• The Soviets wanted to control eastern Europe through a series of satellite states which were loyal to the U.S.S.R.

Origins of the Cold War
• The U.S. tried to involve the U.S.S.R. in the
U.N. and hoped that the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank would boost international trade
• The U.S. also hoped the U.N. would be the
overseer of atomic activities but the Soviets would not agree to this
• 1949: U.S.S.R. tests their first atomic bomb
• Concern over the Soviets’ desire to spread communism all over the world rises

Origins of the Cold War
• George Kennen, an American diplomat in
Moscow wires that the Soviets would
constantly probe for weakness in the capitalist world
• Britain requests U.S. help in blocking Soviet influence in continental Europe
• Churchill declares the U.S.S.R. has dropped an
“iron curtain” over the middle of Europe and urged a firm response.